<p>Hellooo, I'm a junior at a private Catholic school and, even though I bust my butt, I'm only in the top 25% of my class. It's still good, but I know its not amazing. Anyway, I want to be a doctor, even though I would much rather major in history ( I know its an "easy" major compared to biochem and science majors). My mom and dad are both DOs and keep telling me that if I want to be a doctor and I work hard it'll happen, but still, I can't figure out where to look, where to apply, what type of schools I should look for, etc. Do I apply premed and then major in history? Or do I just stick with the rest of the premed pack and suffer my way through upper level chemistry and bio classes. ((I know someone's going to answer this with- if you don't like science you can't be a doctor, but I love love love Physiology and Neuroscience and anything with the human body, i just can't stand molecular bio and chemistry and boring stuff like that.)</p>
<p>And the other issue is, I can't get the idea of being a history college professor out of my head- it seems like the second best thing I would do with my life other than being a doctor, but that would mean I have to go to graduate school right?</p>
<p>You should take classes that you love in college. My cousin was a history major in college, then realized that she wanted to be a doctor. She did a one year post-bac program at Columbia, then applied to medical schools.
She got in to every med school she applied to, and several med school interviewers told her that her undergraduate coursework made her stand out in the crowd.</p>
<p>Really? what type of undergrad did she go to? i’m worried because I probably go to a big name undergrad school, it’ll be harder to get into med school
was your cousin planning on being a teacher before applying to medical school?</p>
<p>A person can major in anything they want as an undergrad as a pre-med student, but they’re supposed to take certain bio, chem, math, & physics classes.</p>
<p>My son is pre-med with a double major in Chem Engineering and Biology.</p>
<p>*i’m worried because I probably go to a big name undergrad school, it’ll be harder to get into med school
*</p>
<p>Did you word that correctly above? You don’t have to go to an elite undergrad to get into med school.</p>
<p>BTW…what is your GPA? Have you taken any ACT or SAT tests yet? What was your PSAT score?</p>
<p>How much are your parents willing to spend each year on your college education?</p>
<p>BTW…I’m Sicilian, too. And, my kids went to Catholic schools.</p>
<p>Whoa sorry I messed up the wording on that sentence, I meant to say…I’m worried because I probably won’t be going to a big name undergrad school- which might make it harder to get into med school. My GPA is about 3.6 but i take all honors and APs (which means the kids taking lower levels have higher GPAs). And I got 183 combined (not that great) on the PSATs, took the Jan SAT, and just started a Kaplan class. I’m a pretty good test taker so I think my SAT scores are going to be pretty good… around 1400. I’m the middle of three kids, and I basically don’t qualify for any need based aid, so unfortunately the only money I get from schools will have to be non-need merit based aid.</p>
<p>Well, don’t worry about getting into a top 30 or so school. NOT NECESSARY for med school.</p>
<p>As long as you get a high GPA and go to a school that is strong in Bio, Chem, Math, and Physics and you get a strong MCAT score, you can get into med school. Some might argue with me, but I would be hesitant to go to a regional/directional school unless that school was known to be strong in those areas. </p>
<p>If you’ll be coming into college with a decent amount of AP credits, you could probably easily double major in Bio and History or something like that. </p>
<p>I agree with doing something to help you “stand out” as an applicant, which is why my son is a ChemE major along with a Bio major. </p>
<p>Another option…there are good colleges that let you “design your own major” which can be very beneficial to a pre-med student. You could include the pre-med req’ts of bio, chem, math, physics, and add things like history and philosophy and be an attractive and unique candidate.</p>
<p>Yeah I’ve pretty much decided that I do not want to go to a college in my state, so that in itself rules out regional schools. I’m just worried that if I go premed and then realize I don’t want to do it, I won’t have a strong history/ whatever I major in to fall back on. Can anyone suggest colleges with good premed/science programs and strong history departments?</p>
<p>*I’m just worried that if I go premed and then realize I don’t want to do it, I won’t have a strong history/ whatever I major in to fall back on. *</p>
<p>I totally understand. My son was worried about that, too, which is why he has a ChemE major.</p>
<p>My question is…if you decide against pre-med, what will you do with a history degree? Law? if so, then you’d still be fine.</p>
<p>Do you know how much your parents will pay each year? Will you have siblings in college at the same time?</p>
<p>Well, I’d really want to be a college history professor. I think it’s the coolest job but there isn’t very much job security in that field (or is there? I’m just guessing…)
My older sister is a freshman in a five year physician assist. program and my little sister will be a freshman when I’m a junior in college, so for a year, we will all be in college at one time. My family, we aren’t poor, but we don’t spend a lot on clothing, etc. My parents have told me that if I need help with undergrad they will try and help as much as they can, but if i go to grad school or med school then I’m on my own. So to answer your question…I don’t really know how much a year. And I know that History is a dead end major, its like being a basket weaver or something- I mean, what job could I get with a History major other than being a teacher?</p>
<p>ohh ok. So do you think it would be better to get a high GPA at maybe an easier school than a lower GPA at a tough school that’s more well known by medical schools?</p>
<p>I’m picking up some ambivalence about med school. Have you ever volunteered in a medical situation? How do you tolerate things that many people consider “gross”? Actually encountering the human body is a little different than studying about it! I’m also picking up some desire to be qualified for a job right out of college, with the option of going to med school or grad school. Have you taken any aptitude/interest tests? Is there someone at your school who could give you some career counseling, or a career counseling center near you?</p>
<p>Nah, I don’t get grossed out by medical stuff. I’ve been volunteering and shadowing where my parents used to work and needles and blood don’t bother me. (Every year my mom brings in hearts, lungs, brains, and livers in to the middle school to scare kids out of doing drugs and my parents let me hold them, etc and nope I don’t get freaked out). What do you mean by aptitude tests? And it seems to me that my parents know more about the college/ premedical school search than my guidance counselor, haha. Do you have any advice for me? ( I’ll take all that I can get-I’m so confused with the college search!)</p>
<p>*ohh ok. So do you think it would be better to get a high GPA at maybe an easier school than a lower GPA at a tough school that’s more well known by medical schools? *</p>
<p>I think it’s better to go to a good school and have a high GPA. When I say “good school” - I don’t mean that it has to be an ivy or elite. It can be any good school that is strong in the sciences. Your Organic grades especially will be important. </p>
<p>**Will you have any AP credits? ** If so, that will help you fill both needs of history and pre-med option.</p>
<p>My parents have told me that if I need help with undergrad they will try and help as much as they can,</p>
<p>That’s kind of an unsure statement. I realize that your parents are physicians and likely have a good income, so I’m guessing that they’re willing to spend about $25-35k per year, but not more. Would that be about right? </p>
<p>The problem is that with that contribution and their income, that amount wouldn’t cover most privates and their income is too high for financial aid. </p>
<p>So…your choices are these…</p>
<p>1) go to an in-state public</p>
<p>2) go to an out of state public that is inexpensive</p>
<p>3) go to an out of state public that you can get a merit scholarship to reduce the cost.</p>
<p>Do NOT take out student loans for undergrad since you’re considering med school (which you’d have to borrow for.).</p>
<p>**What are your stats??? ** GPA? ACT? SAT? (including SAT breakdown?)</p>
<p>Yeah, my parents can’t handle helping me too much especially because my two sisters and I will all be in college at the same time. And my weighted GPA is 3.64. I haven’t taken the ACT yet (probably will later in the spring) and I get my SAT scores this Thursday. My PSATS were ok but I’m expecting to up quite a bit because I studied a lot on my own. I know that I don’t want to go to in state public, so my best bet is to get a lot of scholarships from my SAT scores.</p>
<p>If you can get a highish SAT (m+cr) or a highish ACT, then you could get some substantial merit scholarships. Definitely take the ACT, too. Some kids do better on that and scholarships are awarded based on either. Get the practice book. “The Real ACT Prep Guide” available at bookstores or Amazon.</p>
<p>Keep your GPA up. Do your best this last semester. Many schools base scholarships on SAT/ACT and GPA. Often senior year grades are not included in scholarship consideration. So, you’ll need junior year grades to be as high as possible. :)</p>
<p>Yeah, I have the SAT prep books and I’m taking a class. I’m trying as hard as I possibly can to get a good GPA but I feel like I have junioritis or something…school is endless and PreCal is slowly killing me, haha.</p>
<p>The ACT test is different. It has a science reasoning section which is “not” science in a way. It’s important to get used to doing the SR sections before you take a test.</p>
<p>Some like the math better on the ACT because ACT doesn’t try to trick you like SAT does.</p>
<p>The best cure for junior/senioritis…visit an **awesome **college campus and envision yourself there. Knowing that you can only go there if your stats are good will be such a good cure for any “school-itis” that you’re having! </p>
<p>Perhaps arrange to visit some colleges during spring break! :)</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>BTW…it never hurts to let your teachers know that you’re trying to improve your GPA. Let them know that you’re making extra efforts. They may let you know about some extra credit assignments or whatever. They want you to succeed, too. :)</p>