What should I do?

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
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<p>I’m currently a high school junior, and i maintain about a mid-80’ s average. I’m realizing how important my grades are to get into a good college, so I’m beginning to try much more to achieve an average above 90 (and maintain it until I graduate). I’m very strong with my math’s, sciences, and social studies, but I can sometimes be a weak writer. My PSAT score was a 1590, 490 in critical reading, 650 in math, and a 450 in writing skills . I’m attempting to take all the most difficult classes offered in my school(i attend a small high school though, not many hard classes offered). I don’t have many extracurricular activities except for two sports and a couple clubs; I am apart of the Boy Scouts hoping to earn my Eagle ( i know that can look good). And i haven’t had a job yet. Next year i’m possibly shadowing someone in the medical field. I’m looking at going to a college in New York State, I’m looking at majors in the biological/biomedical studies, or engineering, and I plan on applying to a medical school after college( looking at becoming a general internist).</p>

<p>QUESTIONS:</p>

<li><p>I am deciding on courses to take for my senior year. AP Bio or Physics? And is it worth taking calc. in high school?</p></li>
<li><p>Which majors would you suggest to take, in order to increase my chances of being accepted into a medical school?</p></li>
<li><p>What colleges in New York State would you suggest applying to? Why?( i’m interested in the areas around upstate NY)</p></li>
<li><p>I’m willing to put my studies and my career before my social life (i have a pretty lively social life though). Does being a physician consume a lot of time? (I want to enjoy my life)</p></li>
<li><p>I know it is a long path to take, but is it possible to balance a job (possibly full-time) while attending medical school? I mean, how am I supposed to live for the amount of time I’m in school? I do not come from a rich family, I’m middle class, I can’t necessarily feed off my parents money for the next ten years. I know there are loans, but will I be able to enjoy myself with only loans?</p></li>
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<p>Although it's nice to have taken both AP Bio and Physics I would go for AP Bio because it's more centered to what you'll be taking in collegew and taking calc in HS would allow you to not have to take it in College. UB is a great pre-med school and are known for their math and science programs.</p>

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<p>Well, i'm going to talk to my guidance counselor if i can take both physics and AP Bio, and just take pre-calc, so i will just take calc in college. I have been looking into UB but there is SU, RIT, RPI, URochester, and Clarkson, (tough choices). Then there is a couple downstate but i don't think i want to go to college down there. I've decided to major in some kind of engineering though because if i don't get into med school, i have a major that i can go somewhere with. I know these colleges have good engineering programs (maybe not URochester) but what other colleges would you choose other than UB. I just need a suggestion so i'm not applying to only a couple colleges, or wasting my time applying to colleges i shouldn't apply to. thanks</p>