what to take

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hey everyone,
I plan on a double major; one in medicine and the other in law. I am fantasized by the human brain, and I've always wanted to do surgery in the medicine field. So, I am wondering what are the best and/or required classes to become a neurosurgeon? I plan on attending DU for the first four years, and transferring to Notre Dame for the second four years but I'm not sure what to take there for medicine? To complete my doctorate degree in both, I'm considering of transferring from Notre Dame into Harvard.</p>

<p>Any help and information is welcomed,
Thanks</p>

2

<p>^^ Are you for real? </p>

<p>And I mean that sincerely because you seem to be operating under a large number of misconceptions.</p>

<p>1) neither law nor medicine are undergraduate programs</p>

<p>2) neither law nor medicine are PhD programs (a professional law degree is a JD, a professional medical degree is a MD or DO)</p>

<p>3) you don’t take classes for neurosurgery in college (or even in med school)–it is a specialty taught during a 6+ year residency training program after medical school.</p>

<p>4) Notre Dame doesn’t have a medical school so you can’t ‘transfer’ there after 4 years at DU to study medicine</p>

<p>I think you need to do some more research about your career plans then come back here and ask better thought-out questions</p>

3

<p>OP,
As far as I understand, you will go to UG for 4 years, completing all Med. School requirements and Law school requirements. Then you apply to Med. School and get accepted. You go to Med. School for 4 years, then you match to residency (not sure 4 or more years for neurosurgeon), but by this time you have spend 12 years at least (and about $.5 mln on your education) and you realized it is time to switch to Law. So, you apply to Law School, get accepted. You go to Law school for 3 years. I am not familiar with what is needed after Law school becides passing the Bar. Well, say you pass your Bar and added another $150 thousands or more to your educational expenses and now you are about 34 years old with tons of debt and possibly family who supported you thru your educational adventures. Is this vision of your life? Well, at least you are pretty unique.</p>

4

<p>How old are you OP? Just curious</p>

5

<p>OP, while people with a MD/JD do exist, ( I know one) they become administrators/executives. It is probably not possible to practice both as careers, you would be mediocre at best, in both. </p>

<p>@WOWMom, didn’t there used to be LLB undergraduate programs? The good old days? :)</p>

<p>@Miami, the time line you describe is very much like what I will be doing (MSTP), without the money part</p>

6

<p>Dwalker, OP is a rising HS senior, which is why I think he/she is confused about things. OP has mentioned his GC in a previous post, and like many HS students, are not getting good and accurate information from them.</p>

7

<p>plumazul,
How you are planning to avoid money part? Lucky to have unlimited resources? Well, if so, good for you, enjoy while last! Are you planning to have kids? Is it OK with you that somebdoy else will raise them (like your spouse without your participation). I myself went to school until I was 40. However, I was working full time all the time since 19. I could do that because I was not in Medicine or Law. I also had family and enjoyed taking care of it. I did not have unlimited resources, but my various employers paid for good chunk of my education.<br>
Whatever is your plan, the best wishes with it!</p>

8

<p>The MSTP that plumazul refers to is a NIH grant funded at about 40 schools. It covers all tuition for both an MD and a PhD and provides a ~$30k/year stipend. The average MSTP student finishes their training in 8.0 years (2 years med school, PhD without most of the coursework, 2 years med school) and then begins residency.</p>

9

<p>MSTP students are fully supported by federal [NIH] grants–hence the no debt part. </p>

<p>MSTP program pays tuition & fees for both medical and grad school, funds the research project and pays each recipient a living expenses stipend for the 7 years it takes to complete their MD/PhD.</p>

<p>@ plum–there hasn’t been a LLB offered in the US since years before I graduated from high school! (Which is way too long ago to contemplate!)</p>

10

<p>@GA2012MOM
Yes indeed, next year is my final year in HS. I’m torn between both law and medicine, and trying to find accurate information on the Internet is near impossible even with college websites that only talk about the school on general.</p>

11

<p>I know that they are impossible to get in. Congrats, plumazul! I asumed that UG was also full ride. Way to go!!</p>

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<p>@Miami
Ahhhh, unlimited resources wouldn’t that be nice! I do have a decent college fund, money stashed at home and people who help me out. It’s going to be expensive, but the quality education is what I’m really leaning towards. As for kids, I highly doubt it I’m hardly what people consider “attractive” and I’ve never even had a girlfriend. Bachelorhood agrees with me</p>

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<p>Where can I find more information on MSTP?</p>

14

<ol>
<li>Knew that, thusly pre-law and pre-med programs</li>
<li>JD and JSD are the highest for law and classify a person as a “doctor of law”</li>
</ol>

<p>So, all of med school is just generic knowledge and you study the branch you want during residency? Didn’t know that, good to know now</p>

<ol>
<li>What I have read about med degrees is that in the beginning you can study a science (bio, bio-chem, chem etc) and I’ve inferred that I’d seek an advanced degree in that then receive the med school knowledge at Harvard on the final transfer</li>
</ol>

15

<p>ND–</p>

<p>You don’t need to choose between law and medicine right now. You have time still–in fact at least 2 more years before you have to commit yourself one way or the other.</p>

<p>Most college freshmen start school as “undecided” majors, take a variety of courses and see where their interests and abilities lie. At most colleges, you don’t choose a major until sophomore year. </p>

<p>And remember there are whole career fields out in the world you haven’t even heard of yet. Law and medicine aren’t the only jobs out there.</p>

<p>Ask yourself this: do I enjoy math and science classes? Am I good at math and science? Do I like to do hands-on first aid kind of stuff? (CPR, first aid)</p>

<p>If you answer “No” to any of those, then medicine is not a career path for you.</p>

<p>Ask yourself this: do I enjoy reading densely-written non-fiction? (history, political science, philosophy) Do I enjoy researching specific factual material? Am I good at analytic writing? Am I good at argumentative writing (choosing one side in a controversy and arguing facts to support my case)? </p>

<p>If you answer “No” to any of these, then law isn’t for you.</p>

<p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>

<p>In general, you will complete 4 years of college in any major you choose, take the admission exam for the professional school you choose (medicine or law), apply to a number of professional schools (depending on factors like your GPA, LSAT/MCAT score, where you live), and hope to be accepted by one or more schools. Then hope you can arrange to pay for professional school.</p>

<p>While neither law or medicine require you to major in a specific field, you may have prerequisites to meet.</p>

<p>Prerequisite courses–these are specific courses you are required to take to be considered for admission to professional school.</p>

<p>Law school has no pre-reqs. You can have any major, but law school requires excellent reading and writing skills. You need to take the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test). Your overall GPA and your LSAT score are pretty much the most important factors for getting accepted.</p>

<p>Medical school has a significant number of required classes. </p>

<p>2 semesters biology with lab
2 semesters general chemistry with lab
2 semesters organic chemistry with lab
1 semester of freshman composition
1-2 semesters of college math</p>

<p>In addition, some medical schools have other specific science, humanities and social science classes they require. To further complicate things, if you will be applying to start medical school in 2016 or later, it appears there will be major changes in the classes required. (There will be more of them.)</p>

<p>Once you have completed your required science and math classes, you’ll take the MCAT (Medical School Admission Test). GPA and MCAT score are very important factors for getting accepted into med school.</p>

16

<p>Information about MSTP</p>

<p>[Medical</a> Scientist Training Program - National Institute of General Medical Sciences](<a href=“http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocOverview-MSTP.htm]Medical”>http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/InstPredoc/PredocOverview-MSTP.htm)</p>

<p>Medical school has 2 parts–pre-clinical and clinical</p>

<p>Pre-clinical is the first 2 years. These are intense science classes: biochemistry, immunology, anatomy & physiology, cellular bio, neuroscience, embryology, etc These are classroom +lab type classes.</p>

<p>Clinical is the last 2 years. These years you learn how to examine patients, interpret test results & xrays, manage sick patients, assist in procedures etc. The med student will rotate thru many different departments learning about different specialties.</p>

<p>During your 4th year, you will pick a specialty and make arrangements to continue your hands-on practical studies in that field. Called residencies, these programs last an additional 1-5 years past med school. If you want to further specialize, then you seek out a fellowship program–which are another 1-2 years past your residency.</p>

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<p>@way out west mom
I love the way you broke down everything, that’s even better!
I’m torn between both because I love to argue, read, and to write. However, I love science as well especially Chemistry and Biology, same with the hands on. I got my CPR and First aid certification last year with my lifeguard certification, next year I’ll be getting certified as a white water raft instructor which adds more to first aid but includes some search and rescue in moving water. </p>

<p>Thanks again for the break down on med school</p>

18

<p>@wayoutwestmom
Thanks for the link! It appears to be a break down of intense book smarts, and then going out and applying it rigorously as street smart.</p>

19

<p>Hi, I am just wondering, isn’t a LLB equivalent to a JD, the only difference being where they are offered (For example, JD is offered in US while LLB is offered in UK)? Just as how a MBBS is equivalent to a MD, only difference being once again where they are offered (e.g. MD offered in US while MBBS is offered in the UK)? Or was I misinformed?</p>

<p>I know that LLB is an undergraduate degree however it is mainly taken after previously acquiring a different bachelor’s degree thus making it basically a graduate degree such as the JD, right?</p>

20

<p>The ABA doesn’t recognize a LLB as equivalent to a US JD. (And that’s all that really matters. No ABA recognition means you cannot sit for the bar exam.)</p>

<p>NY does allow foreign LLBs to sit for the bar, and NY and MA will allow Canadian LLBs holders who graduated from an ABA accredited program [in Canada] to sit for the bar.</p>

<p>But generally, LLB holder must attend a ABA accredited US law school to obtain a LLM before they can sit for the bar.</p>