<p>Sorry in advance if I am doing something wrong. This is my first post on this site and I honestly don't really know what I am doing or where this post will be located.</p>
<p>I am a high school senior who is looking to attend a 4 year university.
I have a 3.99 unweighted GPA and a 4.35 UC GPA. I will have take 8 AP courses and tests at the end of high school. I received 5s on biology and US history and 4s in world history and english language.</p>
<p>I have a 2110 combined SAT score with 670 critical reading, 680 math, and 760 writing. I got 760 on my math 2 sat, 750 in US history, 730 in biology and a 700 in world history.</p>
<p>I have 256 hours of volunteering at a day care during the summer and 245 work hours at the same place as a counselor (which I plan to continue). More volunteer hours are coming. </p>
<p>I am wondering which colleges I should be applying to if I want to become a pediatrician. I am 5hinking of applying to USC, Northwestern, Cornell, University of the Pacific, and the following UCs: San Diego, Berkeley, Los Angeles, Irvine, and Davis.</p>
<p>Have I done well enough to consider UCI and UCD my safety schools? What are my chances of getting into these schools?</p>
<p>I was also wondering what I should major in. At first I was intrigued by biomedical engineering. However, I found out that it would make me more of a jack-of-all-trades with no specialization in any subject. What should I major in? I am now looking into biochemistry or neuroscience with a minor in psychology (because of the changes being made to the MCAT and my interest in psychology).</p>
<p>Since you've got this far, thanks for reading. All help is appreciated.</p>
<p>If you are looking to go to medical school, it’s expensive, so it’s important to save money on the undergraduate degree unless you really want to dig yourself into a hole. Make sure you’re looking at schools that are affordable for you.</p>
<p>In terms of what to major in, it isn’t as important to medical schools what your major is, so long as you meet thei sometimes nit-picky, ambiguous, and varied requirements and recommendations. I think the most important thing is to pick a major that you enjoy and can succeed in. What exactly is your “jack of all trades” concern with biomedical engineering? I think that’s a perfectly suitable major for pre-med, if it interests you. In terms of back-up job prospects in case you don’t go to med school, though, it wouldn’t be any worse than something like neuroscience.</p>
<p>@Nano: You will have enough loans and financial aid. Not all of us in medical school are rich, that is why when you want to have a career in medicine, you have to make sure you are willing to stick with it so you can pay these loans later. Or, you WILL be stuck with a huge loan, making it difficult to pay off if you fail or drop out.</p>
<p>Anyways, as much I didn’t like Biochemistry when it came to getting jobs, majoring in Biochemistry did help prepare me for medical school. I don’t regret it and I am glad I did. You will not believe how many medical students in my class did not take these classes. Majoring Biochemistry allowed me to take the recommended classes too. I was ahead of the game. You will take these basic sciences again (except Chem and Physics. The only chem you will be taking in medical school is Biochem), such as Histology, Immunulogy, Microbiology, Physiology, Embryology, Cardiogy, Pharmacology (This too as for Chem, but not too much calc just drug interactions and use), etc.</p>
<p>Keep your expenses and loans as LOW as possible. I work with a surgeon who attended Northwestern for UG and med school. He says it was a huge mistake. His education was, in his opinion, no better than any of his residency colleagues. But he started his career with a much bigger financial hole. That is what upsets him the most. $300,000+ loans to repay and won’t be as easy to repay as the general public thinks.</p>
<p>Personally, you should pick a major with a job at the end of the degree. Just in case you decide not to attend medical school, you can get a job. Your academic numbers are great so far, but it in no way guarantees success in college, admission to medical school, or a successful career in medicine. The world of medicine has been changing rapidly over the past 30 years. The only guarantee you have is the amount of loans you have to pay back.</p>
<p>If your major also helps you complete your premed requirements, great. It will be a very efficient pursuit. There isn’t a perfect major for medical school. Though, the data demostrates that physics, engineering and math majors have among the highest MCAT scores while the biochemist and biology majors score among the lowest.</p>
<p>I graduated with an EE degree and worked as an engineer before medical school. So I am very bias in my perspective that your major should give you a career option after the UG period.</p>
<p>I majored in Biochem and my loans are very low. I went to a community college and then transferred. I was just as prepared (even more) than others who did not major in science or didn’t go a community college. I agree, make sure your loans are low as possible. You would be taking the same required or recommended premed classes like everyone else.</p>
<p>@Frugal, that maybe true when it came to taking the MCAT. But, when it came to finishing medical school and passing boards, those majors struggled in my class.</p>
<p>But overall, the choice is up to you. I just shared my personal experience, major what you think will be best for you, help prepare you for medical school, or if you change your mind can get another career out of it. Good luck!</p>
<p>I understand that we can major in anything, but I really wanted a back-up plan in case I decided against going into medical school. I want to become a pediatrician because I love working with kids, but if something happens and I don’t want to do that anymore, then what?</p>
<p>Majors are more important, but I just wanted to get an outside perspective on which major(s) or minors I should pursue. I am leaning toward Biochemistry because of my cousin’s advice that it will prepare me extremely well for medical school (he majored in bioengineering but he recommended biochem).</p>
<p>What can I do with a biochemistry major (besides advance to medical school)? I know I can be a clinical laboratory scientist (and study cells and stuff) and that sounds appealing, but what else might I be able to do with a degree in biochemistry?</p>
<p>What would I be able to do with a biomedical engineering degree (besides advance to medical school)?</p>
<p>And wow, thanks for the responses guys! First post in CC and I already feel welcome.</p>
<p>@frugal - Northwestern doesn’t allow undergrads to borrow more than $20k total, and offers very generous need-based grants, so I’m not clear how your friend could have amassed so much debt, but then again I don’t know much about med school.</p>