[College] Biology Major

Don't med school students generally major in chemistry for their bachlers degree?

 

If you don't get into med school that degree is useless. I think chemical engineering or bioengineering might be a better option.

 

Biochem is the way to go dude.

It's so much more medically relevant, and the research opportunities is vastly more rewarding.

Major in Physiology if you want to get an early start, but imho you learn the same stuff again in MS. Same with biochem, neurosci, and to an extent biology, but mostly physio.

 

recommend just a pure biology degree (and considering chemistry -- crash5179 mentioned that one, and it's a good idea, just not standard for most students applying to med school.)

Getting into med school is tough. Then med school is tough. Then residency is horrific. And then you have to deal with a difficult industry.

Please only go into medicine if you feel like it's a passion for healing people.

If you just want a biological career, merge a biology degree with some programming talent, and you will definitely find work. (IMHO.)

(I teach a lot of pre-meds and write letters of rec for them, etc.)

 

This is very, very important.


Do NOT pull all-nighters the night before the test unless you're on a addy. Keep up with the work, reading, etc. Don't procrastinate or you'll be weeded out by this time next year.

 

this is the truth, your brain doesnt function properly and you will not learn anything, check out this blog from one of our students, it's the first entry, learning how to learn

http://advicetochangelives.blogspot.com/

 

Biology is the most common degree for Pre-Med students and other health care careers. Yes, it is difficult. All nighters and cramming will not work.

 

Major in something other than the sciences...if you want to go to med school, just take the prerequisites...there is no need to major in a science unless you dont mind being a teacher in that subject, in the case that med school doesnt work out.

I majored in economics, but still took all my science classes. If I had chosen to not go to medical/dental school, I could have entered the business world.

 

Did you end up going to med school?

We're still a few years away from having to worry about it, but my older son talks a lot about going to medical school...he's said that since he was about 7. Ultimately these are going to be issues he'll have to sort through, and information from people who have actually gone through the experience is helpful.

 

I'm interviewing at med schools this semester, Bio is the dumbest major ever. Its not medically relevant at all and the Bio dept at A&M sucks.

Do something like Biomedical science or Biochemistry

 

I know a ton of our alumni doctors, recent graduates, and students have had great success getting into med school on a biology degree. And if your university doesn't "suck," it will be relevant to medicine, without a doubt.

1. rezdawg is correct, that the actual major doesn't matter as long as you take the correct list of courses. I know an English major who became a happy doctor.

2. Along those lines, physics or chemistry are majors that tend to yield better into med. school than others. And Biochemistry, as a couple have mentioned, would be the best bet yet, if you can hack it. That's just my experience, but med programs seem to prioritize a good application from one of those majors. The great, great majority are biology majors.
I also think Chemistry and Physics are usually even harder than Biology to complete, with Biochemistry being often the hardest yet (at most schools anyway).

Cheers and good luck.

Also, I will try to recruit MadMax's kid to my school. LOL. :grin: Mwahahaha. Only here will he learn that it was not normal for his father to dress up like spiderman every night for dinner!

 

He'd be in great hands, I'm sure. But he's brainwashed by my Longhorn side of the family.

 

Sayin you're a biology major sounds like a good pickup line.

 

If you want to get into a med school, do Pre Med requirements but get something other than a science degree. Most people apply with a science degree but a business degree for example will set your application apart from others.

 

A phenomenal option for sure!

 

Biology can lean towards environmental biology, rather than medical. Some people are suggesting specifically biochem. I agree.

If you really want to stand out do biomedical engineering and chemistry with all the premed reqs.

 

Got into med school, but pulled out and took the dentistry route.

My best recommendation is to major in something other than a science...first, he's going to be getting his fair share of science through the prerequisite courses plus he can take some upper level science courses as well if he's interested. Second, it gives him a more well rounded education. And third, and probably most important, a degree outside of the sciences can still get him into medical school, and at the same time, help him with his career/life. For instance, many doctors lack any sense of business...and therefore, they struggle with the business side of their practice. They make uneducated decisions....a business degree is something that anyone with a business (and yes, doctor's offices are treated as businesses) can use.

Through all my med school and dental school interviews, I got the sense that it worked in my favor that I majored in economics, bc it showed that Im more well rounded.

 

Doesn't matter if you want to do medicine, doesn't matter what job you want, college is about so much more than what's taught in classes and labs.

It's an opportunity to network, to gain social knowledge, and to explore your passions. That's why for any professional school, extra-curricular's are so important. But don't do them just to have an extraordinary resume, do them so you can be an extraordinary person. Chose the things you are genuinely interested in, but don't chose the easy routes. Sometimes developing social skills and character involves stepping out of your comfort zone. IF you want to go into medicine, try to develop your leadership skill and social awareness. Become professional and classy to all those around you, and try to emulate how a great doctor would behave not just in the clinic, but also in life.

Hope that helps, I'm a pre-med myself trying to better myself to serve humanity not just some-day, but today.

 

I think you'll soon see that most doctors arent how you are envisioning them. I think you'd be shocked how much drug/partying/greed exists among doctors. Boston University has a pretty good medical school and I can say that at least 30% of the class does coke on a regular basis. But, they'd show up Monday morning after a cold shower and a cup of coffee and everything would continue as planned.