Kinesiology

mathlegend · 10-30-2009, 07:22 PM

I heard this is a jock major. Is it true? Is it regarded as a joke major? I'm looking into it as a major for undergrad, then going into medical or podiatry school. Is that a wise choice?

And what are good schools for this major?

bluebayou · 10-30-2009, 07:28 PM

no it is not wise for med school. For some reason, kinesiology is not respected by med schools. (dunno why)

mom2collegekids · 10-30-2009, 10:20 PM

The guys that I've known to major in this want to be PE teachers and coaches.

It is NOT academic enough to be an undergrad for med school.

If it's not a good major for pre-med, why do you want recommended schools?

mom2collegekids · 10-30-2009, 10:26 PM

IF you want to go to med school I recommend the following majors...

Biology
Chemistry
Bio Chem
Chemical Engineering
Bio-chem Engineering

Along with the above, you should take whatever classes your school recommends for pre-med majors..often more bio, physics, and/or chem classes..

It can also help to minor in something...

If chem engineering major, consider minoring in biology

It also looks good to be fluent in another language, so perhaps minor in Spanish.

Why are you interested in Kinesiology? If you want to be a doctor, major in something that won't be considered a negative.

jazzymom · 10-30-2009, 10:38 PM

I think it depends on the college/university and the particular program offered.

S2 and I attended an info session for the University of Michigan College of Kinesiology and there were several student speakers who were majoring in a program within that college --- movement science --- as pre-med students. More than one said they had transferred in from Letters and Science to get better advising toward their pre-med goal.

At UM, within that college, there are separate program paths for athletic trainers, PE teachers and for sports management. The movement science program is more science oriented, with required classes in chemistry, physics, calculus, physiology, etc.

I suggest you look closely at the four-year program requirements for any university program you're interested in and also email the departments at specific colleges to ask the question about the path to pre-med and whether there is a record of success.

Meet Kinesiology Students: Elisabeth

mathlegend · 10-31-2009, 12:02 PM

Why is this not respected by med schools? I thought they more or less viewed all majors equally and they really just look at GPA/MCAT/extracurricular.

I'm interested in kinesiology because well...I'm a sports person. I love playing sports (though in some cases I suck hehe). I also am interested in specializing in sports medicine (either med school-->ortho residency-->sports med fellowship or pod school-->residency-->sports med fellowship) I feel that kinesiology has a lot in common with sports med.

Yea, I'm looking at something along the lines of the movement science offered at UMich. I'm also looking into the programs at Wake Forest, Rice, and USC. Too bad the UCs don't really have anything like that, except for UC Davis with exercise biology.

bluebayou · 10-31-2009, 12:12 PM

Quote:

I thought they more or less viewed all majors equally..

They do, more or less. Just like top law schools don't like undergrad biz majors or communication majors or education majors, med schools prefer something that is considered more "rigorous". While UMich's program maybe the hardest major in Ann Arbor, Kinesiology is typically not hardest elsewhere and has a lesser rep.

Quote:

Too bad the UCs don't really have anything like that, except for UC Davis with exercise biology.

The UCs do not offer it bcos the Cal States do. UC consider such a major as more practical and less theoretical, and thus, not "UC-worthy".

mom2collegekids · 10-31-2009, 12:24 PM

I wouldn't say they "view all majors equally".

The rule of thumb is that there isn't a prescribed "pre-med" major, but there's no way that a decent med school is going to view a Bio, Chem, or Engineering major equal to a French, English, communications, education, music, dance, or art major.

mom2collegekids · 10-31-2009, 12:26 PM

Mathlegend.....

If you're interested in Sports Med, then a different approach might be better. Either a double major (w/ kinesiology), or a more traditional pre-med major with a minor or certificate in kinesiology.

rjkofnovi · 10-31-2009, 07:33 PM

"While UMich's program maybe the hardest major in Ann Arbor, Kinesiology is typically not hardest elsewhere and has a lesser rep."

bluebayou. Where did you come up with this statement? Nobody ever said that Kinesiology is the hardest major at Michigan!

mom2collegekids · 10-31-2009, 08:02 PM

^^

I don't think that is what BlueB meant. I think BlueB meant that Kinesiology is a rather easy major on all campuses, even if the program is harder at Mich. So, I think Blue is saying that it doesn't matter that it might be "harder" at Mich, it's rather easy everywhere and not well-respected as a pre-med major..

BTW..it's not worth the risk. No one with the goal of becoming an MD should risk taking a "light" major and hope to get accepted to med school. Once you find out you've made a bad choice, it's too late.

mathlegend · 10-31-2009, 10:07 PM

Dang UCs. >>"

Perhaps I'll double major with Kinesiology and Biology.

mom2collegekids · 10-31-2009, 10:39 PM

^^^

Mathlegend...

How strong are you in sciences? The reason I ask is this...

If you are interested in becoming an orthopedic surgeon (with an interest in sports injuries), then I suggest a bio/chem engineering major. You might still be able to get a certificate in kinesiology.

My DS2 is pre-med and his double major is chemical engineering and biology - together, they are giving him the foundation for med school to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Since you love sports, come to The University of Alabama...strong pre-med majors and there is a kinesiology program.

jazzymom · 10-31-2009, 11:03 PM

From what I've read and heard, the UM program in movement science particularly --- again, a more rigorous and science oriented major than the majors in athletic training, physical education and sports management in the same college --- attracts a lot of pre-med students. Michigan gives undergrads a lot of opportunities to perform research and be involved in clinics, which probably helps with a med school application.

It worked for this guy (click on his name):

Movement Science Alums | U-M School of Kinesiology

And this guy is doing something similar:

Meet Kinesiology Students: Dwayne

mathlegend · 10-31-2009, 11:49 PM

I think I'm strong? I took AP Physics, A both semesters. Right now in AP Chem with an A (about 5/35 people have As). Dunno about AP Bio, that's coming up next year. How would an engineering major be beneficial? I'll look into University of Alabama though.

Michigan's looks good. I'll be considering that for sure.