<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am currently entering my freshman year into college. I am taking a pre-med course at my college and I signed up to take courses in the computer science major. I am thinking about doing a dual major, but then I really don’t know how many credits I should take each semester so that I will have some time to study for the MCAT during my junior year. </p>
<p>Do dual majors really help into getting into medical college?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>
Nope. They don’t.</p>
<p>No, they don’t. </p>
<p>“I am thinking about doing a dual major, but then I really don’t know how many credits I should take each semeste”
-Depends on your majors. Computer science is very time consuming. You will be spending ton of time in computer lab, writing and testing your programs. You did not specify your other major. Taking 18-19 hrs/semester first 2 years with no more than couple difficult classes every semester is OK. Taking about 15 hours preferrably with one difficult class in junior year while preping for MCAT is reasonable. Keep in ming that you will need to volunteer, do research, work as most pre-meds do. Most of them also pursue other personal interests not related to medicine.</p>
<p>Thank You both for your replies. I am going to Michigan State University and I am in the Lyman Briggs program. My other major was Human Biology. Here’s the list of majors that are in the program: [Lyman</a> Briggs - Current Students: Majors](<a href=“Lyman Briggs College | Michigan State University”>Lyman Briggs College | Michigan State University) . I know for a fact that I wish to become a doctor and I have an interest in Computer Science. So I’m not really entirely sure if I need the Computer Science track. Should I instead do Human Biology as my major and maybe Computer Science as my minor?</p>
<p>What would be the average amount volunteer and research time of a freshman student?</p>
<p>I do not know amount of work for Compute Science minor. I am a computer programmer. While at college, I have spend lots of time writing and testing computer programs. If you do not do this part, there is no sence in Computer Science, which is primarily developing and maintaining software.</p>
<p>I have looked at Computer Science major in Lyman Briggs. My concern is way too much math (no need for Med. school, and definitely no need for Computer classes) Human Bio looks very very challenging - D. has taken similar classes</p>
<p>I am not sure why you need to combine these majors. Looks like it might take you about 7+ years to complete. </p>
<p>I do not know how many APs you have and which ones you are allowed to use.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. I really don’t want to spend 7+ years in college. I thought about also taking some classes in the summer every year until I was done. Would that be advisable? Would that be possible to finish everything? But then, now I don’t really know if I’m trying to do too much. </p>
<p>The only AP subject I have is AP European History which gives me 8 credits. I also went on a summer study abroad program which gave me 2 credits. </p>
<p>I really never wanted to take Calculus III because I thought it would be too far from my league, and as you said, I really don’t need it. </p>
<p>Do you have any other suggestions of what classes I might take? </p>
<p>Once again, I appreciate the help greatly.</p>
<p>
If at all possible, do NOT do this. Summers should be for travel, and research opps, and the beach, and volunteering, and re-charging your system, and …pretty much anything but taking classes (unless it just has to be). I think there is field called “bio-informatics” or some-such (But don’t get me to lying. I was a History major). Maybe you could take a class in that (if it’s interesting to you) to combine your interest? One of my D’s friends did something with “computational chemistry” and has presented papers world-wide so there must be something to it. But again, not my area. ;)</p>
<p>^Agree! Relax, spend time with friends in your summers.</p>