How much room would pre-med requirements take up?

premed4 · August 9, 2011, 12:26pm

My college councilor is having me think about what I want to major in, but I'm having some problems deciding, partly because I'm not sure how much space pre-med req's take up. As of now I'm interested in Math, possible concentration in either biology or computer science, or a double major in one of those areas. If I did math with the pre-med req's what would you recommend I do in terms of additional course load? Concentrations? Minors? a second Major?

Concentration-Requires 5 additional courses
Minor-Requires 6 courses/18 credits for comp sci and 4 courses for bio

I don't want to try to do to much and have it blow up in my face, so if you know anything about being a math major and the difficulty feel free to share. Also I heard that for non CS majors, CS classes are nearly impossible to do well in, do any of you know anything about that?

Thank you

entomom · August 9, 2011, 12:47pm

As a rising jr in HS, it's very early to be concerned with minors and second majors, both of which are unimportant for med school.

For premed coursework, see the sticky thread at the top of this forum.

WayOutWestMom · August 9, 2011, 12:57pm

One thing to consider is the MCAT is changing content starting in 2015. The new test will include more science (cellular & molecular bio, genetics, biochem), more math (statistics and research methodology), and will include new section that covers human behavior (psych, sociology, medical ethics and perhaps some anthropology and philosophy).

Right now med schools haven't officially announced any change in admissions requirements, but it's a pretty safe bet that things will be changing in the next year. Keep yourself informed.

But re: math---both my D were/are double majors--and one of their majors was in math. (One had physics, the other has bio as their other major.) Double majors are do-able, but you have to plan your schedule carefully if you want to graduate in 4 years.

I'm a non CS person and I did just fine in the CS courses I took in college. (I was an English grad student at the time and was the only non-engineer/science major in the class of 120. Learned FORTRAN then and later learned assembler, C++, SQL, database and website design. I actually enjoyed programming classes a lot.) Both D's have taken CS courses as part of their math undergrad (D1 took C++ and MatLab; D2 took MatLab) and did well in them. CS classes are very time-consuming, but if you put in the hours you can do well.

premed4 · August 9, 2011, 1:24pm

Ok thanks, that was really helpful.

I'm not really sure why I have to be thinking about majors now either, I just got a letter from my college councillor, he might have sent me the ones intended for seniors, I'm not sure, but either way, thanks. Over the next 2 years of high school I'll take AP Bio and AP Comp Sci to see how I like those, maybe that would help. Quite honestly I don't think I would double major, probably just either 2 minors, or a minor and a concentration, because either way if med school doesn't work out for me Math would create good options for me, Bio and Comp Sci would really just be for fun, comp sci maybe because it would be helpful later on in life.

MiamiDAP · August 9, 2011, 2:42pm

CS is very possible to do well, but CS is very time consuming. You are the only one to decide what do you want to do with your life. I have been Programmer for over 30 years, CS is paying my bills.