<p>My very favorite major for incoming freshmen is “undecided.” Get into to college, take your gen bio, gen chem, and a couple of gen eds/humanities courses that look interesting. All the better if they are completely unrelated to science. Keep your options open. </p>
<p>Over the years, I’ve met a few kids with parents who are really invested in a particular carrer (and yeah, it’s usually medical doctor). It’s horrible for students, and you have my sympathy. I tend to agree with the others who say there’s no need to have it out right now. Med school aps are a long ways away and a lot can happen between then and now. When people ask your plans (a pretty common question for those approaching senior year), you tell them you’ll go to school X, and you would like to study “science” (or whatever) and see where that takes you. Do you want to be a doctor? Well, gee, question-asker, that’s a long way off. </p>
<p>One thing I will say is that the stress gets worse, not better. You think high school is competitive? Get a bunch of pre-meds together in a room. Yikes. If you are uncomfortable with the level of competition now, you’re probably correct in assuming another field (medical reseach, medical physics, literature, art history) is probably the way to go.</p>