<p>I don’t have much advice on bio-math, but I can give you a first hand perspective on Actuarial Science, as I was pre-med in mathematics and eventually chose to become an Actuary over a Doc…</p>
<p>Advantages of actuarial science:
a) Easy to find a job if i don’t get in med school - actuaries are in great demand</p>
<p>It’s easy to find a job as an actuary… with a few exams under your belt. Passing the actuarial exams is no cakewalk–I would rate an early actuarial exam on par with one whole section of the MCATs in the amount of preparation it takes to pass (and the exams only get harder as you progress to ASA/ACAS and eventually FSA/FCAS). Most dedicated Actuarial Science students will have at least 1-2 exams done by Senior year, and likely 3 done by the time they are looking for full-time employment. That would essentially mean to have Actuarial Science as a backup would require you to take the MCAT twice (3 Actuarial Exams = MCAT).</p>
<p>b) Finance is useful in general - later investments in life and the like.</p>
<p>This is true. An actuarial science major will acquire more financial knowledge than most finance majors. Finance majors will have a more well-rounded business education, but as far as number crunching goes, an Actuary wins. The unfortunate thing is that an Accountant will have much more applicable knowledge for a Doc that is interested in private practice, etc, so this knowledge will largely go to waste (aside from–as you mentioned–a little bit more understanding of investment growth).</p>
<p>Disadvantages:
a) Classes are not in line with premed, which creates a massively difficult sophomore year as I will have to take all of my weedout science, math, and finance courses in that year.</p>
<p>Speaking as someone that went from Computer Science to Architectural Engineering to Premedicine to Life Science to Mathematics (General) to Mathematics (Actuarial Math), I can tell you that at a state school this will not be a problem. Even with all of that, I was able to complete all of my med school prereqs except for Organic Chemistry, and I did not complete that because that was around the same time I decided to become an Actuary instead of a Doctor. All of this and I’m still graduating in 4.5 years–not perfect, but it could’ve been a lot worse, and I definitely didn’t hold back when exploring my options.</p>
<p>b) I feel like medical schools will look down on actuarial science.</p>
<p>Perhaps. If you major in Actuarial Science, then yes, they probably will. It is essentially a vocational major. They will ask you, why aren’t you just becoming an Actuary? However, if Mathematics is a passion of yours, it’s perfectly viable to major in Mathematics. It is an academic major that is perfect for demonstrating your abilities, and will allow for a lot of room to take your med school prereqs. If you plan is to use Actuarial Science as a backup (but primarily wish to go to Medical School), this route would be much more appropriate. If you failed to get into Medical School, you could start taking the Actuarial Exams. Once you complete a few exams, you could start applying to jobs. Passing exams is the key to becoming an Actuary–a lot of Math teachers decide they no longer like teaching, take exams, and then become Actuaries. It’s certainly a viable option, but it’d require you to focus on Doc first, Actuary later (if necessary).</p>
<p>My main advice is to major in a subject that you love in UG. I majored in something I love (Math) in UG to maximize my chances to get into Medical School, and what do you know, I ended up liking it more than Doc. It’s crazy what can happen in college.</p>