Please help me, I am lost and terrified that I am extremely behind!

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Ok, I am on my THIRD year of college and I havent even declared my major because I had no Idea what I wanted to do with my life. Now I am stuck because I absolutely LOVE math and computer science but I also want to go to med school. The problem is, I dont think I am on the right track at all because I am still taking 101 classes. The reason is because I wanted to try out everything before I knew what I liked the most. I took psych courses, calc courses, drama (all sorts of courses for the past two years) therefore I am not in any 200 courses!!
This semester I am taking bio 106 course, computer 101 and Calc 2 (integration…and differentiation or whatever).</p>

<p>I want to Major in computer science with applied mathematics but I also want to get to MED school, in case I dont get into med school I can fall back on comp science. What I am trying to ask here, is it too late for me or is it still possible? I am so stressed out right now, I just need opinions. Yes I am going to speak to an adviser soon but I just want to hear from others. I am lost…HELP!!!</p>

2

<p>My opinion is…merely an opinion… You would probably have to do a post bacc. A 4 year degree in comp sci wont do much, i would get a Masters Degree if you really need it as a back-up.</p>

<p>Get the best grades you can now, because they will still matter in the future.</p>

<p>Post-bac program seems best because you are too late into undergrad to start the pre-med track let alone prepare for the MCAT, which will require true discipline to study for after taking a year of organic chemistry, physics, biology, and chemistry, all with labs, including pysch, sociology, and biochemistry (without lab). </p>

<p>First, I would understand what medicine truly is before starting a long and expensive journey, that even if you do finish, doesnt garuntee you a spot in MD school. You should understand the cost as well as the hardwork. I advise that you shadow some physicians to see if medicine is truly the career path you want to take. </p>

<p>After all that, start looking at some masters programs for comp sci, if you truly want it as a back-up, as well as post bac programs. Mind you that it is even harder to get into med school as a postbac.</p>

<p>Anything is possible with the right amount of discipline. Keep doing your research and get those A’s while your in undergrad. Your GPA is important as well as your professional growth. Keep getting involved. As a non-traditional student you will need a hook. </p>

<p>Remember!!! This road is very expensive, masters degree, post bac program + taking MCAT and applying to med schools. Be aware. If you stay committed and set goals, nothing will stop you. </p>

<p>(Im not the best at advice, but I gave you what I have accumulated through listening to the more experienced people here on CC.) </p>

3

<p>First, you need to declare your major ASAP. Even if you don’t totally love it, you need to just commit to something and stick with it, just to get your degree finished.</p>

<p>How long are you willing to stay in school? If you still need to finish your major requirements, you might be able to squeeze in the pre-med pre-reqs, depending on how many more years of college you want to pay for.
You will need:
-Two English classes
-Chem 1 and 2
-Organic chem 1 and 2
-Physics 1 and 2
-Bio 1 and 2
-Biochemistry
-Intro to psych
-Intro to sociology
-Calculus (and possibly more math depending on the med school)</p>

<p>Those classes alone are at least 3.5 semesters worth of classes</p>

<p>After that you will need to take the MCAT, and you will almost certainly need to take at least 1 gap year. But it IS possible to do. Alternately, you can look into formal and informal post-bac programs that cover all of the pre-reqs. @WannaBeDocc‌ is incorrect in saying that post-bacs have lower acceptance rates. Most formal post-bac programs have linkages with med schools which generally have lower requirements than applying outright, however you do need to apply for them and they can be quite pricey. I suggest that you look through the non-trad forums on Student Doctor Network to see how other people have handled similar situations.</p>

4

<p>Did you go into college with any AP courses? My son got AP credits for 5 courses and was able to finish all the premed requirements in 2 years. So it is doable. Keep in mind though that higher level computer science courses are very time consuming and so are the premed courses and labs. And BTW you don’t need a masters in computer science if you want to use it as a back up. You can start working in that field right away. You really should speak to prehealth advisor ASAP. </p>

5

<p><<<
The problem is, I dont think I am on the right track at all because I am still taking 101 classes. The reason is because I wanted to try out everything before I knew what I liked the most. I took psych courses, calc courses, drama (all sorts of courses for the past two years) therefore I am not in any 200 courses!!</p>

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<p>Yikes!</p>

<p>Are you receiving financial aid? If so, you are going to end up getting cut-off at the end of your 4th year. Schools don’t just keep providing aid while you find yourself. </p>

<p>What is your adviser saying.</p>

<p>Are you going to school full time?</p>

<p>How are you paying for college? </p>

<p>Stop taking 101 courses! (I don’t understand why an advisor has allowed this!!) Pick a major that you love and then you’re likely going to have to do a post-bacc if you want to go to med school.</p>

<p>I am very concerned that you’re going to have to leave school before getting your degree unless your parents are paying (and will continue to pay and pay)</p>

6

<p>Read posts 2 and 4 a couple of times and check out what you might have covered for medicine already (I am counting Math and Psychology - CS and drama don’t count). Doing 100 level classes in 3rd doesn’t bode well for your graduation, let alone planning on med school.</p>

7

<p>I’m merely curious, and don’t feel obligated to elaborate, but if you “absolutely LOVE math and science” then why do you want to go to med school? You should recognize that while doctors certainly rely on science every day and have an impressive grasp of the biomedical science related to their specialty choice, the vast majority of doctors are not scientists in the purest sense of the word. (In other words, I took plenty of challenging science classes which I really enjoyed in undergrad; my preclinical years of medical school were relatively science-heavy, but almost exclusively biomedical science; my clinical years have only included science as relevant to clinical practice; residency will certainly be focused more on developing clinical judgment than on science; and with all that practice, I highly doubt my future beyond residency will be very science-based…and I imagine the vast majority of my peers have had similar experiences).</p>