Striving for innovation: physics, engineering, and medicine

dmsc93
Fri, 20 Jan 2012 03:40:19 +0000

Hello CC community,

Currently, I’m a first-year undergrad planning to major in Physics at a top-notch (I think) liberal arts school. However, I am planning to apply to Columbia’s Fu Foundation of Engineering through the 3-2 Combined Plan Program at my college, most likely to study Biomedical Engineering. I plan to actively engage in physics research, and my ultimate career goal is pursuing an MD/PhD degree and becoming an innovator (by pursuing a more unique path).

Many – professors, a renowned neurosurgeon who visited my school, and peers – have doubted the effectiveness of my path, arguing the rarity of my curriculum path and the difficulties I must face academically (and time wise). I still wish to follow this path regardless, but I’d also like to hear MORE OPINIONS, perhaps to INSPIRE a more fresh perspective in me. Please be aware, though, that I am rock-solid about my passion in physics, engineering, and medicine at the moment, but maybe things can change.

I have spoken to my advisors and career center staff, as well as read numerous articles and posts on medical school preparation. I understand the nature of liberal arts and experimentation, and I also comprehend the fact that not everything can be planned in its entirety. But this is how my problem goes.

Given my goals, I must comply with four requirement “sets”:
a) general education expectations
b) my BA physics major
c) the pre-plan requirements for BME at Columbia
----this can help http://www.studentaffairs.columbia.edu/admissions/webfm_send/222
d) medical school requirements.
All of these completed in three years (maybe med requirements in five). I’ll be doing REUs for first and second-year summers, so summer session/courses are out of the question. Third-year summer will probably be intro pure engineering courses I have to take for 3-2.

I have drawn a tentative schedule on a spreadsheet, but I’m still in a pinch.

My current courses (first year):
Fall:
Organic Chem I + concurrent lab (which I took upon instructor recommendation)
Gen Phys I (intro newtonian phys with calculus)
Multivariable Calc (upon placement exam + AP CalcBC 5)
English course

Spring:
Organic II + concurrent lab
Gen Phys II (electromag with calculus - intro course)
Linear Algebra (highly theoretical and proof-based; not vectors/matrices computational)
Philosophy course

Quite astonishingly, I’ve managed to stash a 4.0 first semester. I was very surprised and glad, of course.

My question lies in the fact that I have managed to follow Orgo surprisingly well, and my background in inorganic chemistry is deeply enrooted from high school (AP and a bit more), but technically speaking, I require the inorganic chemistry credit on my transcript for med-school.

Bad news is that I can’t take gen/inorganic chem next year, since I have to do my biology + lab next year, also for requirements (though I also took AP Bio, which is obviously not considered for its ‘high-school level’). I’m also continuing physics & pre-3-2, onto Waves, Quantum, Programming, IntroEcon, DiffEquations

So, speaking to the point, the questions:

1. About English courses, MUST I take TWO ENGLISH courses? Or can these “writing or comparative literature” courses be in other departments, like Russian, German, Spanish, Philosophy, etc (other Humanities and SocialSci)?


Given the restrictive nature of my curriculum, MUST I take inorganic chemistry as a set of year-long intro courses? (Although, I can’t seem to fit TWO SEMESTERS (only one) in my curriculum any longer, just to not strain myself too much. I’m already doing 4.5~5.5 classes a semester, regular is 4 at my school) Is my AP credit really invalid? Doesn’t having taken Orgo first-year explain for itself that I have a strong chemistry background, thus rendering unnecessary to take Gen Chem? Or am I to pursue higher-level inorganic (or organic/biochem?) to complete the “second-year” of chemistry requirements?
Is it compulsory to take Biochemistry and/or Statistics? Consider that I’m applying to med-school 4 years after today…
Where should I allot my TWO MAX possible AP credits? Options:
Two credits in CHEM141/142 for B(+) in Organic
OR
One credit in BIOL181 (intro bio genetics/heredity part, I believe)
AND/OR
One credit in ENGL (Lang or Lit)
AND/OR
One credit for Philosophy


5a. How is PHYSICS viewed from a medical school admissions perspective?
5b. How is LIBERAL ARTS viewed from a medical school admissions perspective?
5c. How is ENGINEERING viewed from a medical school admissions perspective?


When should I start my MCAT preparation? Any great suggestions for initial leads?


As you might notice, basically the best way to ease my academic curriculum would be by reducing the number of courses I have to take compulsorily, thus giving me the chance to a) best enjoy liberal arts, b) still be technically ready for my later studies (eng&med), and c) taking electives I’d like! :)

Excuse the caps, it’s only to emphasize on what I’d like to have responded.
Please do share your opinion regarding my career, my course plan, and my standing in general. It would be very helpful to hear your constructive criticism. I am open-minded to these suggestions and would like to best improve my career based upon my passion/intellectual curiosity for the sciences and my inspiration to be innovative from following a more unique (or is it common?) academic path.

Sorry for the long post, but I deem it necessary for you to understand my background and my academic attitude.

Thank you for your time! I’ll be looking forward to your helpful responses.