Switching focus and need ideas!

We are in a great spot for that here in southern CT

1 Like

Seconding Scranton. We know a few kids who were not uber-competitive applicants go there and thrive. Two are now DPT!

2 Likes

I get it. My daughter loves biology and chemistry and was always premed- until she shadowed her pediatrician and realized that she didn’t like it. She continued shadowing- orthopedists, nurse practitioners etc.

It is very important to shadow and do informational interviews. It’s also perfectly fine if she doesn’t know yet. Feel free to message me if you would like to chat.

Marist, Niagara University and Manhattan College?

4 Likes

And there are DOZENS of health careers that HS kids don’t know about! Epidemiologist, hospital management, policy or advocacy, all the “corporate” functions…who figures our how to get a vaccine which needs refrigeration from a facility in Switzerland to a rural village in Ethiopia?

So many interesting careers!

5 Likes

This is why I think if she isn’t 100% about Nursing she should NOT start a Nursing program. Go in biochem and see where it leads

3 Likes

A lot of medical schools accept nursing degrees as a “premed” major.

@WayOutWestMom could you clarify this, please?

1 Like

Here’s a link:

I think the key is that the required courses for medical school applicants have to be the ones required for medical school applicants. Sometimes some of the courses for nurses are not the same.

If a student completes the medical school required courses for admission, they can major in anything.

I would check carefully that the courses taken fulfill the medical school criteria.

2 Likes

Certainly a BSN can go to med school; however, many colleges have 3 tracks for science classes. One for gen ed; one for allied health science majors; one for physical and biological science majors. Science classes offered through the allied health science track do NOT meet med school admission requirements, even though the courses may have the exact same title (ex. microbiology or biochemistry). Allied health sciences science class have a different breadth or depth of material and different focus than classes offered to physical/biological science majors.

If the BSN student take the same exact class (with the same exact course number, not the same name since class names can be misleading) as chemistry or biology major takes, then that class meets med school admission requirements.

If the BSN students take a class with a different course number (even if it has the same course title) that does NOT meet graduation requirements for BS/BA in biological or physical science, then that class will not fulfill admission requirements for medical schools.

Those with BSN will still be expected to have completed the expected pre-med ECs (lab research, physician shadowing, clinical experiences and community service with the disadvantaged.

BTW, I just read that site link and there is glaringly incorrect info there. It says that med schools do NOT require/expect any prior clinical experience from applicants–which is just plain wrong/outdated. Having clinical exposure (200+ hours is the expected baseline for med school applicants) is a cornerstone of pre-med ECs.

5 Likes

This sounds like a great idea, imo. Let her find her career interests. No need to choose a path today.

1 Like

Both of our kids went to Holy Cross and loved it. Academic rigor and alumni support are strong. it should definitely be on the list. The biology and psychology programs are solid.

However, HC has become a tough admit due to a growing applicant pool. The most recent incoming class acceptance rate was <20%.

1 Like