Transferring from 4year institution, switch major

Transfer Students UC Transfers
1

<p>If you want to apply to a different major at a UC school from a 4 year university, will it affect your chances?</p>

<p>I’m in the middle of an early assurance MD program, and I don’t want to become a doctor anymore. So after completing the prereqs from old AP credits and out of state community college institutions, I want to try to do math at UCLA or Davis or UCB (1) great math research and programs, something my uni doesn’t offer and 2) because it’s cheaper and I can pay the loans back myself and 3) my parents are cutting off my financial aid because they can’t believe I want to do low paying pure mathematics), will applying in the middle of the EA MD program show my lack of dedication? I’m willing to switch out and into a math major at this university before I send my app in for UC transfers, but it’s going to insane to try to pay the costs myself at my current university (if I don’t make it into UCD/UCLA/Davis). If I really don’t make it in (note my GPA, due to rigorous coursework that has nothing to do with the prereqs, isn’t quite as high…), I screwed myself over with these costs. On the other hand, if I keep this program and don’t make it in, I miss out the chance of doing math for my career. there’s a silent negotiation that says that if I don’t make it in, I continue my program to be a doctor. </p>

<p>I’m actually considering this choice, a lot. It’s just kind of rash, and if I switch to a math major, rack up debts, and don’t really go anywhere because the major isn’t from a good program… well… I’ll still be happy. Just sort of risky, though.</p>

2

<p>I am an MD in private practice and would advise you to try to determine why you no longer wish to be a doctor and that there is absolutely no chance you will change your mind. Most pre-med majors do not get even one opportunity to actually go to medical school and it sounds like right now you are assured of acceptance at a medical school as long as you perform satisfactoraly in the program you are in. If you leave this program and later decide you really do want to be a doctor you are unlikely to get another opportunity to go to medical school.</p>

<p>However, if you know for certain that a career in medicine is not what you want than you should pursue your ambition to become a mathematician. Medical school is brutal and it only gets worse when you enter a residency program. Unless you are strongly motivated to be a doctor, what you will have to endure physically, mentally and emotionally to obtain a medical education and become a doctor will be unbearable. It has to be something you really want to survive the hardships involved in being a medical student and a resident for seven years before you can finally get a license to practice medicine.</p>