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Keep in mind that is that each path requires time-consuming extra-curricular engagement that may not be compatible. If you want to be competitive for med school, you should be volunteering or working in a health care setting. If you want to be competitive for graduate programs in chemistry, you need significant research experience in a lab.</p>
<p>You can keep your options open for right now, but you should probably decide by the end of your second year whether you want to prepare for graduate or medical school if you want to be a competitive applicant at either.</p>
<p>If you want to have a ready back-up career that fits in the time constraints of a pre-med education, consider adding a teaching credential to your science major. Or choose a major that’s directly employable, such as computer science.</p>