Honest Opinion

[Paulette]

Hi, everyone. I just joined the ValueMD Forums in hopes of getting insight on my course toward a medical career. I just completed 1 year of University-level courses. Although I have talked to my adviser (both regular and pre-med), I would really like some honest (and if it is harsh, let it out) feedback on where I stand.

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San Jacinto College (Junior College/Transfer Credits) - High School Senior Year, College Credit

1. Microeconomics - A
2. Texas History 1 - A
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University of Houston (Main Campus) - First Year

1. English Composition 1 - A
2. English Composition 2 - A
3. United States History 1 - A
4. United States History 2 - A
5. Political Science 1 - A
6. Introduction to Anthropology - A
7. College Algebra - A
8. Pre-calculus - A
9. Foundations of Chemistry - A
------------------------------------------
Summary--

GPA: 4.0/4.0
Hours: 27 (with 6 transfer hours)
Honors: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Dean's List for Fall 2007-Spring 2007
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I understand that I don't have many science courses yet, but here is my intended Fall 2007 semester schedule:

1. Chemistry 1
2. Chemistry 1 Lab
3. Biology 1
4. Biology 1 Lab
5. Calculus 1
6. Calculus 1 Lab
7. Art History 1 (May be changed to Philosophy or Women's Studies due to AP credit in Studio Art)

So, an additional question (that has burrowed itself in the back of mind and causing me to become apprehensive!) if whether or not I'm "behind" as a pre-med. I have not shadowed a medical doctor yet, nor have I received any former volunteer work at a hospital. You might harbor the opinion now that I shouldn't jump into pre-med due to the lack of experience in that area, but I assure you, I'm infinity % sure of this. I want this more than anything! It would be beyond the scope of this post to describe why I desire to become a medical doctor (I'll save that for the application process ;)).

Lengthy post, but thanks for any responses!

[AUCMD2006]

Hi, everyone. I just joined the ValueMD Forums in hopes of getting insight on my course toward a medical career. I just completed 1 year of University-level courses. Although I have talked to my adviser (both regular and pre-med), I would really like some honest (and if it is harsh, let it out) feedback on where I stand.

------------------------------------------
San Jacinto College (Junior College/Transfer Credits) - High School Senior Year, College Credit

1. Microeconomics - A
2. Texas History 1 - A
------------------------------------------
University of Houston (Main Campus) - First Year

1. English Composition 1 - A
2. English Composition 2 - A
3. United States History 1 - A
4. United States History 2 - A
5. Political Science 1 - A
6. Introduction to Anthropology - A
7. College Algebra - A
8. Pre-calculus - A
9. Foundations of Chemistry - A
------------------------------------------
Summary--

GPA: 4.0/4.0
Hours: 27 (with 6 transfer hours)
Honors: National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Dean's List for Fall 2007-Spring 2007
------------------------------------------

I understand that I don't have many science courses yet, but here is my intended Fall 2007 semester schedule:

1. Chemistry 1
2. Chemistry 1 Lab
3. Biology 1
4. Biology 1 Lab
5. Calculus 1
6. Calculus 1 Lab
7. Art History 1 (May be changed to Philosophy or Women's Studies due to AP credit in Studio Art)

So, an additional question (that has burrowed itself in the back of mind and causing me to become apprehensive!) if whether or not I'm "behind" as a pre-med. I have not shadowed a medical doctor yet, nor have I received any former volunteer work at a hospital. You might harbor the opinion now that I shouldn't jump into pre-med due to the lack of experience in that area, but I assure you, I'm infinity % sure of this. I want this more than anything! It would be beyond the scope of this post to describe why I desire to become a medical doctor (I'll save that for the application process ;)).

Lengthy post, but thanks for any responses!


what i am gonna tell you is going to sound weird and even contractict what your pre-med advisor may tell you but rest assured it is an honest assesment and you will probably never hear it anywhere else.

you have a solid GPA to build on. get into a 4 year university and major in the easiest subject you can..if you know spanish-be a spanish major, philosophy, women studies, latin ameriucan studies, african american studies, history, art, music, etc and absolut6ely rock it and get a 4.0. then each semester take one science pre-req and one over the summer, focus all your energy on it and get nothing lower than a B.

you should finish your degree with a 3.8. take a month to study on your own for the MCAT then take a review course and hit a 30 on it. that will get you in a US MD/DO school and you will not have to look at any foreign schools.

having rotated with students from many US med schools every single major was non science major..education, music, history, english, computer science. the only idiots who were biology, chemistry, etc majors were us, the caribbean students. the only difficult major i met was a girl who was an engineering major and she said her gpa was borderline and it took her 3 attempts to get in a US allopathic school.

US med schools only care about their admission standards, they don't care about your major and a full science major offers no great advantage. then spend some time volunteering in a hospital but everyone does that so be more creative, do habitat for humanity, a soup kitchen, teach someone to read..etc. that will make you stand out then get your degree in the US and avoid the foreign route if you can.

[nl9569]

I agree with AUCmed, take just the sciences you need on the mcat - organic, gen chem, physics and just the basic biology. Anything else is a GPA killer. I wish someone would've given me the same advice years ago.

[jameslynton]

....

I understand that I don't have many science courses yet, but here is my intended Fall 2007 semester schedule:

1. Chemistry 1
2. Chemistry 1 Lab
3. Biology 1
4. Biology 1 Lab
5. Calculus 1
6. Calculus 1 Lab
7. Art History 1 (May be changed to Philosophy or Women's Studies due to AP credit in Studio Art)

So, an additional question (that has burrowed itself in the back of mind and causing me to become apprehensive!) if whether or not I'm "behind" as a pre-med. I have not shadowed a medical doctor yet, nor have I received any former volunteer work at a hospital. You might harbor the opinion now that I shouldn't jump into pre-med due to the lack of experience in that area, but I assure you, I'm infinity % sure of this. I want this more than anything! It would be beyond the scope of this post to describe why I desire to become a medical doctor (I'll save that for the application process ;)).

Lengthy post, but thanks for any responses!This is SO typical of what a premed adviser will do to you!!!! You are not behind in any way shape or form - you are off to a rocking start!!! However, DON'T take Chemistry and biology and calculus in the same semester under any circumstances - I did it and was real sorry. Keep the art history, take English and do just the Chemistry.

This is how it really works in school - single thread your hardest course you have to do well for medical school - with easy/fun courses - do chemistry before you do biology - Solid reason - intro biology has a lot of chemistry - do biology before you do organic chemistry. Don't unless you are a math wizard take calculus. Take the easiest physics you can get into with no calculus. The MCAT has no calculus on it in physics! So don't bother - most calculus classes are taught by petty grad students who have no idea how to teach!!! Major in English because the key to doing well in the MCAT is verbal ability. You are on track for a great US school - I have seen hundreds of student take three science courses and be so stressed out by the shear volume that they don't do well in any and don't get into medical school. All because they listened to a pre-med adviser and took three or four hard courses in a semester. If you are not a stress junkie don't do it. You would be surprised at the number of English and art history majors who are in US medical schools. I hope by all these posts you get the idea. You don't really career wise in medicine want to wind up in an island school. AUCMD2007 knows!

[stateofequilibrium]

Going from a humanities courseload to a full blown science courseload can be difficult, not to mention a disaster to your gpa. You're in no rush. Take your time to get GREAT grades in those science classes.

[LaCasta]

Yes, I thought about pressuring myself and taking a lot of science courses at once to get done with school sooner. I now realize I am going to take my time and try to get the best grades I can.

do whatever it takes to keep your 4.0

get tutors, office hours with teachers etc.

I got a C in Chem 1 last year, so right now durring my summer break I am already working through the chem 2 sylabus with a tutor and we are almost half way done with the class.

Do whatever it takes

[jameslynton]

Yes, I thought about pressuring myself and taking a lot of science courses at once to get done with school sooner. I now realize I am going to take my time and try to get the best grades I can.

do whatever it takes to keep your 4.0

get tutors, office hours with teachers etc.

I got a C in Chem 1 last year, so right now durring my summer break I am already working through the chem 2 sylabus with a tutor and we are almost half way done with the class.

Do whatever it takesNow that is smart! Don't let a pre-med adviser bully you into taking an all science semester. They are way too hard for most people to deal with.

[Paulette]

Thanks for all the kind replies and comments.

I probably will end up majoring in a non-science major and shift around the science courses.

Thanks again; I really appreciate the time you guys took to help me. :D

[jameslynton]

Thanks for the reply - we don't get thanks often. Best wishes in school.