Thinking about Medical School....question

[disfan07]

I am currently transferring to a 4 year school (I have been at a CC for 2 years) and I am majoring in Psychology.

I have always been very interested in medicine but I was never 100% sure that is what I wanted to do so I decided to major in Psychology with a focus on developmental and cognitive psychology.

Well, with all of my doctors I've had to see in the past few years, it's kind of sparked my interest in medicine again. I absolutely loved taking biology and anatomy/physiology in college and I am always getting into these crazy medical conversations with my doctors when I am in the hospital or at appointments. 4 of the are professors at UCLA school of medicine and I love talking with them about what they are teaching, etc.

My question is...has anyone here gone to medical school WITHOUT getting a bachelors in pre-med or a science field? If so, what as your major?

I'm just curious to hear form anyone who has gone to medical school without going pre-med or something with a science focus because all of my doctors (all 8 of them) got their bachelors in a science related field and any of my friends who are going to try to go to medical school are all pre-med and bio majors so I don't know anyone who has been in or is in the same situation as me.

 

[laurie31]

I don't know from personal experience, but I do know that it's not necessary to be "pre-med" in undergraduate to get into med school.

In fact, music majors have the highest percentage of being accepted!

Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. Physician and biologist Lewis Thomas studied the undergraduate majors of medical school applicants. He found that 66 percent of music majors who applied to med school were admitted, the highest percentage of any group. For comparison, (44 percent) of biochemistry majors were admitted. Also, a study of 7,500 university students revealed that music majors scored the highest reading scores among all majors including English, biology, chemistry and math.
Sources: "The Comparative Academic Abilities of Students in Education and in Other Areas of a Multi-focus University," Peter H. Wood, ERIC Document No. ED327480

and while googling to find a source for the music thing, I found someone asked the same question you did on another board (is it possible to get into medical school as a psychology major) and they got this answer from someone currently in med school:

your major doesn't matter as long as you take the premed prerequisite classes. It's more important to do something you love than something that you think will make med schools happier...and these days, softer sciences--like psych--and humanities are becoming more "popular" with med schools anyway. In my med school class there are religion, psych, history, art, music, linguistics, political science, community health majors as well as the more traditional biology majors. Schools care more about passion, critical thinking, and excellence in your chosen field than exactly what you studied (so long as you prove your science chops in the prereqs and MCAT). Good luck.

So, I'd say major in what interests you! A psych background sounds like a great assest for a doctor, as they will be deal with people who are worried, stressed, and not at their best.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I'm sure it can be done....

Just make sure you get in as much science/lab science as you can to get the pre-requisites covered. It may or may not require an additional semester or two depending on how all that meshes with your own degree requirements.

Good luck!

 

[golfgal]

I know a lot of doctors that don't have science related undergrad degrees. You will still need to take a full load of science and math in order to pass the MCAT though.

 

[anotherdisneygal]

A good friend of mine was an English major. He took all the science classes and probably could've double majored, but didn't.

My brother was a math and comp. sci. major. He had to do a post back to get in a few more of the science classes.

 

[VAN]

My DS is pursuing med school after graduating and then working 2 years as an engineer. He is currently taking the additional science classes required and is studying for the MCATs.

I'm hearing of a lot of people who graduated with engineering degrees and then went back to become doctors.

Good luck!

 

[DawnCt1]

Being well prepared in the sciences is essential. You can have a major in anything, but you should be sure to exceed your science and math requirements. Plan on scoring in the top percentiles of the MCATs. Passing isn't enough. Plan on a GPA of 3.5. You may be considered with a 3.25 but don't count on it. Do something 'different' on your way through college; go to Haiti with a relief organization. Spend the summer doing research, make yourself attractively noticable in your resume. There is a lot of competition.

 

[SydSim]

Also, since you say that your first two years were at a CC, if you had any credits from high school work (AP for ex.) in the sciences, make sure that even though your undergrad may accept them and place you in the upper level classes, that they are also acceptable to most med schools.

Just spoke with a parent the other day that said that she wouldn't allow her Dd to opt out of her entry level sciences in undergrad, even though she may have tested out of them with her AP scores, because the guidance counselor said that some med schools wouldn't count them (and thus, would actually have to be taken at the undergrad level again).

I had never heard of this, so just check it out if your situation is similar.

 

[ugadog99]

My daughter is an undergraduate now and is a History major on a pre-med track. The most important thing you can do is to find a very knowledgable advisor to keep you on the right track with your science classes. We have been told many times in the last two years that med schools are definitely looking for people who do not have the traditional science based undergrad degree. Good Luck!!

 

[pigletgirl]

My school that I'm at now doesn't have a 'pre-med' undergrad major. You are a biology major.
Chemistry, physics, ect is also acceptable. I have to have a certain number of lab science along with the lecture class. I look AP calculus in high school and then took the AP exam too. I did the same with Chemistry and Physics.
My point is, is that you really need to find out what classes you need to take before studying for the MCATS.

It's alot of work, but I hope you reach your goal of becoming an MD! Good luck!

 

[EdiePA]

Another thought, a lot of people have given you good pointers about the academics. I'd also encourage you to think of yourself as a "whole package". Schools are looking at how effectively you use your time. When my son was interviewing for dental school this was a major focus. And two of the three schools that he interviewed at focused on his cheerleading at Penn State. It sounds crazy, but it proved to them that he was budgeting his time well with academics, a job, two hours of practice every night and all the traveling, etc., that go with the sport.

Good luck!

Edie

 

[ugadog99]

Edie brings up a great point. The schools want to see other things besides just academics. However, don't overload yourself. Find one or two activites that are really important to you and stick with that. My daughter is (and has been) heavily involved in volunteering for the local children's hospitals and for St. Jude. She is continuing that in college, too.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

My husband is a 4th year med student and I just wanted to echo that although your major doesn't need to be science related, you do need to take a good bit of science course work for the MCATs. Med schools also look to see that you have this on your transcript. Pre med isn't a major, it's more a series of science classes that will prepare you for the MCATs and med school.

Another option to consider would be going to be a Physicians Assistant. It is a two year program and is sort of between an RN and a Dr. My SIL is finish up PA school and really likes it. There is high demand in the market for them as Drs can employ them in their practice, and they can get a lot of stuff done. They are able to practice under the supervision of a doctor, but relatively independently. My SIL just accepted a job with a transplant team and will be assisting on transplant surgeries. VERY VERY cool!!!

Going to med school and then residency is a huge commitment. Both time and money. One of the big advantages to being a PA is that you don't really have a residency. It's not just the tuition of med school but also lots of other incidental costs. Interviewing is expensive and you have to do it to get into med school as well as residency. Another example is my husband just paid $1,000 to take a test. And that doesn't include the flight and lodging since he has to travel to a far away city to take the test.

 

[Deb in IA]

For many, many years, I sat on the Admissions Committe of our medical school, and determined who was going to be admitted and who was not.

I can tell you for a FACT that many are admitted with degrees outside of the sciences.

However, you must fulfill these basic course requirements, in addition to whatever your major requires:

Physics
A complete introductory course (1 year), including lab and instruction

Mathematics
College algebra and trigonometry. Applicants who completed college algebra and trigonometry in high school must take either an advanced college mathematics course or a statistics course.

Chemistry
As a minimum, a complete introductory course in organic chemistry (1 year), ordinarily following a complete introductory course in modern general chemical principles--each with the appropriate laboratories.

Biological Sciences
A complete introductory course in the principles of biology, or zoology and botany (ie., 1 year), each with the appropriate laboratories, and an advanced biology course (1 semester or quarter). Recommended advanced biology courses include biochemistry, molecular & cell biology, human physiology, genetics or microbiology.

English
Two courses (to include composition and literature). This may be waived if your school integrates a writing requirement into courses across the curriculum.

Social and Behavioral Sciences, Humanities
Four courses. As writing skills are important in the study and practice of medicine, candidates are encouraged to fulfill this requirement with courses that include a writing component. Recommended courses include behavioral psychology, foreign language and other courses that encourage a greater appreciation for diversity and cultural competency.

In addition, and equally important, are the principles and technical standards that our medical school requires:

Observation
Students must have the functional ability to observe demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences and must have sufficient use of the senses necessary to perform a physical examination.

Communication
Students must be able to relate reasonably to patients and establish sensitive, professional relationships with patients, colleagues and staff. They are expected to communicate the results of the history and examination to the patient and to their colleagues with accuracy, clarity and efficiency.

Motor
Students are expected to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures. Those who cannot perform these activities independently should be able to understand and direct the methodology involved in such activities.

Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities
Students must be able to learn to analyze, synthesize, solve problems, and reach reasonable diagnostic and therapeutic judgments. Students are expected to be able to display good judgment in the assessment and treatment of patients. They must be able to learn to respond with prompt and appropriate action in emergency situations.

Behavioral and Social Attributes
Students are expected to be able to accept criticism and respond with appropriate modification of their behavior. Students also are expected to possess the perseverance, diligence, and consistency necessary to complete the medical school curriculum and enter the independent practice of medicine within a reasonable timeframe. They must demonstrate professional and ethical demeanor and behavior in all dealings with peers, faculty, staff and patients.

Cultural Competency
Medical students must be able to communicate with and care for persons whose culture, sexual orientation or religious beliefs are different from their own. They must be able to perform a complete history and physical exam on any patient regardless of the student's and patient's race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, age or sexual preference. Similarly, students must be able to interact professionally with colleagues and other healthcare professionals without regard to race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, age or sexual preference.

Good luck to you! It is a great profession!

 

[bluesaturn]

Psychology is a science, and hopefully it will be taught to you as a science. The specific facts you learn will be different from a hard science, but a good psychology course will still focus on the experimental methods and scientific thinking. Plenty of psych majors go on to med school or dental school. And it's probably a good choice because in some cases it may be easier to get into med school than some psychology grad programs.