As a college first-year student aspiring to a career as a physician, I thought that if I was going to get into a good medical school, I needed to pursue a traditional science major and take all of the premed requirements as an undergraduate. However, after taking – and loving – my first-ever economics course, I decided that I would instead pursue a double major in economics and environmental studies and postpone the organic chemistry and physics requirements until after I graduated from college. To this day, I like to take sole credit for this decision, though here’s the truth: my doctor parents strongly encouraged me to pursue a non-science major as an undergraduate (parents take note: this was strongly endorsed by two physicians trained at Harvard – so they hopefully know something, right?). In the end it was one of the best decisions I have made!
My parents knew that I could take science courses after I graduated and would spend the rest of my life studying science if I became a doctor, but I would not get the chance to take “European Art and Architecture from 1400 to 1800” in medical school. (Though please let me know if you find a medical school offering art history courses like this one; I thoroughly enjoyed it.)
I am very lucky that my parents were strong advocates of my putting off the premed requirements, as it enabled me to take full advantage of the other courses and extracurricular pursuits that my college had to offer. Many of my friends did not have similar advice from their parents, and thus struggled through organic chemistry and physics as undergraduates –– to the detriment of their grade in the course, their science GPA when applying to medical school, their work in their other courses, and their enjoyment of their college life. Some even had to re-take the course after they graduated in order to improve their grade and GPA.
Thus, in order to be successful in your pre-courses, get a fully comprehensive education by taking courses in a wide range of subjects, and especially if you are a college athlete, like I was, or are involved in other time-intensive extracurricular activities, I strongly recommend that you consider other options for ways to fulfill your pre-medical requirements. Here are a few great options:
1. Full-Time Post-Baccalaureate Programs
These programs often run for one year and enable you to take all of the courses required for medical school during that time. They also offer advising for medical school admissions and some may make your admission to the medical school with which they are affiliated more likely.2. Part-Time Night Courses
3. Summer Academics
Although you may worry that these programs may not be seen as favorably as the courses offered in your undergraduate institution, I have seen many friends go onto some of the highest ranked medical schools, including Harvard, from these programs. Plus, there are so many other fun things – interesting jobs, fun volunteering opportunities, and other activities that can make you a stronger medical school applicant – that you can do while taking courses after you graduate!
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