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Scarlet
Student
Elk River, Minnesota
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What PSEO pathway should I follow to major in Neuroscience?
Hello! I am a 10th grader right now and I am aiming to go to the U of MN to major in Neuroscience. I have a few options for PSEO (AA Degree, MnTc, etc.), but I am not sure which one is the best for my major. Should I just aim to complete my AA, get the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum, or should I take only high school general ed classes and choose college level science and math classes to show that I can handle that kind of course work on my college resume?
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Michelle M.
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Scarlet !
I hope that my advice doesn't sound too simple but there is a way to do this that will be more effective. Do your entire High School path and do a Dual Enrollment taking general education courses at the college while attending High School. Take one college course at a time. The Postsecondary Enrollment Options in your state of Minnesota is one that states that you can get a High School Diploma and an Associates Degree at the same time. This short-changes you on very important High School experiences as well as the experience of your first two years of college. It's a rushed, kind of illogical concept - magically doing a path to get both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree at the same time. A correct and most beneficial path is to go to high school and then go to college. There is absolutely no need for this program, especially if you plan to go to Medical School eventually to become a Neurologist or a PhD Program to become a Neuroscientist.
Neuroscience is a very heavy major and should not be rushed or cut corners for the education. Anatomy, Biology and Chemistry are very in depth and you will need to get the foundation for it in high school and that will prepare you for college. It's VERY important to take the time needed and finish a regular High School path. I find these fast track programs are questionable and I question why they exist. And it's like that the lure of it being free is the selling point while disregarding a best educational path for students.
So, you don't need an Associates Degree. Your path should be to obtain your High School Diploma and have a couple of the college general education courses under your belt. Then enroll at a University for your Bachelors Degree in a Neuro Science subject and go on for your Masters Degree or to Medical School, depending on the career you want. Try not to bunch up the heavy classes and your general ed requirements while doing your Bachelors Degree. Four years of solid college will provide you with the information you'll be expected to know and understand, lab work, practicums and other experiences you'd miss out on if you do the High School Diploma/Associates Degree at the same time. It's almost like saying the college they send you to is equal to high school and you deserve much better quality than that.
You're going to hear two sides perspectives about this type of program. You will need to ascertain what the withdrawal process is in case you decide to not be in the program once you start. You'll need to find out if you can Major in and get the Associates Degree in Anatomy, Biology or Chemistry or does this program have a few majors for these students. You will need to find out the quality and reputation of the community college that you'd have to go to and how limiting the units of credit are transferrable to a four year university for your Bachelors Degree. If you want this program because you do not like high school and you want your first two years free, do some self-evaluation and decide what the strongest path for Neuroscience is.
I hope my advice can be considered even though it may be a lesser expressed perspective on this and I wish you all the best with your path for Neuroscience.
I hope that my advice doesn't sound too simple but there is a way to do this that will be more effective. Do your entire High School path and do a Dual Enrollment taking general education courses at the college while attending High School. Take one college course at a time. The Postsecondary Enrollment Options in your state of Minnesota is one that states that you can get a High School Diploma and an Associates Degree at the same time. This short-changes you on very important High School experiences as well as the experience of your first two years of college. It's a rushed, kind of illogical concept - magically doing a path to get both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree at the same time. A correct and most beneficial path is to go to high school and then go to college. There is absolutely no need for this program, especially if you plan to go to Medical School eventually to become a Neurologist or a PhD Program to become a Neuroscientist.
Neuroscience is a very heavy major and should not be rushed or cut corners for the education. Anatomy, Biology and Chemistry are very in depth and you will need to get the foundation for it in high school and that will prepare you for college. It's VERY important to take the time needed and finish a regular High School path. I find these fast track programs are questionable and I question why they exist. And it's like that the lure of it being free is the selling point while disregarding a best educational path for students.
So, you don't need an Associates Degree. Your path should be to obtain your High School Diploma and have a couple of the college general education courses under your belt. Then enroll at a University for your Bachelors Degree in a Neuro Science subject and go on for your Masters Degree or to Medical School, depending on the career you want. Try not to bunch up the heavy classes and your general ed requirements while doing your Bachelors Degree. Four years of solid college will provide you with the information you'll be expected to know and understand, lab work, practicums and other experiences you'd miss out on if you do the High School Diploma/Associates Degree at the same time. It's almost like saying the college they send you to is equal to high school and you deserve much better quality than that.
You're going to hear two sides perspectives about this type of program. You will need to ascertain what the withdrawal process is in case you decide to not be in the program once you start. You'll need to find out if you can Major in and get the Associates Degree in Anatomy, Biology or Chemistry or does this program have a few majors for these students. You will need to find out the quality and reputation of the community college that you'd have to go to and how limiting the units of credit are transferrable to a four year university for your Bachelors Degree. If you want this program because you do not like high school and you want your first two years free, do some self-evaluation and decide what the strongest path for Neuroscience is.
I hope my advice can be considered even though it may be a lesser expressed perspective on this and I wish you all the best with your path for Neuroscience.
Thank you so much for your input! I haven't really thought about it that way before, and I get what you are saying. I do agree, the AA Degree may be a bit too rushed, considering the path I want to go through. I would do PSEO through a community college that directly partners with almost every public and a few private colleges in the state, so I wouldn't be worried as much about my credits transferring. I will definitely bring this up when I talk with my school counselor later this week!
Scarlet
You are very welcome for the advice, Scarlet !
Michelle M.