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Bhavishnakumar
Student
Harrisburg, North Carolina
3
Questions
Asked
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I want to double major in computer science and biology or biochemistry, and minor in mathematics/statistics. for this I would probably go to unc Charlotte as its 7 minutes from my house, and I want to go to med school later. for med school I was thinking unc chapel hill, or duke for my top options, and Brody(ecu) as my back up. Im currently in 10th grade and would like to know what I can change or do better to have a top application into a top med school, and what I can do to make stuff easier. I also have a goal of becoming an oncologist?
I want to become an oncologist
I want to double major in biology or biochemistry and computer science, then minor math/stats as I have an interest in it
I would also like to know whether to do biology or biochemistry
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1085
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Bhavishnakumar,
It's great that you have such varied interests! I would like to caution though: bachelor programs are designed to keep students pretty busy, and especially in the sciences or in engineering, multiple majors/minors are not really feasible. You'll have classes, probably daily labs, homework, projects etc. Attempting to double-major, would likely extend your time in undergrad, affect your GPA and definitely add a lot of extra costs.
Keep in mind that admission to medical school is competitive and you absolutely need a stellar GPA and MCAT score. You'll also need many hours of experience in medical settings plus volunteer hours. You won't achieve all that if you spread yourself too thin and try to excel in multiple majors/minors. So, please pick one major you enjoy and that you could see as a backup career option. You can take a few classes in your other interests as part of your gen ed requirements or as electives.
As far as admission to medical school is concerned, you can obtain your bachelors in any major you would enjoy, but you also need pass all the pre-requisite courses that your medical school requires. If you major in biology or biochemistry, you'll cover most of those pre-requisites in your program. If you decide to major in computer science, since that seems to be something you are passionate about, you'll have to take extra classes to cover the science pre-requisites. I could see a reasonable path for you in biology/biochemistry OR computer science/math, not both!
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
It's great that you have such varied interests! I would like to caution though: bachelor programs are designed to keep students pretty busy, and especially in the sciences or in engineering, multiple majors/minors are not really feasible. You'll have classes, probably daily labs, homework, projects etc. Attempting to double-major, would likely extend your time in undergrad, affect your GPA and definitely add a lot of extra costs.
Keep in mind that admission to medical school is competitive and you absolutely need a stellar GPA and MCAT score. You'll also need many hours of experience in medical settings plus volunteer hours. You won't achieve all that if you spread yourself too thin and try to excel in multiple majors/minors. So, please pick one major you enjoy and that you could see as a backup career option. You can take a few classes in your other interests as part of your gen ed requirements or as electives.
As far as admission to medical school is concerned, you can obtain your bachelors in any major you would enjoy, but you also need pass all the pre-requisite courses that your medical school requires. If you major in biology or biochemistry, you'll cover most of those pre-requisites in your program. If you decide to major in computer science, since that seems to be something you are passionate about, you'll have to take extra classes to cover the science pre-requisites. I could see a reasonable path for you in biology/biochemistry OR computer science/math, not both!
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Bhavishnakumar !
You have a wonderfully dynamic career plan and goal and I think I may be able to advise you on the one thing you've asked - how to make the experience a bit smoother.
The first thing I would say is that you shouldn't double major at all and you shouldn't minor, either. You can always take single courses in computer science and a statistics class as a Required General Education fulfillment and/or as Electives. If you major in Biology, you are going to want a lot of time to study, a normal amount of courses each semester, time for Lab Work, research, papers and projects and double majoring will interfere with your studying and availability for making strong connections in your biology department which you will need.
Since you will learn how to be a doctor in Medical School, you may want to consider Majoring in Biology for your Bachelors degree. Most likely you can take the Biochemistry course within your Major program, but a straight and direct major for biology may be comprehensive and is a good foundation before medical school. It's great that you have been exploring Medical Schools for the future and your plan sounds good. You may learn certain things about medical schools during your undergraduate time, so be open minded if things change and you decide to go to a different medical school. Apply at that time to all you want, but your experience in college may bring up new ideas for you about medical school.
Colleges in North Carolina for majoring in Biology typically have courses that you'd need to take in the following: Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory 1, Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Introduction to Ecology, organismal structure and diversity course, with options including Plant Biology, Vertebrate Field Zoology, and Animal Behavior, General Descriptive Chemistry I and II with laboratory components, and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Mathematics requirements vary, with options such as Calculus of Functions of One Variable I, precalculus, or statistics courses like Foundations of Statistics and Data Science. Pre-med path students should also take physics, calculus-based mathematics, and computer science courses. So, you see, there is really no need to Double Major which would be very stressful and bombard you with work and you can take single courses for the subjects you've mention for your Major or as Electives.
Biology would prepare you for Medical School. Computer Science would prepare you for a career in Computer Technology which is very different than medicine. I would strongly advise majoring in one subject - Biology - where you'd be well prepared for the MCAT exam and Medical School will not be a complete confusion for you. All colleges are different with what curriculum is required and the names of their courses so read the different Biology Programs on the colleges' website to help you know which college may be best for you.
Most importantly, do not pile on unnecessary work for yourself by double majoring. It's just not necessary and an extra expense to pay for every credit you take. Stick with one Major which requires lots of study time and Lab work and other activities. Take everything one step at a time and in its' time. Part of what's great about going for a Bachelors Degree is that you discover new things along the way that lead you to new inspirations for plans for your career. Enjoy the first four years in college and make time for some fun too.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !
You have a wonderfully dynamic career plan and goal and I think I may be able to advise you on the one thing you've asked - how to make the experience a bit smoother.
The first thing I would say is that you shouldn't double major at all and you shouldn't minor, either. You can always take single courses in computer science and a statistics class as a Required General Education fulfillment and/or as Electives. If you major in Biology, you are going to want a lot of time to study, a normal amount of courses each semester, time for Lab Work, research, papers and projects and double majoring will interfere with your studying and availability for making strong connections in your biology department which you will need.
Since you will learn how to be a doctor in Medical School, you may want to consider Majoring in Biology for your Bachelors degree. Most likely you can take the Biochemistry course within your Major program, but a straight and direct major for biology may be comprehensive and is a good foundation before medical school. It's great that you have been exploring Medical Schools for the future and your plan sounds good. You may learn certain things about medical schools during your undergraduate time, so be open minded if things change and you decide to go to a different medical school. Apply at that time to all you want, but your experience in college may bring up new ideas for you about medical school.
Colleges in North Carolina for majoring in Biology typically have courses that you'd need to take in the following: Principles of Biology and Introductory Biology Laboratory 1, Molecular Genetics, Cell Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Introduction to Ecology, organismal structure and diversity course, with options including Plant Biology, Vertebrate Field Zoology, and Animal Behavior, General Descriptive Chemistry I and II with laboratory components, and an Introduction to Organic Chemistry, Mathematics requirements vary, with options such as Calculus of Functions of One Variable I, precalculus, or statistics courses like Foundations of Statistics and Data Science. Pre-med path students should also take physics, calculus-based mathematics, and computer science courses. So, you see, there is really no need to Double Major which would be very stressful and bombard you with work and you can take single courses for the subjects you've mention for your Major or as Electives.
Biology would prepare you for Medical School. Computer Science would prepare you for a career in Computer Technology which is very different than medicine. I would strongly advise majoring in one subject - Biology - where you'd be well prepared for the MCAT exam and Medical School will not be a complete confusion for you. All colleges are different with what curriculum is required and the names of their courses so read the different Biology Programs on the colleges' website to help you know which college may be best for you.
Most importantly, do not pile on unnecessary work for yourself by double majoring. It's just not necessary and an extra expense to pay for every credit you take. Stick with one Major which requires lots of study time and Lab work and other activities. Take everything one step at a time and in its' time. Part of what's great about going for a Bachelors Degree is that you discover new things along the way that lead you to new inspirations for plans for your career. Enjoy the first four years in college and make time for some fun too.
I hope this helps and I wish you all the best !