/sci/ - Science & Math

bump, I'd really like some advice from people here who are much more experienced than I am

last bump i promise

Go for physics. At least you will have more options (in case you don't get in, high statistical likelihood) than with a biology "degree."

>>4239951
>Major in physics

Now is not a good time to be a physics major job-wise. Seriously. Besides, don't need a degree to pursue what you enjoy (which fucking better be physics)

>>4240030
>biology
>hard science

Nearly every med school applicant is a biology or biochem major. With a little bit of biology research experience, a 3.5+ and some random extracurriculars, none of which are particularly exciting...

A physics degree is a good way to stand out. Bear in mind the people making the admissions decisions were all premeds, the hardest course they ever took was probably Phys102. A lower grade in a physics major is probably worth more to these guys than a 4.0 in the same subject every other applicant took.

>pre-med

How about you just choose whatever is easiest so you'll earn those grades you need like all the pre-med lowlifes out there?

>>4240031
why do you say this?

>>4240045

Because I'm not interested in what's easiest. It's either biology or physics.

>>4239951

Right, but I'm not going for a physics job. Pre-medical school students can do whatever major they want, as long as they keep up a high GPA and take the required pre-med students.

Take whatever you want, as long as you fulfill the med school requirements and can get a 4.0 GPA.

>>4240052

meant to respond to

>>4240031

>>4240061

Right, but I wanted to know if my reasoning was solid. I might have to go for about a semester more for the physics and it's definitely harder. Does that make sense?

>>4240049
Finding a job with a good annual rate isn't as easy as everyone makes out, not to mention most cases you'll just be in a shitty government research group or stuck in an office. You're better off going into something more stable, and working with science in your own time (which you would be doing if you enjoyed it anyway)

Oh and not to mention the way things have been going lately, too many people in the sector, nowhere near enough spots

>>4240052
Yeah, if you're going to branch out of it/from it, that's perfectly fine then. Forgot med students do that

>tfw I live in Cambridge.
>tfw I go on punting rides from time to time.

This place is magical.

>>4240056
Biology. You shouldn't be wasting a perfectly good spot in physics courses if med school is what you're after.

>>4240114

I'm paying for it, what's the problem with that?

>A physics degree is a good way to stand out. Bear in mind the people making the admissions decisions were all premeds, the hardest course they ever took was probably Phys102. A lower grade in a physics major is probably worth more to these guys than a 4.0 in the same subject every other applicant took.

This sounds good, but it's not actually true. Adcoms doesn't care what you majored in, they only care about the GPA. Yes engineering/physics is a lot more difficult than general biology, but it's only "worth" about 0.1 GPA points more of respect in their eyes. 3.8/3.9 in biology is worth a hell of a lot more than a 3.5/3.6 in engineering. Bigger numbers are better: a padded 3.9 is worth a hell of a lot more than a 3.5 that you busted your ass for. I know it's superficial, but that's how it is. You don't have to believe me now, but I can promise you will suffer later if you don't listen.

Also, I know /sci/ tells you that biology isn't a hard science, but that's only what trolls on here think. In the real world and in AMCAS, natural sciences are bio, chem, math, physics.

> Physics seems like it really teaches you a way to think where as the Bio curriculum...

None of which matters once you get into medical school, because the type of thinking used is completely different from undergrad. The most valuable skill you will acquire is the ability to somehow memorize inhuman amounts of information in a small amount of time.

Therefore, if you like physics, major in it. If you like biology, major in it. If I were you, I'd major in whatever got me the highest GPA.

>as the Bio curriculum seems like stuff I'll learn later on

I'm in my second year of med school now and I used to think this too, but occasionally I get surprised by a weird exam question that I didn't expect or study for, but I could answer based on my undergrad knowledge of biology. It's usually stuff like DNA replication, microbiology, lac operon, or endoderm/mesoderm/ectoderm structures. I've never, ever seen a physics or chemistry type question on an exam, of course.