What can I expect as a premed?

August 7, 2008 12:01 AM

As a new premed student, what should I expect (namely in terms of math courses/difficulty) to encounter later down the road?

I spent my freshman year knocking out some basic classes while I pondered my major. I'm now certain that I want to at least attempt a premed regimen and am majoring in biology this semester. I've talked to friends who are premed and have searched all over the internet but the answers I'm getting are disparate at best. So I'm asking anyone here who's had in depth experience as a premed student--what did you go through? How much of a hit did your social life take? And most specifically, how difficult would you rate the math end of it compared to, say, a computer sciences major?

Any advice would most definitely be appreciated.

posted by pandemic to education (13 answers total)

As a bio major you're going to be doing a lot more memorizing than your friends in history or computer science. You'll also have big exams more often than the humanities/social science friends who will have more large papers to write.

I imagine that the work load evens out in the end, but it will feel different at different times.

As far as the impact on your social life, it all depends on how well you want to do, what sort of work ethic you have, what course load you take, and how easy it is for you to study/learn. It is impossible to compare.
posted by k8t at 12:15 AM on August 7, 2008

You "need" (it is strongly suggested that you take) one year of calculus. You also have to take a year of physics, so if you suck balls at calculus, you will probably suck balls at physics. You need a year of general chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, and bio courses, but since you're majoring in biology, you'll probably have that covered. Then there's the smattering of biochem, volunteer work, outside research, mcat preparation, and a whole slew of other stuff you've got to do on top of that. So, you really have to be motivated if you're going to make it through.

It sucks. It sucks a lot. It sucks less, probably, if you enjoy chemistry. I do not enjoy chemistry. Or calculus. Or physics. But you have to do those things because you have to do well on the MCAT. And you have to do well on the MCAT so you never have to deal with chemistry, calculus, or physics classes ever again.

Your social life won't take a hit if your only friends are other pre-meds. And let me tell you, dude, that is a sorry state to be in. If you ever want to talk to someone who isn't a pre-med without completely lashing out at them and resenting them for their relatively easy liberal arts pursuits, your grades will suffer. If you're cool with that, then you'll be fine. It matters a lot where you go to school. Some places I imagine it's much easier to be a pre-med.

In all seriousness, though, math is the least of your worries.

If you have more specific questions, I can answer them. But dude, if you're not 100% omg certain that you want-want-want to be a doctor for real reasons and not just the it's-a-good-job-I-can-make-money-and-have-happy-parents, then go do something else before you waste 3 years of your life being miserable.
posted by phunniemee at 12:18 AM on August 7, 2008

phunniemee,
"so if you suck balls at calculus"
I've always sucked balls at math in general (and by association, anything physics or chemistry related). HOWEVER I find that if I'm willing to put in a great deal of time--typically more than the rest of the guys in my class--into study and practicing problems, then I'm usually able to comprehend and do well.

I already know I'm going to have a problem with a lot of the friends I hang out with. My friends are mostly liberal arts potheads and business majors, and already have way more freetime than I do. I'm not exactly married to any of them though and I'm kindof naturally working my way towards spending less time with them, and will probably meet other like-minded people with similar schedules as I work my way up the course ladder. Actually I'm really counting on this because the friends I have now will probably wind up dragging me down some.

"if you're not 100% omg certain..."
I am. In fact, I was certain a whole two years ago and have been spending that time asking myself over and over again "am I serious? Really? Forget that shit, really?"

If you don't mind me asking, where did you go to school? I know a lot of colleges are more geared towards science type curricula than others, so I was just sort of wondering.
posted by pandemic at 12:55 AM on August 7, 2008

I just graduated (bio major) and am now prepping for the MCAT. Don't worry about math courses, just take the year of basic calculus and you'll be fine. As for physics, only algebra, trig and maybe a little bit of calculus are covered. My friends who were CS majors took math classes that were definitely much more difficult, so there's no need to stress if you're premed.

It seems that people hate doing the required premed classes (gchem, ochem, bio) the most. They were necessary classes, but the material they cover is sometimes too broad for it to be interesting (I did like ochem though). The upper-division classes are generally much more engaging. So if you're really interested in bio, stick with it and you'll be able to enjoy your major classes later on in your junior and senior year.

It is definitely possible to have a social life, but maybe not as much as you'd like. That depends mostly on how you want to manage your time, and sometimes even what school you go to. If you want to have a social life, just remember to keep on top of things. For me, it meant going to lecture, making a schedule and studying a little each day. I've seen way too many people put off studying to go out and party, then freak out a day or two before a huge midterm. Trust me, the pain of doing a little bit at a time is nowhere near the pain of trying to make sense of 12 lectures' worth of material in 24 hours.
posted by extramundane at 1:01 AM on August 7, 2008

I went to the University of Chicago. Great school. Demanding. Majored in a not-science (thank goodness).

I didn't like the other pre-meds. Everyone was miserable all the time. I *highly* recommend finding friends that aren't pre-meds so you're not miserable all the time, too.
posted by phunniemee at 1:04 AM on August 7, 2008

Just going to 2nd that math is not going to be a big issue for you. Chemistry will. And the MCATs. Enjoy.

Social life is less of a big deal. If you study reasonably and responsibly (which I didn't), then you should easily be able to enjoy sports and a social life with people who are NOT also studying pre-med. Meet people at college - that's what it is for.
posted by shokod at 2:05 AM on August 7, 2008

"If you study reasonably and responsibly (which I didn't), then you should easily be able to enjoy sports and a social life with people who are NOT also studying pre-med."

It's good to here this from more than one person. I've been getting mixed results from the actual premeds that I know (who are not many) and I've been a little unsure of how much is too much when it comes to study and work. So far these answers help a lot.
posted by pandemic at 2:10 AM on August 7, 2008

Chemistry washed out a lot of cocky students, even those who got calculus and physics down. So don't underestimate it.

That said, none of it's that hard, really. It's all basic science. Unless you're really insanely interested in biology though, I'd recommend against that ol' rubber-stamp major. Do something interesting and enjoy your life a little.

Plus, have to second the bit about making really really really sure you want to go into medicine. You won't really know unless you spend some time in a hospital and in a doctor's office and perhaps with some real-live residents. I neglected that hoof-work and didn't make sure I really really really wanted to do medicine and that's put me in a bind.
posted by adoarns at 3:03 AM on August 7, 2008

I'd say that biochem and mammalian bio were the biggest time-sucks (at my school biochem met 4 days plus a 4 hour lab on Friday, lots of lab time for mammalian).

Also, as long as you take the required courses, you might consider not majoring in bio. A lot of schools (at least 10 years ago) are/were interested in well-rounded folks.

As far as math, I wouldn't sweat it. Calculus, stats and you're done. Organic chem and bio chem and physics will be the bitches.
posted by Pax at 6:05 AM on August 7, 2008

I'm a former pre-med and now a pre-PhD student. You will usually need calculus for most medical schools, and you want to take calculus if you're going to do calculus-based physics. Find out whether your school's physics is calculus-based or algebra-based. (My university offers both, and I'm halfway through the calculus-based sequence.) You will need good skills in chemistry, particularly organic chemistry, and you generally want a good science background. And trust me, chemistry is usually harder than math and requires good skills in it, though I have never seen calculus in chemistry.
posted by kldickson at 8:42 AM on August 7, 2008

Mods, feel free to delete this if I'm hijacking the thread, but could I request a bit more about the non-academic bits of pre-medicine? I'd take all the science and math just because that's what I like. So I guess I'd like to add two other questions: what can I do to figure out if medicine is worth the pre-med regimen? and, what should I do outside of the classroom if it is?
posted by d. z. wang at 11:45 AM on August 7, 2008

pandemic: there's one year of math in pre-med and virtually no math in med school. Most people have trouble with the physical sciences in pre-med. The chemistry and physics classes require a lot of analytical thinking, similar to skills that math requires.

d.z. wang: For general information, browse the Student Doctor Network, they have various articles and forums. You could also google for med student weblogs and read them. Several schools have an index of student blogs, I know of UMich, Stanford, and UCSF but there are many more. To get experience - you could volunteer at a medical clinic or get trained as an EMS.
posted by alex3005 at 3:01 PM on August 7, 2008

d.z. wang - med school admissions are extremely competitive, and schools do look for more than just good grades and mcat scores. Having almost gone to med school myself and knowing a few med students and doctors, what will both help you in your application will also help you decide if medicine is worth it: getting some kind of medical experience (science research experience is often a good plus too).

For example, a friend currently in med school spent a summer during her undergrad getting certified as an EMT (many community colleges have programs for this) and then worked part time as an EMT for the next 2 years at school. Other people I know have volunteered at clinics, shadowed doctors, volunteered with sick kids/ disabled people/ the elderly/ etc. That kind of stuff will really help you figure out if you want to dedicate your life to practicing medicine.
posted by dicaxpuella at 4:55 PM on August 7, 2008