How to decide between Pre-Law or Pre-Med?
I'm 17 years old, and a junior in high school. I will graduate with a total of 10 APs, and have many extra-circulars. As well as starting my own club, getting donation drives for local animal shelters and social organizations for local communities. I'm involved in 8 clubs (YES they all interest me), part of National Honors Society, and an active member in Orchestra. Anyways, well for about 10 years I've had this passion for law school at Harvard. In general, being a lawyer seemed...as though it was the proper path for me. Yet, over time I've discovered the pressures of law school and that many who graduate are often left without work. I really enjoy law, and am active in Model United Nations, taken two AP history courses, and Debate Club. But as I've taken Chemistry 1, AP Chemistry, Physics 1, AP Physics C, Biology 1, and GBBE I've come to realize that pre-med might be more reasonable. Yet...it's extremely expensive and I'm not sure if I'll crack under the pressure. I'm not a weak individual. I don't give up easily, I'm far too stubborn. But I've been hearing so many horror stories about bright students suddenly ending up with low-end jobs and failed careers...I don't want all my hard work and academic recommendations to go to waste. This summer I will be spending two weeks at Yale doing a Molecular Biology Cancer Research program, most of it is independent study (intended for competitions like Siemens which I will be entering) but depending on how I do, I am able to gain more research opportunities. I know this will be great experience for pre-med. but at the same time I just don't know if I'll end up regretting this decision later on (instead of pre-law). I just don't want to mess up my future. Any advice?
Should I do pre-law or pre-med?
Do what you are most talented at. It may be something totally different than pre law and pre med. One of the tragedies of our current education system is that is encourages us to fit in a box. You are either pre law or pre med or pre something. You have a talent. This is that special thing the Universe gave you that you do better than just about anyone. Find it. Pursue it.
Pre-law or pre-med pathway?
1. pay of lawyers varies on TYPE OF LAW they practice 2. don't start out as premed if you can not stand these or most of these classes; organic chemistry general chemistry physics biology (most people hate general or organic chemistry) PA do not make a min of $70k. the pay of a PA depends on state rules on their job requirements, the area they are in and the setting they are in (hospital/private clinic/university medical school)
Can I major in pre-med and minor in criminal law?
I'm not sure about criminal law, but you can't major in pre-med because it's not a major. Pre-med is just a track you follow. To be pre-med, you can major in anything you want as long as you take the required classes needed (chemistry, physics, calculus, biology, etc.). So if you do find a school that has a criminal law major (if that even is one, I'm not entirely sure) then you could major in criminal law and follow the pre-med track by taking those science courses needed.
Thinking about switching from pre med to pre law?
I've been a pre med during my time in college. I am a Sophomore with a GPA of around 3.35, majoring in History with minors in Biology and Chemistry. I'm on the fence between law school/med school, and may end up taking both the MCAT and the LSAT down the road if I can't decide by then. I have some questions though: 1) Med school requires prerequisites to be taken. I believe law schools only require the LSAT. Am I correct? 2) My first choice for law school is Albany Law. Am I competitive with my current GPA? I'd love to say it will improve, and it may, but I don't want to assume anything. 3) I'm an EMT and I've probably put in over 750 hours of service to my rescue squad. Obviously this would be beneficial for my med school application, if only slightly. Do law adcoms really care about EC's? if so, how much weight do they carry? 4) As for studying for the LSAT, I know very little about it but I took a few practice questions and it seems very logic-driven. I know I keep referring back to the MCAT but that test is essentially a giant final exam from each science class taken in college. My point is, is there a way to study for the LSAT? Is it even possible to study for it, or is it like the SAT where you kinda show up and do your best? Thanks in advance, -Mike
Why don't India or the UK have pre-med/pre-law/pre-vet courses?
Because in those countries, medicine and law and vet schools are trade schools, taught as an undergraduate degree. It is more like PA school or legal tech for them. The US requires a full college education and considers med, law, and vet schools to be professional and graduate level. The training is much more in-depth and rigorous in the US.
Why do people chase pre-law and pre-med degrees? How do they help other than if you go to law/med school?
There is no “pre-med” degree, either (see Stan Sandler’s remarks) but there are required courses for medical schools in the US and Canada.The obvious reason for taking these courses is to get into medical school but they also serve as a filter for those who are interested but not capable of handling the rigorous curriculum of medical school.Medical school is hard to get into. You need great grades and MCAT scores just to be considered MCAT Scores and GP and you have to have other qualifications to be given an interview. The grind of a pre-med student is such that two-thirds drop out before applying and only 40% of those who apply, get in. In this sense pre-med does a student a favor by injecting a big dose of reality early on (usually with Organic Chemistry in the second year) so that student can adjust his or her goals.The same is not true of law school aspirants.While the top fifty or so law schools are selective, almost anyone with the money and 2.8 GPA (which is below average - 3.11, by the way) can get in to a law school. 2017 Law School Rankings so there is no incentive to bail out of the idea of law school at any point. The trick is getting out and then getting a job as a lawyer while incurring a huge debt.Those who enter any medical school graduate and go on to practice at a 96+% rate. Law school, not so. 2017 Law School Rankings Many of the lower ranking law schools have no incentive to turn out lawyers and are just money makers for the owners. Dropout rates are between 20% and 40% due to a number of factors. Life After the First WeekIf you want to go to either of these professional schools, you can take whatever major you want. This means that you have the same opportunities for a job as other classmates depending on your interests and major.
Biochemistry vs. Biology Major for Pre-med?
I would not go the route that the other users are recommending. if you want to make your life in med school easier, then get a BSc in Biology. A degree in nursing will not benefit you in any way, since all the pre-reqs will be fundamental and wont cover any of your pre-med requirements. You could get into med school without a bachelors in biology, but nowadays it is less common. There's been about 1 student in every graduating class who has a degree in something other than biology, and they are struggling right now. When you're taking 30 credits/semester in med school, you do not want to be exposed to the material for the first time. Also, kinesiology is too specialized. That degree wont cover a lot of your pre-reqs (organic 1 and 2, physics, and calc 2). Biochemistry wont really help you either, since med school has little chemistry except for pharmacology. Everything else will be mainly some sort of anatomy and physiology whether it's diseases or drug treatments. Also, the MCAT stresses more on biology than biochemistry.
Is Pre Law even worth it? ?
Assuming you are in the US, what do you mean by pre-law? Usually it's a collection of classes that's intended to prepare students for law school that you take while you're completing your bachelor's degree. If you still want to go to law school, apply after you finish your bachelor's degree. You don't need any "pre-law" classes to be admitted to law school. Pre-law is not respected by law schools, does not prepare you well for law school anyway, and is generally a waste of time.