Rushi
How much "exploration" (time-wise and in terms of course-load) is enough to ensure that your intended major is the most suitable/'right' choice for you?
I currently go to Rutgers University (New Brunswick) and will be a rising second year student intending to major in Cell Bio and Neuroscience with a minor in Economics. I intend to follow the traditional pre-med track with a special focus on business. Being at Rutgers this first year, I realized that many students come in thinking they want to major in something, particularly pre-med, only to later realize this isn't the correct discipline for them. I've heard an assortment of stories where students realize pre-med wasn't for them since freshman year of high school, while for others the realization didn't kick in till their last year of medical school! My question, then, is- How much "exploration" is enough to ensure that we know for sure that we're pursuing a career/field that suits both our interests and capabilities. I strongly agree that, yes, college is a time to explore, to break barriers, to go out of your comfort zone, to try new things-- but what's the finish line? What does the finish line of this exploration look like? Is there even a finish line or are we constantly exploring different avenues as we proceed further in our studies and afterwards? #pre-med #college-admissions #student-development
2 answers
Jaron Hightower-Mills
Jaron’s Answer
It seems like you have pretty developed idea about what you want to do. If you have not already done so, I would talk to pre-med students who are ahead of you and the pre-med advisor(s) to see what courses would give you the best sense of whether or not you want to stay in pre-med. If you have not started taking any of the required classes for your intended majors and minors, I would try to do that during this upcoming year to make sure they are the right fit.
A part of college should be about learning about the diversity of human thought and experience. More and more issues in various fields require dynamic and wide-ranging approaches. While it is important to have a solid fondation in one or more fields, it is also important to seek a breadth of complementary knowledge from different fiels. Working in medicine requires dealing with people, so understanding intercultural issues is important. Given that you are taking on a rather heavy core set of subjects, we may not have many electives free, but I think it is important to develop skills outside of your core area that will further your personal development and career goals.
If Rutgers has any behavorial economics classes, I would encourage you to take one. The way that behavorial economics look at human decision making may help you in dealing with how patients make decisions about their health and well-being.
Deidre Mercedes Watson
Deidre Mercedes’s Answer
Volunteering and internships are also helpful ways to explore future career possibilities. The knowledge and experiences gained outside of the classroom can be of great benefit in deciding if a particular career option is the right one. Adding actual experience in whatever field of interest you are considering to your academic pursuit can turn out to be the deal breaker in many cases as it gives you an upclose picture of what it is really like working in that field. That can answer questions you may have of suitability and assist in your exploration to see if it is something you really want to get into. I know many students spend years of study in one area only to decide in the end that is not what they want to do. Having some working experience in the selected field can go a long way in making a final decision. The medical field in particular requires many years of studies so it would save time and money to be absolutely sure. Career advisers should be able to help in finding volunteer or internship opportunities/