PRE-MED vs. PRE-NURSING

Published

Anyone deciding between pre-med and pre-nursing?

In doing this are you trying to complete both pre-med and pre-nursing requirements?

Any information that has helped you choose pre-med or pre-nursing?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU/CVICU.

I was pre-med at one point, but then I switched it to nursing. It was a very tough choice for me because I have always wanted to to be a doctor my whole life, but it seemed a bit unrealistic for me since I was only able to go to school part-time for most of my years in college. After realizing how long it would take me to graduate pre-med, I decided to just go with nursing since I had interest in that as well.

Some people don't know this, but you don't HAVE to graduate with a pre-med (bachelors in biology) degree. You can have any bachelors or masters degree and apply to medical school as long as you take the MCAT. This is why I am still considering it as an option in the future. From what I have heard, some medical schools prefer not to accept applicants that are nurses, but that might just be a rumor. I have heard of nurses going to medical school. Check out this website: www.studentdoctor.com

I have been going there lately and have found some great info. They have a nursing board on there and have several posts about nurses pursuing medical school.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.
Anyone deciding between pre-med and pre-nursing?

In doing this are you trying to complete both pre-med and pre-nursing requirements?

Any information that has helped you choose pre-med or pre-nursing?

Ginillel,

I have never seriously considered pursuing medical school, although I was happy when my microbio professor told me he thought he saw a future doctor in me upon completing his class successfully. In my opinion, the role of the MD and the RN (and NP for that matter) are two different animals, with unique paths and end goals.

I chose this route (and eventual goal of an Acute Care NP) only after shadowing nursing and medical professionals in an internship program I am currently finishing here in Southern California. If you can see the individual role/paradigm, responsibilities and challenges that each profession entails, that may give you a better perspective on the right fit for you.

Please do not believe anyone who you would come across that would say, "why do you want to be a nurse, why not a doctor?", as they truly are different paths, meant for individuals with unique strengths and desires.

I cannot disregard the fact that that I am past the mid-20's mark and would definitely like to have children (and spend time with them!), so my long-term goals are congruent with that wish. I know that if I had the desire to be an MD, I would feel that personally, I would be compromising that at this age (perhaps not so much if I had started fresh out of the gate pre-med after HS).

Side note, as I've seen your other posts/inquiries. There is a ton of helpful information on this board regarding pre-reqs that qualify, the better community colleges to take them at, etc., but definitely seek your own research/verification for this information you may recieve. Confirm everything yourself via admissions officers/counselors for each specific program you wish to apply to (be it med school or a nursing program). This effort can be tedious, but its worth it to make sure you have your information straight!

Good luck! ;)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I was pre-med at one point, but then I switched it to nursing. It was a very tough choice for me because I have always wanted to to be a doctor my whole life, but it seemed a bit unrealistic for me since I was only able to go to school part-time for most of my years in college. After realizing how long it would take me to graduate pre-med, I decided to just go with nursing since I had interest in that as well.

Some people don't know this, but you don't HAVE to graduate with a pre-med (bachelors in biology) degree. You can have any bachelors or masters degree and apply to medical school as long as you take the MCAT. This is why I am still considering it as an option in the future. From what I have heard, some medical schools prefer not to accept applicants that are nurses, but that might just be a rumor. I have heard of nurses going to medical school. Check out this website: www.studentdoctor.com

I have been going there lately and have found some great info. They have a nursing board on there and have several posts about nurses pursuing medical school.

Besides the MCAT, you also must have taken the standard 8 science classes: 2-general chems; 2-organic chems; 2-physics; and 2-bio classes, and each of these classes must have had the corresponding lab. And, there is no major that is called pre-med either. There are pre-med tracks, but pre-med is not a major. I too am looking at med-school after nursing school, so I think we are sort of in the same boat. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU/CVICU.
Besides the MCAT, you also must have taken the standard 8 science classes: 2-general chems; 2-organic chems; 2-physics; and 2-bio classes, and each of these classes must have had the corresponding lab. And, there is no major that is called pre-med either. There are pre-med tracks, but pre-med is not a major. I too am looking at med-school after nursing school, so I think we are sort of in the same boat. Good luck.

Yeah I guess I would just assume that most people would already have most of those classes as a nursing major since I do. I know there isn't an official major called "pre-med", but typically it is biology. I would say 95% of the people that I know that have applied to medical school have been biology majors.

Thanks for reminding me though because I completely forgot about physics....I haven't taken that yet. :uhoh21:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
]Yeah I guess I would just assume that most people would already have most of those classes as a nursing major[/b] since I do. I know there isn't an official major called "pre-med", but typically it is biology. I would say 95% of the people that I know that have applied to medical school have been biology majors.

Thanks for reminding me though because I completely forgot about physics....I haven't taken that yet. :uhoh21:

Actually not. It's good that you do, but the majority of nursing majors go for the ADN. Most ADNs need to have A&P I/II and microbiology and these are not included (I don't believe in the Bio-prereqs). Usually the biology prereq is the college level biology classes. Some schools may require a semester of chemistry, but that is not a given. A very few may require organic chemistry, but I never heard of any that required physics.

Kris

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU/CVICU.
Actually not. It's good that you do, but the majority of nursing majors go for the ADN. Most ADNs need to have A&P I/II and microbiology and these are not included (I don't believe in the Bio-prereqs). Usually the biology prereq is the college level biology classes. Some schools may require a semester of chemistry, but that is not a given. A very few may require organic chemistry, but I never heard of any that required physics.

Kris

Yes, that is why I said "Yeah I guess I would just assume that most people would already have most of those classes as a nursing major since I do."

I have these classes since I was a biology major before. I am in an ADN program, but I can understand how you could say that based on what I said. I just mean that sometimes I forget that not everyone has taken the same classes as I have. I often forget which ones were required for nursing and which ones weren't. I went from taking BSN nursing pre-reqs to biology major classes, to ADN...so you can imagine that I have a big mess of science classes from all of these.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SRNA.
A very few may require organic chemistry, but I never heard of any that required physics.

I have. Mount St. Mary's College (ABSN) requires physics for admission. I'm sure there are others out there as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, that is why I said "Yeah I guess I would just assume that most people would already have most of those classes as a nursing major since I do."

I have these classes since I was a biology major before. I am in an ADN program, but I can understand how you could say that based on what I said. I just mean that sometimes I forget that not everyone has taken the same classes as I have. I often forget which ones were required for nursing and which ones weren't. I went from taking BSN nursing pre-reqs to biology major classes, to ADN...so you can imagine that I have a big mess of science classes from all of these.

Well, you know what they say about "assume" :lol2::lol2::lol2: right?

Believe me, I've got a fist full of science classes myself. I actually only need Organic chemistry and physics and I will be done with my med school prereqs. Nursing school has been an ever present notion in my mind since graduating from high school many years ago. Will I pursue nursing...a definite yes!, will I pursue medicine in the future, possibly.

Kris

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I have. Mount St. Mary's College (ABSN) requires physics for admission. I'm sure there are others out there as well.

Wow! I guess you've proven me wrong. My apologies for jumping to conclusions :selfbonk:.

Kris

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in SICU/CVICU.
Well, you know what they say about "assume" :lol2::lol2::lol2: right?

Believe me, I've got a fist full of science classes myself. I actually only need Organic chemistry and physics and I will be done with my med school prereqs. Nursing school has been an ever present notion in my mind since graduating from high school many years ago. Will I pursue nursing...a definite yes!, will I pursue medicine in the future, possibly.

Kris

Haha, I know...never assume!

I am still on the fence with the two as well.....well, maybe not on the fence since I chose nursing school. I think graduating first might help me decide..haha

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Wow I am so glad I stumbled upon this thread because I have been contemplating for a while now if I should pursue my first career goal-to become a physician assistant or become a nurse/np. I am returning to school after a 16 year hiatus (work and children) and to be realistic nursing is a quicker more obtainable goal since I will be 40 when I graduate with my ADN. However, I still have a desire to pursue my bachelors degree but I will see after I graduate. Thanks

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion