For aspiring college students who are looking to pursue a degree in medicine, there are various avenues of undergraduate programs that you can enroll in. However, by focusing on a major that is closely related to your own desired profession, you will be a little more familiar with some of the med school subjects that are related to undergrad studies.
According to US News World Report, approximately 51% of students who went to medical school majored in biological sciences with a MCAT of 31 and an average GPA of 3.69. Although US News World Report suggests that medical schools don’t care what major you choose just as long as you do well in college.
In regards to choosing any major, that’s a pretty general statement. What you decide to major in as an undergrad will have a direct affect on your studies as you go on to study medicine.
If you’re going to school to pursue a career in medicine, wouldn’t it make more sense to major in Natural Sciences rather than something in the school of arts? Of course!
Building Your Academic Career to Meet Professional Goals
The US News World report then switches gears stressing the importance of why undergraduate majors actually matter. When pursuing a career in medicine, you really shouldn’t take your undergrad studies lightly. The type of degree program you choose should be preparing you to take on the rigorous intellectual challenges that come with med school.
The Need for Healthcare Professionals Specializing in Medicine is Rising
The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 19% growth in the field of medicine by the year 2024 due to the aging population who is retiring, and consequently, migrating to Florida to live. Many are also retiring from their medical professions leaving job vacancies for other professionals to fill or be promoted into. The competition for filling these positions are steadily increasing and only the best of the best will be considered.
That is why it’s of the utmost importance to prepare yourself to get the best kind of education possible. That means selecting the right kind of degree program that will give you the best possible academic transition into med school.
Florida National University Can Prepare You
As mentioned before, there are still a variety of undergrad degree programs you can pursue to reach your goal as a healthcare professional. At Florida National University (FNU), nothing quite prepares you for a career in medicine like a Bachelor of Science in Natural Sciences.
A degree in Natural Sciences allows you to study any kind of biological and/or physical sciences that interests you the most or that will benefit your desired area of work within the healthcare profession.
What to Expect as Student of Natural Sciences at FNU
The following is just a basic framework of what to expect as an FNU Natural Sciences major. However, our staff and faculty members understand that many students have responsibilities outside of academic work and that everyone’s situation is different. Therefore, with the help of our advisors, each student will have his/her own unique kind of scheduling that will help them toward completing his or her degree.
- At the Freshman Level… The first year will probably be the easiest in terms of academia. However, the load of coursework could be a bit of a shock and may take some adjusting to. College work is intense. Each course will have it’s own curriculum of assignments with no regard to the other classes that you have signed up for. As a freshman, you’ll be taking mostly general studies courses and prerequisites that will prepare you for major concentrations. Some of the general courses will include: Information Technology course, English Composition, General Biology, Algebra I, College Study Skills, etc.
- At the Sophomore Level… This is the year where you have the choice to either take care of the rest of the general requirements before really getting into your major or perhaps switch altogether without wasting any credits. In your second year, you’ll still be finishing off some of your general education requirements, but you may start to register for some of the lower level courses like: Introduction to Chemistry, General Biology II, Anatomy and Physiology, College Algebra, and perhaps Nutrition and Health Issues, etc.
- At the Junior Level… Here is the year where technically, all of your prerequisites have been met and you’re ready to start taking some of the upper level courses like: Organic Chemistry, Advance Research Writing, General Physics, Molecular and Cell Biology, etc. This could also be the year where you start mixing in some of your electives.
- At the Senior Level… This is the year where, if you’re a full-time student, you’ll start planning for graduation. It’ll also be the year that you might be venturing out in internships, preparing resumes and maybe even going on interviews, but overall, you’ll be working on the last credits needed to complete your degree. It’s an exhilarating, yet terrifying time for most seniors. By this time, everyone has gotten used to his or her career as a college student and it’s coming to an end; but don’t worry. We have something for that too! Read, “Just Graduated? Your University Can Help You Find a Job” here.
Electives Offered in FNU Bachelors in Natural Sciences
In the degree of Natural Sciences, Florida National University will require you to complete 18 credit hours of electives of your choice. Here, you’ll have the liberty to pursue other interests outside of the concentration of your choice or go more in depth. You can take the track of concentrating in Education or register for more biological courses that deal with biotechnology, immunology, pharmacology, etc.
Enroll in a regionally accredited university with a stellar Natural Science degree program that will prepare you for the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®) exam. Contact Florida National University to get a jumpstart on the admission process and financial assistance today!
