Need some advice on Undergrad Major!!! Math V.S. Nursing

[FujiApple]

Hi there,

 

I have always been dream about going to med school and becoming a doctor one day, but it is most likely I have to take a indirect path due to family financial issue. It is very important that I can get a job after 4 years of university undergrad, and providing for my family immediately. An undergrad in life science have very limited opportunities on the job market, therefore I want to do Math or Nursing instead. But I am having a tough time chose which one I should go into, here is the list of reasons:

 

Math (Statistic and Probability)

PROS: After taking Data Management, I thought probability and statistic are very useful in terms of its application, and very fun to learn as well. I enjoyed the amazing feeling when you finally solved a question:D . With Specialization in Statistic, I can do a minor in biology, which will provide me with all the prerequisite courses medical school asked.

CONS: Studying two irrelevant subjects in university while managing to get a satisfy GPA could be very HARD. I might go to UofT for Math(?).

 

Nursing

PROS:A bachelor in nursing could land me a job easily (not sure about it after 4 years), and it will provide me experience in healthcare related field, it could make me stand-out in terms of EC and references

CONS: Nursing don't have minor, so that means either I will work insanely try to stuff the prerequisite courses into a already heavy-load course work; or doing an extra year in science. I will also have problem with MCAT.

 

If you guys could give me some suggestion I am very grateful about it.

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

[future doc]

Hi there,

 

I have always been dream about going to med school and becoming a doctor one day, but it is most likely I have to take a indirect path due to family financial issue. It is very important that I can get a job after 4 years of university undergrad, and providing for my family immediately. An undergrad in life science have very limited opportunities on the job market, therefore I want to do Math or Nursing instead. But I am having a tough time chose which one I should go into, here is the list of reasons:

 

Math (Statistic and Probability)

PROS: After taking Data Management, I thought probability and statistic are very useful in terms of its application, and very fun to learn as well. I enjoyed the amazing feeling when you finally solved a question:D . With Specialization in Statistic, I can do a minor in biology, which will provide me with all the prerequisite courses medical school asked.

CONS: Studying two irrelevant subjects in university while managing to get a satisfy GPA could be very HARD. I might go to UofT for Math(?).

 

Nursing

PROS:A bachelor in nursing could land me a job easily (not sure about it after 4 years), and it will provide me experience in healthcare related field, it could make me stand-out in terms of EC and references

CONS: Nursing don't have minor, so that means either I will work insanely try to stuff the prerequisite courses into a already heavy-load course work; or doing an extra year in science. I will also have problem with MCAT.

 

If you guys could give me some suggestion I am very grateful about it.

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

 

if you have decided that you want to do either one of these 2 i would suggest yo try nursing because from what i understand of your situation it will be beneficial to you for 2 reasons...

1. a nursing degree will bring in 80k-100k+(after few years of experience)

2. if for some reason you push med school back you will still be in the healthcare field which i would assume is your passion instead of being stuck in a job that might keep reminding you of your passion for med school but your situations preventing you from pursuing your dreams.

[<abstract>]

This may sound very pedestrian, but do what is in your heart and what you think you will love to do for the rest of your life. Medicine is hard to get into, and many people who strive to become doctors realize along the way that it is not for them. Surrounding yourself with people with similar interests will only broaden your horizons and strengthen you in the process. You may learn a few things about yourself along the way that you did not know.

 

Kindest Regards,

 

ABS

[Savac]

if you have decided that you want to do either one of these 2 i would suggest yo try nursing because from what i understand of your situation it will be beneficial to you for 2 reasons...

1. a nursing degree will bring in 80k-100k+(after few years of experience)

2. if for some reason you push med school back you will still be in the healthcare field which i would assume is your passion instead of being stuck in a job that might keep reminding you of your passion for med school but your situations preventing you from pursuing your dreams.

 

To expand on this, I recommend looking at the nurse practitioner (NP) option before making your final decision.

 

Best of luck FujiApple

[broom]

Hi there,

 

I have always been dream about going to med school and becoming a doctor one day, but it is most likely I have to take a indirect path due to family financial issue. It is very important that I can get a job after 4 years of university undergrad, and providing for my family immediately. An undergrad in life science have very limited opportunities on the job market, therefore I want to do Math or Nursing instead. But I am having a tough time chose which one I should go into, here is the list of reasons:

 

Math (Statistic and Probability)

PROS: After taking Data Management, I thought probability and statistic are very useful in terms of its application, and very fun to learn as well. I enjoyed the amazing feeling when you finally solved a question:D . With Specialization in Statistic, I can do a minor in biology, which will provide me with all the prerequisite courses medical school asked.

CONS: Studying two irrelevant subjects in university while managing to get a satisfy GPA could be very HARD. I might go to UofT for Math(?).

 

Nursing

PROS:A bachelor in nursing could land me a job easily (not sure about it after 4 years), and it will provide me experience in healthcare related field, it could make me stand-out in terms of EC and references

CONS: Nursing don't have minor, so that means either I will work insanely try to stuff the prerequisite courses into a already heavy-load course work; or doing an extra year in science. I will also have problem with MCAT.

 

If you guys could give me some suggestion I am very grateful about it.

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

 

I know two people studying math to become actuaries. I think I read somewhere not too long ago that it is a job where there is 0% unemployment in Canada. And it pays well too. I may be wrong, but I don't think you need a master's in that to get a job. You should look into it. However, a math major is not easy by any means; I am personally not a math major but from what I understand it gets extremely intricate and requires an intense work ethic. If you aced all the high school math courses I would recommend it. Also, in my experience, there are so many people in biology who are not comfortable with math that having the ability to really understand complex statistical procedures may be a huge asset if you are planning to go into research.

 

Now, I don't know your family's situation, nor is it any of my business. But I do urge you to think carefully about your career path. You have a long life ahead of you, and it would be a shame that you don't do what you love because it took more than 4 years of schooling. The unfortunate reality is that there are very fewer and fewer jobs that one can hold with just 4 years of schooling. There are so many grants and funds for people who face financial difficulties, please look into them and choose your future wisely.

[nonstop]

What mark did you get in MDM? Unless you have a really high mark (98-100), it will be difficult to keep up premed-esque GPAs in a math major.

 

I love statistics too and from interactions, almost everyone loves statistics, so only go into stats if you love it and are good at it.

 

Unless you don't wanna be a doctor anymore, in which case do as your heart pleases! Aiming for medicine is quite a prison in undergrad isn't it?

 

If you're mainly in it for the money (nothing wrong with that at all) then doing math major--> Masters in Finance/Financial engineering--> Career in Finance is very lucrative. Quantitative analysts easily make 7 figures after taxes.

[ADH]

I did my undergrad in math and applied to medical schools this year.

 

I was originally in Life Sciences but switched into math and physics. I definitely did not regret it! I really enjoyed the problem solving in math and physics (including statistics). However, since I have not attempted to make a career from my math education (besides tutoring and some research/consulting), I am not sure how difficult it is to provide for a family using a math education. My guess would be that there is much better job security with the nursing degree. You also have to ask yourself whether you would be happier spending many hours alone at a computer working on statistical problems as compared to dealing directly with patients as a nurse. Please be aware that upper-year mathematics and statistics can quickly become very abstract and VERY different from introductory math courses that you have probably experienced. Many people lose interest when it becomes so abstract.

 

As for the consequences of the choice on your medical school applications; the math degree would make you perhaps more unique with special problem-solving skills, but the nursing could provide more opportunities to become familiar with the healthcare system (good for interviews) and make direct contributions. GPA-wise, I would say that a math program allows for the greatest POTENTIAL for an extremely high average if you have the ability and work ethic. You don't have to deal (for the most part) with the subjectivity in the marking process that is found in programs like English. I believe this is why so many Governor General Academic Medals (for graduating from univ. with the highest average) go to math majors.

 

Hope this helps!

[future doc]

What mark did you get in MDM? Unless you have a really high mark (98-100), it will be difficult to keep up premed-esque GPAs in a math major.

 

I love statistics too and from interactions, almost everyone loves statistics, so only go into stats if you love it and are good at it.

 

Unless you don't wanna be a doctor anymore, in which case do as your heart pleases! Aiming for medicine is quite a prison in undergrad isn't it?

 

If you're mainly in it for the money (nothing wrong with that at all) then doing math major--> Masters in Finance/Financial engineering--> Career in Finance is very lucrative. Quantitative analysts easily make 7 figures after taxes.

 

true but not all math majors or people in business make it there most already have strong networks through family history and such to get such jobs... the majority end up making 60k... maybe moving to 80 later on.

 

the roof is high in business however the "basement" is pretty low as well

[ADH]

^ Yes, this is what I hear as well. It has been especially true since 2008.

[Robin Hood]

First, do you enjoy these programs or you‘re just looking for the earning potential?

Also, do you know about the job market for statisticians (I know about actuaries), I‘m too lazy to check.

About Nursing and prereqs, you can have them by doing nursing in McGill. First-ear is science-based.

 

Hi there,

 

I have always been dream about going to med school and becoming a doctor one day, but it is most likely I have to take a indirect path due to family financial issue. It is very important that I can get a job after 4 years of university undergrad, and providing for my family immediately. An undergrad in life science have very limited opportunities on the job market, therefore I want to do Math or Nursing instead. But I am having a tough time chose which one I should go into, here is the list of reasons:

 

Math (Statistic and Probability)

PROS: After taking Data Management, I thought probability and statistic are very useful in terms of its application, and very fun to learn as well. I enjoyed the amazing feeling when you finally solved a question:D . With Specialization in Statistic, I can do a minor in biology, which will provide me with all the prerequisite courses medical school asked.

CONS: Studying two irrelevant subjects in university while managing to get a satisfy GPA could be very HARD. I might go to UofT for Math(?).

 

Nursing

PROS:A bachelor in nursing could land me a job easily (not sure about it after 4 years), and it will provide me experience in healthcare related field, it could make me stand-out in terms of EC and references

CONS: Nursing don't have minor, so that means either I will work insanely try to stuff the prerequisite courses into a already heavy-load course work; or doing an extra year in science. I will also have problem with MCAT.

 

If you guys could give me some suggestion I am very grateful about it.

 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!