Switching to an "easier" major?

[blairw]

Right now my GPA is equivalent to about a B+, and I am already 2/5 done (5 year degree). In my first year I had a ~B average, second year I had an ~A average. I really am trying, and I like what I'm learning, but my best isn't good enough. I still have time to bring up by GPA though, so I am thinking of leaving science and switching to an easier major (I'm not going to state the major to avoid offending people). I've taken upper level electives in this subject and it is much easier to get A+'s.

 

The problem is this major is even more useless than my current major (biology) with regards to getting a job. If I don't get into medicine I am royally screwed. Also, I like the subject, but not nearly as much as I like biology. Not enough to go to graduate school. However, the courses don't have labs and are way less time consuming - I would have more time to study for the MCAT, and do more ECs.

 

My questions:

Is it a good or bad idea to sacrifice my personal interests to save my GPA?

Will medical schools look down upon the fact that I gave up almost halfway through a degree to switch to an "easier" one?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Nietzschean Superman]

Why would it offend people? I think you should stay in bio and work harder. An A average isn't a bad thing.

 

And I can't say for sure, but I highly, highly doubt that they'll care what major you're in. They won't care neither about the fact that you switched.

[trojjanhorse]

Right now my GPA is equivalent to about a B+, and I am already 2/5 done (5 year degree). In my first year I had a ~B average, second year I had an ~A average. I really am trying, and I like what I'm learning, but my best isn't good enough. I still have time to bring up by GPA though, so I am thinking of leaving science and switching to an easier major (I'm not going to state the major to avoid offending people). I've taken upper level electives in this subject and it is much easier to get A+'s.

 

The problem is this major is even more useless than my current major (biology) with regards to getting a job. If I don't get into medicine I am royally screwed. Also, I like the subject, but not nearly as much as I like biology. Not enough to go to graduate school. However, the courses don't have labs and are way less time consuming - I would have more time to study for the MCAT, and do more ECs.

 

My questions:

Is it a good or bad idea to sacrifice my personal interests to save my GPA?

Will medical schools look down upon the fact that I gave up almost halfway through a degree to switch to an "easier" one?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

some schools give points for "Academic rigour" or "Academic merit". UofT and Calgary are first to pop in my head. I was in a similar situation when I finished the 1st semester of my 2nd year. I was in human biology but then realized i enjoyed cell and molecular techniques in biology more so I switched to cell and molecular specialist program at UofT. I'm glad I did because I enjoyed the labs very much, even up to the very end.

 

I also took courses in business, economics, and Natural Sciences as I wanted to broaden my horizon. I ultimately stayed with Biology (despite me getting A+s more consistently in my electives) because I felt I was good in my specialty and I ended up liking my program a lot.

 

I wouldn't think what you're trying to do is a bad move, but I'm worried that you may be avoiding biology and when med school comes about, you will have to face it again. But again... if you already have done 2 years of biology, you've probably have seen enough of it in terms of Med School.

 

Unfortunately GPA plays a large role in the application process, so do what you gotta do. If I were in your shoes, I would take one course during the summer (a 3rd year biology course) and take your time studying for it. Figure out where you need to change your studying habits. This is what I did in my 1st year summer.

[tooty]

I've only read that U of T evaluates course rigour 'where available' and that they look at class averages on your transcript. Seems to me like that's the only factor in their evaluation of rigour. And not all schools state class averages in your transcript.