Why I Quit Pre-Med at UC Berkeley

[@cynthia.c]

This really speaks to me as a current Junior who is essentially quitting pre-med. This past year I realized I needed a "back-up" plan if med school didn't work out so I switch from a Health Professions major to Psych. I've always known I wanted to be a doctor since I was young but once I was in college I struggled with the pre-reqs and found classes like physics and math dreadful so I did pretty crappy in them. Because of my crappy science GPA I had to be realistic with myself and realized that if I wasn't passionate enough now, I wouldn't be able to put the amount of work needed to be successful in medical school and would likely be even more miserable. (I also just value sleep too much). So here I am with a bio and chem minor (because of those pre-reqs) pursuing psych which I love so much more and have always felt like I just "get" psych. It makes sense to me and fascinates me! I'm still hanging onto those pre-reqs like orgo and biochem and I might be crazy for continuing with them into my senior year but something tells me I may revisit the idea post-bacc so who knows where life takes me. Thanks for coming to my TED talk. :)

[@veronicareyes513]

Girl everyone has their own path you dont have to be a doctor to make a difference in the end finding what makes you happy can inspire others to go find their passion in life which in turn can make a positive impact on someone ✨

[@Rachels82891]

Yeah Cal was so hard for me too, had constant anxiety and breakdowns. Glad I graduated...whew.

[@kimikochelsea]

Congrats on graduating!!

[@SarahFunes]

SAME.

[@ludielizsilaya7207]

Is really hard? My son got in but unsure because of all the stories he’s heard.

[@LoyaFrostwind]

I thought I might do pre-med, but my grades weren't good enough, so I did integrative bio instead and had much more fun learning about ecology, entomology and animal behavior. The general science and math requirements were still tough in either case.

[@lanaarwen4589]

As a writer, I can relate to this video a lot. I am also a lover of science. I wanted to go to med school at one point of my life (like for a few weeks I considered it lol) mostly because of my ego, looking back on it. As someone in Cc I see a lot of people who say they want to be doctors, yet I always wonder how many of them will actually make it there. If you are going to go to school for any sort of science do it because you love the science. Even though I love writing , i know that I will go nuts just sitting in isolation always writing which Is why I chose to school to get some sort of career after, something interesting but nothing close to being rigourous as a doctor. Maybe consider something like this, there are lots of careers in bio such as medical lab techs that are nothing as rigourous as being a doctor and you still can help people and have time to write on the side. I dont know if anyone will read this comment as this video is a little old . What I am trying to say is that you dont have to choose your “dream” entirely. Be realistic about this. What will you do if you cannot make money writing ?

[@planetkewl]

you are speaking to my SOUL. I'm in my third year of community college in LA right now trying to transfer to either UCLA or Berkley. I just started watching your channel but you're already giving me so much hope!! Thank you so much for posting this - I don't feel as lost as I did 15 minutes ago!

[@Lulu-ql6mm]

omg girl you spoke to me in this video! I always thought that I wanted to be a doctor but once I started taking my science classes and math wow I was shocked I think you made the right decision for you!

[@Jackson-ts4fy]

This was a really fantastic video. Stuff like this is what's so great about the internet. I'm a CA community college student trying to transfer hopefully to ucb in the fall (how I originally found your channel- also decisions are out in a month ahhh) and just want to let you know that your channel has helped me a ton. Thank you so much for all the stories that you've told, they've really had an impact on my life :)

[@kimikochelsea]

Your comment actually made me tear up a little bit!! I'm so happy you found my channel!! This means so much to me :) ahh one more month!! I'll be crossing my fingers for you!! Thank you for all of your support !

[@Jackson-ts4fy]

Aww makes me so happy to hear that. Thank you :D

[@Jackson-ts4fy]

Heyyy! just wanted to update that I was accepted and will most likely SIR to berkeley for fall :D so excited

[@kimikochelsea]

CONGRATS!!! I am so proud of you!! Go Bears 🐻

[@Jackson-ts4fy]

Thank you so much!! Haha Go Bears!

[@manuelkamboykos3031]

Im about to apply to med school and I literally had this same experience, I decided to follow my dream instead of med school. It’s really nice to know that I am not the only one feeling like this

[@jeremycuicui6703]

I identified with you in so so so many ways. I would explain how and why, but you said it all in the video. I don't comment much at all, I just casually watch youtube vids, and I've been looking at a lot of college/career stuff as a rising senior in high school. I had to comment on this one because I know exactly what it is you are going through. Just earned yourself a subscriber.

[@sheldonharvey8306]

Hi pixie, Thank you for the video. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself. I live in Los Angeles. Had I met you, I would have shared what I observed. A man in his 30s who is dead serious I'm becoming a physician took all of his pre-med required classes at a community college. By doing that, he avoided the unnecessary competition and self teaching that he may have encountered going to UCLA or another University of California Campus. Also, he was able to learn at his own pace. This is extremely powerful if you want to do something extraordinary really well. So in the future, should you you decide to go back to pre-medical studies, consider this path. May God bless you in all you do.

[@twlghtdrmr4703]

Aww you seem like such a loving person! Wishing you the best of luck ❤️

[@TipsyHoneyBadger]

At least you realized what you wanted before trying to take O chem and Calc 2. Those classes really suck.

[@mattwood1233]

As a CC kid wanting to transfer to UC Berk, I've had a lot of these feelings Takes a lot of courage to put this out there like this

[@TechVHD]

Uodate

[@laffta6727]

I transferred to UCLA anthropology major pre-Med - i too found it very difficult-dropped the goal of md -graduated and went back to community college and became an x-ray tech now working as a ct tech-I love this job-I shot for the stars and landed on the moon- I’m ok with that

[@swicheroo1]

Why were you taking so many basic science courses after transferring? You should have been done with all your Math, Physical Chemistry, Physics upon arrival. You could have also gotten your O Chem done at the CC. Berkeley is a shark tank. And so you might have gotten more one-on-one and an easier curve if you had done this material at your CC. If you were starting at Pre-Calc, which is remedial material, you would have been looking at a 3-4 year slog, in addition to your time at the CC, just to graduate. You should have gotten better advising.

[@cookiesarelikecream]

Khanh Ho Don’t med schools frown upon pre med pre req classes taken at community colleges?

[@swicheroo1]

No. I'm a professor. I'm not a medical school professor. But I have to advise students, so I'll tell you what I tell them: Graduate schools are much more interested in your having taken your classes in a timely manner that reflects the academic track you have placed yourself in. If you're supposed to do Biochemistry (which I did as an undergrad), then you need to demonstrate timely completion of the sequences. Nobody will be prejudiced against you for actually doing those sequences when they should be done. Moreover, the courses under discussion are absolutely necessary to do many of the Science majors within 4 years. So, it just doesn't make sense to start trying to do Physical Chemistry in your Junior year. That means you're not going to graduate until year 6 or 7...especially not at Berkeley where classes are hard to get.

[@cookiesarelikecream]

Khanh Ho Thanks for the insight I didn’t know that!

[@marielas8083]

I agree with you, right now im pre-med at a CC and want to transfer into UCB and im getting my Bio and Chem classes over with now, it doesn't make sense to not have done those in CC.

[@bookerevans8316]

It would be better for pre-meds to take their intro Bio and Chem courses at a lower lever institution; even community college. This is because when you take the MCAT they don't test you on the advanced concepts. This is especially applicable to the 100 level Physics course. What is more needed is a basic knowledge and technique for test taking. Many have been washed out by taking wash out courses designed for majors. At a high level place like U C Berkley the competition can be brisk. You don't need high level Chem, Bio or Physics to be a physician. I made it through Med School by command of the basics; took my Bio at Chicago Community College. You can even do it with an online class.

[@claus1225]

In med school's view, it doesn't matter where you went to college for premed. As long as division 1 with decent ranking.

[@ecofriendly8340]

Congrats on discovering your calling. I find it very admirable how you chose to do what you love. I'm in a similar position as you were - contemplating if I am fit for pre-med at Cal. I'm about finished with my first semester at Cal and am struggling with Chemistry. Not sure if it is the professor, material, class size, or my own abilities - but I am not seeing improvements on my tests despite trying various study methods, study groups, office hours, etc. As I am still figuring out what I want to do, could you elaborate on "weeder" classes? I know they are intended to weed pre-meds out, but is it prevalent in all schools? Are "weeder" courses related to "grade-deflation" that is popularized at Cal? Thanks for sharing and good luck!

[@jackywithay6393]

You look like Maribel from Encanto. Loved the video thank you for sharing❤

[@thumai7621]

It might be a blessing!

[@arlamuyluna7048]

I completely relate to this. I decided to not follow the pre-med track because of my chem class during my first year. I switched to being a BIO pre-med to health science & Business major lol

[@jetmemes3265]

That would be music for me but I don't see a stable career in music as in like string instruments such as guitar and ukelele

[@TheMorenaLand]

I’m with you. I’m debating on changing my major rn😭

[@eva-iw8nj]

This video got recommended to me right after I decided to change majors at Cal lol

[@johnmurfadevera]

I am going into nursing, and when I finish that, I will take the pre-requisites for pre-med to become a doctor. I do not have the talent for physics and chemistry but what I may want to consider is to take the pre-requisites at a community college. Do you think it is a good idea?

[@Norse69]

that's the long way around, pick one and do it

[@MinervaSanchez-Tenorio]

I quit premed after trying to study for the MCAT forever

[@thekentuckyan8088]

What about all the running and busting out windows and catching the school on fire

[@0206-b8z]

Why don’t you become a copywriter you tell stories and make sales

[@bacool]

1000% agree and I graduated pre med from a top 5 public US uni and was President of a huge pre med club and decided to ditch it. No regrets! Way more scale of $$ and impact in business plus the medical establishment has very little to do with optimal health anyway. Medicine is fine for what it is but doctors are glorified service providers though highly paid ones. But real wealth (and impact) can come from many other things - real wealth anyway does not come from any job linked to time. Plus the debt, lack of time freedom, and the runway to make any decent money was too much of a burden. not worth it for my personal goals! Now making over what most doctors make, grew a biz to 6 figures fresh out of college, now in real world business and never looked back. So if you're thinking this and doubting, just follow your gut and believe in your inner vision!

[@asiac8968]

Did you drop out, or did you just change your career path?

[@haley2121]

Asia Cannon change career path but she’s graduated now

[@ludielizsilaya7207]

Can I call you? I’ll pay you. My son has to decide if he needs to withdraw from Berkeley by Friday. :-(

[@rajdeeppathak09]

You no longer making videos?

[@tylerreiser1749]

That honey was organic...right?

[@shoshana-xs4cm]

Music crazy loud and distracting 👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼

[@reginaredvine6093]

Lol seriously enough of babies crying and telling Berkeley is hard and competitive. Congratulations for figuring out that Berkeley isnt for you. Now go get yourself a tea and relax...

[@trinititaylor3442]

The problem isn't Berkeley. The problem is being on track for something you don't love. Lol like seriously, gtf