advice for a student

I am 17 and entering college this fall, and I want to major in biology so that I can eventually go on to medical school and become and ob/gyn in the end. I am, however, worried that I am not choosing the right major to practice medicine. Should I switch to chemistry?
I am also worried because my family doctor has nothing to say about her profession, she only offered me her best of wishes, and I don't know very much about what is involved in becoming an ob/gyn, and I would like to hear about it from a professional, just some things that are involved with the profession... Thank you.

[starlitavenue]

Becoming a doctor can be hard work if you make it hard.  I am a fourth year student that one time considered a cell and molecular biology degree as a pre-med option (am currently switched to analyticl chemistry with an emphasis on biochemistry) however you do not have to major in a hard science (bio, chem, etc).  If you go with a bio major you will still need to take many chem classes including organic chemistry and it probably wouldn't hurt to take some pharmacology introductories. If you go with chemistry it is likely that you will not take any biology required courses.

It is to you best advantage to your best advantage to take hard sciences classes for general knowledge.  One of my close friends chose psychology as a major and would like to become a general physician, she finished up her MCAT classes and did fairly well on the big test.  I think that if you change your mind on what you want to major in just be prepared to know that the MCAT prep course may be more difficult for you.

[noxious_nina]

Thank you for your comments, starlitavenue, it was good to see that someone in school can kind of point me in a direction. I am completely unsure of what I should major in to go into medicine.. I think I am going to minor in physiology, but I have no clue what I should major in... there's a few options.. and I don't know if I can go to med school with a biology degree or if I need a chemistry degree or if I should go into biotechnology... lucky for me, I am starting a 5 week summer bridge program, so I will have a better opportunity to talk to the people at my college in the science department; I already have a difficulty with science, but I want to do this and conquer it. But thank you for commenting and sharing your own experiences and your advice. :)

[Lisadengel]

Back when I went to college (I graduated in 1988), I was originally pre-med/pre-dent and I majored in Psychology.  I took the required pre-med courses but didn't major in any of the sciences.  I don't think the major is as important as the grades you get in the classes.  I decided early on that wasn't actually going to be what I ended up wanting to do so I didn't take anything other than the basic four (general chem, organic chem, bio and physics).  However, it probably wouldn't hurt to major in one of the sciences so that you aren't killing yourself with a course load that is unbearable.  If you have to have X amounts of credits in say, Pysch, if that is your major, you also need to go beyond the basic four sciences in order to get into a good med school.   If you major in biology, you can go on to take anatomy, etc.

As I said, it's been years since I went to school, but I think that your guidance counselor should be able to help you.  Do you have a family friend who is a doctor who will be a little quicker to help you get on the right path?

I wish you a ton of luck!  What college are you going to next fall?

Lisa