3 years, one major or 4 years, two majors?

Hi, everyone. I came into college with a lot of AP credits, and could theoretically graduate with a BS in neurobiology in a year. This would be a total of 3 years of undergrad. If I did this, I would go abroad (to Europe) for one year before applying to med school; I've always wanted to travel. My other option involves staying an additional year (4 years total) to get a second major in a subject that I am passionate about, psychology. I would be able to spread my hard science courses out more, so as to not overwhelm myself.

Currently, I am leaning towards the 3 year route, but my thinking has not been the clearest lately. I am bipolar, and a tad bit hypomanic, so every idea that I have now seems like the greatest idea ever.

I understand that I will likely become depressed in the near future, and when I am depressed, I lose my interest in travel. I want/need to be close to home to cope. So, I'm not sure that going abroad for a year would be the smartest thing that I could do. Yet, this is something that I really want to do.

I understand that the ultimate decision is mine, but which path seems to make the most sense to you?

In my opinion, I think option 2 might be best. I mean double majoring in neurobiology and psychology would be phenomenal for your med school applications and you have an opportunity to spread it out to make it easier on you. Plus, if you do feel like you will be depressed sometime in the future, it seems best to stay in a familiar place to receive help.

Doing the 4 years doesn't mean you have to lose the opportunity to travel. A lot of my friends in the med track usually take off a year after 4 years of undergrad.

The 3 year plan would help you finish things faster and give you the opportunity to travel, like you want. But the only problem is if you need somewhere to cope, going to an unfamiliar location might not be best, and if you lose interest in travel, that will just make things worse. If you can arrange for a support system abroad or somewhere to cope, it would make things better.

But I would go with the 4 year option.

I wish you all the best Secretum

I would spread out the hard stuff, do four years, and then travel for six weeks/a summer. Travelling doesn't have to happen a year at a time, it can be spread out too. It can be wearing to travel, almost a job. Unless you want to move to a company and work there for awhile, I'd do a few weeks/months at a time and work on other, more permanent goals for most of the time.

I think Perna has it. If I have issues with stability, I would rather spend a few weeks during the summer traveling. A few of my friends have done this, where they go overseas for one or two of their summers to places like England. You can get scholarships to go overseas AND take a course or two to lighten your load during the school year. Just a thought.

Plus, I suggest this if you have a harder time making friends. One of my friends essentially spent a month by herself in another country because she had a hard time making friends after her initial friends left. (They stayed half the summer)