BA vs BS Chem

[deleted755735]

Hello everyone,

I am an upcoming sophomore (in Fall 2016), and I am currently studying for a BA in Chemistry. However, I am wondering whether I should pursue the BS in Chemistry instead. Despite my love for math/chemistry, I am still interested in taking courses in other subjects such as philosophy, literature, astronomy etc. and my BA allows me this flexibility. At the end of the day though, I do not want my BA to limit me when it comes time to apply to medical school.
I know that this topic has been beaten to death but I just need some reassurance, especially from someone who has personal experience with this!

Thanks all!

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[deleted755735]

I should add that the BS in Chemistry is much more rigorous and requires a lot more than the BA (I know that this is not the case between the BA in Bio and BS in Bio).

 

[eteshoe]

BS is better in my opinion. You can usually take all your gen ed courses in the appropriate humanities of your choice in most cases - unless you're planning on double majoring or something.

 

[Bermie]

Two things to consider. Sometimes departmental scholarships will only apply to BS students (this was true for me). Also research can be easier to get into as a BS over BA (also true for my school).


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[DingoPingo]

I'd take BA. I would take the flexibility, but I would also take a few upper division science courses that I find interesting. Do what you love in college. Maybe you'll be so fascinated by some other classes you end up choosing a different career path, who knows?

Either way it won't limit you, as long as you demonstrate interest in science and that you can handle science courses.

 

[Lucca]

In terms of medical school application, it is almost wholly relevant

I think you mean irrelevant?

 

[cheesin]

My undergrad only offered BA, I got mine in Biochemistry. It makes no difference, I don't feel it restricted me for anything.


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[Lucca]

My personal opinion for pre-meds is to get a BA. More flexibility, less time consuming teaching labs which have 0 educational value for anyone not interested in the theory behind certain techniques, better chance to get a higher GPA and take more enriching coursework than just straight sciences.

For potential PhDs I would say BS because you should know the highly technical stuff if you are going to work within an instrument or computation heavy science like chemistry or structural biology (aka what I do)

The good news is, like @gonnif said, that for the purposes of admissions nobody will care.

 

[frosted_flake]

In terms of a backup plan, BS all the way.
If you feel solid about your application and chances for med school, BA all the way 🙂

 

[P0ke]

Do whatever you think will allow you to get a higher GPA. Med schools won't care about a BS vs a BA.

 

[benjamin94559]

A BS will probably help you find jobs in industry and all of that if you either don't want to do medicine or for a gap year or whatever but as others have said med schools dont really care

 

[group_theory]

The reason why it doesn't matter (for med school or grad school) is that the requirement for BA/BS is school dependent. While some schools offer a choice between a BA/BS in biology (or chemistry, biochemistry, physics, etc), other schools only offer one or the other. Each school/university set their own standards and decide if they want to award the BA, BS, or give both options. There is no "standard" that all schools follow.

For example - if you attended Harvard for undergrad and majored in Chemistry, you graduate with a BA (AB if you want to follow Latin tradition). Same for Princeton. If you attended MIT and majored in Literature, you will receive a Bachelor of Science degree.

 

[Terror Billy]

Food for thought, my ugrad school promotes in our Biochemistry department to go BA if you plan to go to medical school....