best science major?

[MeSoPro]

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I know that this is a "taboo" subject in SDN and that any major is able to get into medical school but i was just wondering what is the best science major based on these criteria (not in any order):

1. not too difficult to get a high GPA
2.meet all premed requirements without taking extra classes
3. prepare me for the MCAT
4. good backup career
5. not too boring?

 

[Law2Doc]

I know that this is a "taboo" subject in SDN and that any major is able to get into medical school but i was just wondering what is the best science major based on these criteria (not in any order):

1. not too difficult to get a high GPA
2.meet all premed requirements without taking extra classes
3. prepare me for the MCAT
4. good backup career
5. not too boring?

Actually for the criteria you indicate, the best major would not be science at all. Take the prereqs and major in something non-science, perhaps business, and you will have a much stronger fallback career, without any lesser chance if admission. It's not taboo to say that any major is fine, it's a fact. The days of bio/biochem majors being given preference for med school ended in the early 1980s, when it was decided that a more diverse class made better doctors. Now it's almost smarter not to be "premed" before applying to med school because you can try your hand at other things first and make a better decision after seeing more options.

 

[nysegop]

I know that this is a "taboo" subject in SDN and that any major is able to get into medical school but i was just wondering what is the best science major based on these criteria (not in any order):

1. not too difficult to get a high GPA
2.meet all premed requirements without taking extra classes
3. prepare me for the MCAT
4. good backup career
5. not too boring?

1. Which ever one you like best is the one you can get the best GPA in. That being said, some of the soft sciences (psychology, sociology, etc.) tend to be easier. However, don't major in something you're not interested in.

2. Usually all of the sciences will meet the premed requires. Soft sciences usually cover most but not all. I have never known a hard science to not cover all requirements (just make sure to take one year of higher level math (calc or stats usually) as it isn't an official requirement but many medical schools require it).

3. Prepare for MCAT: Any major will prepare you for the MCAT if you take the medical school pre req courses. However, Biology, Chemistry, Physics would provide you with more in-depth knowledge of that particular field. Starting in 2015 taking psychology and sociology will be highly beneficial as the MCAT is adding psych.


4. Good for a back up career? Not a traditional science. Math has good employment prospects. Check this out: http://graphicsweb.wsj.com/documents/NILF1111/#term=

5. Depends on your interests. I absolutely love the human aspect of biology. One of my buddies is majoring in psychology because he is fascinated by human behavior.

 

[MeSoPro]

so would nursing be a good premed major?

 

[goofball]

so would nursing be a good premed major?

From what I understand, some adcoms frown upon nursing because they see you taking as someone taking a spot away from a student who is actually interested in nursing in itself (and not as a means to medicine).

Also, you'll have a more difficult time convincing adcoms that you're entering medicine for the "right" reasons if you come from a nursing background.


As for the easiest science major, I think it would probably be Biology. But honestly, you can major in anything you want! If you were ever interested in something outside the sciences, do it in college, cause you'll never get another chance!

 

[Hillo]

Pick 1 or 4 (or consider podiatry?). I'm ignoring 2 and 3 (and 5 because no one knows what you consider boring or not) because I believe that course requirements and the MCAT shouldn't determine your major.

If 1, probably B.A. in Biology (I personally think majoring in Spanish is easy too). It depends on what credits you'll be coming in with because having 12-credit semesters full of fun electives sure does make a major seem easier (which is why I'm majoring in Biomedical Engineering).

If 4 (which shows that you think you're too dumb or too lazy to get into any health professional school), probably Computer Science or an engineering discipline (I'd go with Chemical Engineering), but they which aren't for the dumb/lazy.

Sorry I was mean. If it weren't my destiny to make the most money out of the least work, I'd study Visualization.

 

[Nymphicus]

Pharmacy/ Pharmacology if your school offers it.

 

[Ramkrishna]

Nice

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[nysegop]

so would nursing be a good premed major?

No

From what I understand, some adcoms frown upon nursing because they see you taking as someone taking a spot away from a student who is actually interested in nursing in itself (and not as a means to medicine).

Also, you'll have a more difficult time convincing adcoms that you're entering medicine for the "right" reasons if you come from a nursing background.


As for the easiest science major, I think it would probably be Biology. But honestly, you can major in anything you want! If you were ever interested in something outside the sciences, do it in college, cause you'll never get another chance!

👍 This is true. Do not major in nursing unless you plan on becoming a nurse. If you are absolutely dead set on majoring in something medicine related do Medical Lab Technology or something. Still, I recommend a more traditional major. Just do what you think you like (you will be best at that). Honestly, I don't like the idea of limiting yourself to science. If you're interested in english or philosophy, major in it. Med schools don't give two turds about what you major in as long as you complete the pre reqs.

Pharmacy/ Pharmacology if your school offers it.

👍

PS All bow down to lord Nymphicus (he got accepted to 5 medical schools including Dartmouth, Mayo, and Vanderbilt)

 

[Ramkrishna]

123

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[Arijos0222]

And why are you trying to pick something easy? Just wondering.

Major in something that you like.

However, as I am posting to answer your question, I say that Biology is the way to go.

As for boring... Well... I think bio is EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY BORING.

Physics is more analytical thinking.

1. Physics if you're interested in changing the world
2. Physics
3. Definitely Physics
4. PHYSICS (if you're interested in a Doctorate)
5. Physics. In my opinion, it's the most interesting, most mind smashing, most groundbreaking science you can possibly take.

As you may have guessed, I will be majoring in Physics and for a backup plan, (maybe not really backup because I like it so much) get a Ph.D and go into Theoretical Physics.

Oh i'm sorry, you were probably looking for an upper middle class salary too.

Good luck with that though. 👍

 

[Law2Doc]

And why are you trying to pick something easy? Just wondering.

Major in something that you like.

However, as I am posting to answer your question, I say that Biology is the way to go.

As for boring... Well... I think bio is EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY BORING.

Physics is more analytical thinking.

1. Physics if you're interested in changing the world
2. Physics
3. Definitely Physics
4. PHYSICS (if you're interested in a Doctorate)
5. Physics. In my opinion, it's the most interesting, most mind smashing, most groundbreaking science you can possibly take.

As you may have guessed, I will be majoring in Physics and for a backup plan, (maybe not really backup because I like it so much) get a Ph.D and go into Theoretical Physics.

Oh i'm sorry, you were probably looking for an upper middle class salary too.

Good luck with that though. 👍

My advice won't be right for everyone, but honestly if your goal is to become a doctor, you would almost be better served staying far away from the basic sciences for as long a possible. Major in something you won't ever get to do again. Fine arts, dance, religion, art history. Become well rounded, cultured, and enjoy yourself. Stay out of the lab. Rack up those A's you wouldn't get competing with the cutthroat premed squid types. Have the true liberal arts experience. Learn a foreign language, learn something about business. Maybe take the prereqs on the side, or maybe just plan to bang them out in a postbac afterwards. If you do this, your statistical chances if getting into med school are much much higher, actually. The number of bio major premeds that fall by the wayside dwarfs the number of non science majors who first take the prereq sciences in a postbac and don't get in.

 

[nysegop]

My advice won't be right for everyone, but honestly if your goal is to become a doctor, you would almost be better served staying far away from the basic sciences for as long a possible. Major in something you won't ever get to do again. Fine arts, dance, religion, art history. Become well rounded, cultured, and enjoy yourself. Stay out of the lab. Rack up those A's you wouldn't get competing with the cutthroat premed squid types. Have the true liberal arts experience. Learn a foreign language, learn something about business. Maybe take the prereqs on the side, or maybe just plan to bang them out in a postbac afterwards. If you do this, your statistical chances if getting into med school are much much higher, actually. The number of bio major premeds that fall by the wayside dwarfs the number of non science majors who first take the prereq sciences in a postbac and don't get in.

Unless you are honestly interested in the subject. Arijos0222 seems to really like physics. I really enjoy Biology. Since we like these subjects we may as well major in them. And I don't know about where Arijos0222 is going but at UVM you can choose either a BS in Bio or a BA. The BA allows people to still enjoy the bio classes but also explore other classes and even requires you to minor in something. The same goes for Physics; there are BS and BA options.

 

[MeSoPro]

My advice won't be right for everyone, but honestly if your goal is to become a doctor, you would almost be better served staying far away from the basic sciences for as long a possible. Major in something you won't ever get to do again. Fine arts, dance, religion, art history. Become well rounded, cultured, and enjoy yourself. Stay out of the lab. Rack up those A's you wouldn't get competing with the cutthroat premed squid types. Have the true liberal arts experience. Learn a foreign language, learn something about business. Maybe take the prereqs on the side, or maybe just plan to bang them out in a postbac afterwards. If you do this, your statistical chances if getting into med school are much much higher, actually. The number of bio major premeds that fall by the wayside dwarfs the number of non science majors who first take the prereq sciences in a postbac and don't get in.

but i thought it's statistically higher because there aren't that many fine art majors that apply to med school as compared to the sciiences.

 

[Eiot]

Actually for the criteria you indicate, the best major would not be science at all.

Wisdom.

1) not too difficult to get a high GPA-
All of the science degrees have a decent level of difficulty and all will be relatively more difficult to attain a high GPA over most other departments.
2) meet all premed requirements without taking extra classes-
Many pre-meds lean towards biology for this reason.
3) prepare me for the MCAT-
Biology is another good choice for this, but you'll have to do an exceptional amount of studying anyway so I really wouldn't advise choosing biology for this reason.
4) good backup career-
I honestly don't think any of the four-year science degrees will provide a good "back-up career". I've heard accounts of PhD's in chemistry having to work meager research jobs for minuscule compensation relative to other fields. I've also heard a four-year in biology equated to the most useless degree one could get. Honestly, if you went for a four-year in bio and didn't make it into med. school, I would strong advise pursuing a PhD in bio.
5) not too boring?-
I don't find any of the sciences boring. In fact, I find myself thoroughly frustrated with them at points, which is miles away from boring.