BS or BA?

[fire4keep]

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Hi. I am an upcoming freshman in college, and am wondering what the difference is between a BS major and BA major in biology. I intend of course, to be pre-med, so please help me figure out what the key differences are and how they can hinder or help me in my pursuit of getting into medical school.

Thanks
Fire4keep

 

[Barcu]

I can't really describe the difference between a BA and BS. I ended up graduating with a BA in Molecular Biology.

In the end though, it doesn't matter. You can choose any major and still get into medical school. Based on that, I assume there is zero difference between getting a BS versus getting a BA.

 

[alwaysaangel]

No one cares. It depends on what "college" you go to and their accreditation. Several universities will have multiple colleges and what your major is will determine BA or BS. Maybe in a layman's world of working it would matter but for the purposes of applying to med school they are the same thing.

 

[LizzyM]

From the adcom perspective, it doesn't matter.

Take a look at what is required for one and the other at your school. If one requires a research thesis, and the other doesn't, then you might get a little advantage from the degree that requires a thesis because you'll have the research that goes with that in your experience section. Of course, there are other ways of getting research experience.

If one appears to you to be easier or help you get a higher gpa, go with that. In the end, the gpa matters more than BA or BS.

 

[DocBell]

In my experience, the BS requires research a BA does not. But the biggest difference is probably actually going to be your prereq courses. I am both a BS and a BA students (separate majors) and they have slightly different gen ed requirements. BA usually requires foreign language and BS psychology? Something like that.

 

[indya]

they have slightly different gen ed requirements. BA usually requires foreign language...

this.

 

[noshie]

I think doing a BA will give you the elective credit hour space to do a minor in something you like. For me, I did the BA so I could get a minor in business and be a little more well rounded. At my school the only difference between a BA and BS in Biology was just the amount of upper level science electives you needed for a BS, for the BA you could take any upper level courses to satisfy this requirement.

 

[indya]

.

 

[mvenus929]

My undergrad just recently decided to offer a BS in biology. For those of us graduating that first semester they offered it, all we had to do was get approval from the department chair (which was just a signed form).

I think they started offering concentrations and whatnot after I declared (since the requirements for the degree are locked in on what they were when you declared), so I imagine that now, the BS students have to take a few more classes to get that degree.

In terms of med school admissions... it doesn't matter.

 

[Astarael]

Just thought I'd mention that the B.S. might be a little more marketable if you intend on working in your major at all before going to medical school. I'm a reapplicant and I'm looking for jobs with my chemistry degree. All of the job postings I've seen require the B.S. (I'm sure they'd be willing to look at someone with a B.A. but the B.S. gets preference).

 

[DrTroll]

B.S. maybe more helpful in some cases in B.A.

 

[yamaraja808]

Just thought I'd mention that the B.S. might be a little more marketable if you intend on working in your major at all before going to medical school. I'm a reapplicant and I'm looking for jobs with my chemistry degree. All of the job postings I've seen require the B.S. (I'm sure they'd be willing to look at someone with a B.A. but the B.S. gets preference).

Hit the nail on the head! 👍

 

[zer0crew]

At my undergrad school they had B.A. and B.S. for a few basic science majors (Biology, Physics, Chem...) From looking at the course requirements, the only real difference was this;
B.A. = more electives and almost no labs

So its basically the same coursework, but minus the super time consuming part. I would also agree with Astarael that a B.S. is more marketable because you're more likely to have practical lab experience.
I knew a few people who got a B.A. in biology because they wanted to be a high school biology teacher (they were mostly double majors in Ed and Bio), so the lab part was less important for them.

 

[echolalia16]

Its a bit like the MD/DO comparison. Regardless of which path you take, you'll be learning the same stuff and practicing the same stuff at the end of the day. One just looks more appealing to certain people than the other.

 

[Corpsman Up]

I am a micro major at Ohio State, and I have the option of either a BA or BS, and the only difference is the BS requires Calc 2, whereas the BA only requires Calc 1. Both require 4 quarters of foreign language