BS vs BA?

[AthanasiusJam]

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The question is as simple as that. Although my case is a foregone conclusion (physics BA is the degree I am shooting for), I was always curious how large a bearing this has is the adcom's decision.

My own prehealth advisor said that it had "no bearing" whatsoever, and so I decided that I would rather open up myself to courses other than science. I wonder what everone thinks here.

Thanks.

 

[doc05]

there is no difference

 

[larkrose]

Yeah my premed advisor said the same thing, then again we have the same premed advisory I'm assuming (Bing, Langhorne)

 

[AthanasiusJam]

Yep, Langhorne. Seems pretty knowledgeable about his stuff yet at the same time not too interested on talking about the finer points.

That and everytime you try to have an interview he loves to go off on tangents a lot,

 

[dankev]

If I'm wrong about this, I'm sure someone will yell at me and give you a better answer, but here goes. A BA suposedly has more of an emphasis on a liberal arts background, so more general ed, whereas maybe a few more classes for the major with a BS.

In practice though, I think every school makes up their own criteria for the difference. Which means it doesn't make a damn bit of difference when you apply to med school.

 

[Anka]

I just thought you might find this funny -- MIT gives S.B.'s in literature. They're only able to give out S.Bs, since the core coursework is all calc, physics, etc.

Anka

 

[vixenell]

Originally posted by dankev
If I'm wrong about this, I'm sure someone will yell at me and give you a better answer, but here goes. A BA suposedly has more of an emphasis on a liberal arts background, so more general ed, whereas maybe a few more classes for the major with a BS.

Well, if you go to a liberal arts school, you'll get gen eds regardless. The BS gives you a more well-rounded foundation in the sciences (which is why you have to take phys, bio, and chem), while the BA is primarily just in your major of interest.

A B.S. is just a B.A. + more science classes.

 

[Kownell]

There is no big difference from what I see. One college at my university give BAs for all biology majors and another college gives BSs. We basically took the same classes. I don't think Adcoms will look either any differently. If anything, they'll look at what classes you took more closely.