Does a science major give you a higher chance of acceptance?

[floatingribs]

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I was just reading through statistics because I like to stress myself out and for example UCSD says 70% of all majors were Bio/Chem. Is this because people doing pre med majorly just stick to those majors, or is it because generic science majors do actually look better compared to your humanity majors (like someone w/ the same MCAT scores, science GPA, overall GPA, etc the only difference being there major)?

Like are science majors seen as more competitive even when they have the same stats as a humanity major or a non-trad?

 

[trs88]

Nope

 

[The Knife & Gun Club]

No you could major in whatever you want. Many people do science majors since it aligns with what they like to study, and the med school pre-reds double as major pre-reqs

 

[ZPakEffect]

Having a unique non-science major (or unique science major for that matter) might actually be a small benefit in helping your application stand out.

 

[LizzyM]

Having a unique non-science major (or unique science major for that matter) might actually be a small benefit in helping your application stand out.

A person who can earn an excellent gpa in a subject area unrelated to science (or as a math major) and do very, very well in the pre-reqs will stand out as a rarity. These rare birds are admitted in higher proportions than the flocks of bio and chem majors.
https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/factstablea17.pdf

 

[Goro]

We don't care what your major or minor is, only that you do well.

 

[SurgeonOfLife]

A person who can earn an excellent gpa in a subject area unrelated to science (or as a math major) and do very, very well in the pre-reqs will stand out as a rarity. These rare birds are admitted in higher proportions than the flocks of bio and chem majors.
https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/factstablea17.pdf

I've always wondered, is exercise physiology (or applied physiology and kinesiology) considered Specialized Health Sciences or Biological Sciences?

 

[ZPakEffect]

I've always wondered, is exercise physiology (or applied physiology and kinesiology) considered Specialized Health Sciences or Biological Sciences?

Specialized Health Sciences

 

[SurgeonOfLife]

Specialized Health Sciences

Oh. 31% acceptance rate. Lowest rate, lowest mcat, ~lowest sGPA. Harsh.

 

[efle]

Brilliant people are generally attracted to Neuroscience, they do really well and all get in and boost the science % a lot. There's a good number of humanities plebs that get in too though

 

[LizzyM]

Specialized Health Sciences

Oh. 31% acceptance rate. Lowest rate, lowest mcat, ~lowest sGPA. Harsh.

I suspect that major is depressed by many nurses and allied health professionals who think they have what it takes to get into medical school, but they don't.

 

[7331poas]

Brilliant people are generally attracted to Neuroscience, they do really well and all get in and boost the science % a lot. There's a good number of humanities plebs that get in too though

This is sarcasm right>?

 

[efle]

This is sarcasm right>?

Not at all, subjects like philosophy are useless in the real world and admissions recognizes the poor judgement of people who study it

 

[raiderette]

Not at all, subjects like philosophy are useless in the real world and admissions recognizes the poor judgement of people who study it

I know several philosophy majors at Google right now. In fact, at my school philosophy major alums have some of the most interesting careers. What should you learn in undergrad other than writing and critical thinking skills?

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[gyngyn]

I know several philosophy majors at Google right now. In fact, at my school philosophy major alums have some of the most interesting careers. What should you learn in undergrad other than writing and critical thinking skills?

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He's kidding.

 

[raiderette]

I should have realized who posted. My bad. To OP, study everything. You may find a new passion.

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[markovchn123]

The reason why most med students were science majors is because more science majors apply to med school. You would have to look at acceptance rate by major to really know the answer.

 

[Law2Doc]

I was just reading through statistics because I like to stress myself out and for example UCSD says 70% of all majors were Bio/Chem. Is this because people doing pre med majorly just stick to those majors, or is it because generic science majors do actually look better compared to your humanity majors (like someone w/ the same MCAT scores, science GPA, overall GPA, etc the only difference being there major)?

Like are science majors seen as more competitive even when they have the same stats as a humanity major or a non-trad?

About 90% of applicants to med school are science majors. So if "70%" of a med school class is science majors that means a lot more were left by the wayside. People who go into med school often simply like the biological sciences, or are poorly advised by parents who lived through a time when you absolutely needed to be a science major to get into med school. Nowdays it makes little difference. If anything being a different major might give you something different to talk about on an interview, make you less cookie cutter. So no med schools definitely do not prefer science majors. Many premeds do, for their own personal reasons.

 

[LizzyM]

The reason why most med students were science majors is because more science majors apply to med school. You would have to look at acceptance rate by major to really know the answer.

AAMC provides the data. You can see how many apply within each broad category of majors and with a little math on your part, you can see what proportion of the universe of admitted applicants are admitted from each category and within each broad category what proportion of applicants become matriculants.
https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/factstablea17.pdf

 

[TBV]

I've always wondered, is exercise physiology (or applied physiology and kinesiology) considered Specialized Health Sciences or Biological Sciences?

I did it! Not impossible by any means but my classes were full of the dumbest kids I have ever seen so that's probably the reason.

 

[coldcase331]

I did it! Not impossible by any means but my classes were full of the dumbest kids I have ever seen so that's probably the reason.

Couldn't be worse than my business classes.

 

[SurgeonOfLife]

Nah I've seen dumber lol

But I'd say at my school at least, we have a strong ex phys program, and there are quite a few smart kids. A decent amount go to med school. Maybe rarely to T10 or T20, but a decent amount to state schools

 

[floatingribs]

AAMC provides the data. You can see how many apply within each broad category of majors and with a little math on your part, you can see what proportion of the universe of admitted applicants are admitted from each category and within each broad category what proportion of applicants become matriculants.
https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/factstablea17.pdf

Thank you so much! I took the percentages as well and science majors don't necessarily have the highest percentage as well. It was super helpful thanks again for the link 🙂