Does majoring in biochemistry help?

[zbruinz]

After talking to some people who made it into top 10 med schools, it seems that a lot of them majored in biochemistry. Does majoring in this give an applicant an advantage? Granted, these people had 3.9+ GPAs. Or is the game still determined by GPA regardless of major?

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[MD-To Be]

After talking to some people who made it into top 10 med schools, it seems that a lot of them majored in biochemistry. Does majoring in this give an applicant an advantage? Granted, these people had 3.9+ GPAs. Or is the game still determined by GPA regardless of major?

I don't know much about "big 10" schools but all medical schools will accept any major as long as you complete all pre-matriculation/pre-med requirements. Many schools actually look favorably on people who majored in diverse fields as it makes them more well rounded applicants. I have a friend who is a spanish major intending pre-med who always gets good feedback from medical schools during application for her unique major.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[coralfangs]

of course, a biochem major is like gold in the eyes of adcom

 

[dr.z]

After talking to some people who made it into top 10 med schools, it seems that a lot of them majored in biochemistry. Does majoring in this give an applicant an advantage? Granted, these people had 3.9+ GPAs. Or is the game still determined by GPA regardless of major?

Your major doesn't matter too much as long as you have good GPA, MCAT, and ECs.

 

[zbruinz]

cool.........

 

[ADeadLois]

After talking to some people who made it into top 10 med schools, it seems that a lot of them majored in biochemistry. Does majoring in this give an applicant an advantage? Granted, these people had 3.9+ GPAs. Or is the game still determined by GPA regardless of major?

It doesn't matter what your major is.

 

[RDood]

I'm a biochem major myself at U of M. Don't pick a major because you think it's what looks good. What looks good to an adcom is a student with a good GPA and is outstanding in what he/she does. Biochem happenned to be what I was good at (changed from Spanish - I learned I couldn't write a Spanish essay in college), but you should pick a major that you love, can get good grades in, and will be able to excel in.

 

[LabMonster]

It doesn't matter what your major is.

Solid EC's, solid requirements, good MCAT, good person... Your major doesn't define you as a person, why should it define you as a physician?

But, do it if you like biochemistry (it's pretty cool.)

 

[RaaMD]

Do it if you enjoy biochemistry. Biochemistry is one of the subjects that you'll be taking in medical school, so it'll serve you well then.

 

[Medikit]

No one really acted like they cared that I had a Biochemistry major or even that I had doubled majored in Chemisty and Biology for that matter. People cared about my MCAT score, my GPA, my research, my volunteering, my references, and my undergrad.

I loved Biochemistry and definitely recommend it.