Does pre-med major REALLY not matter?

[kdburton]

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All the things I've read in premed books and what I've heard from advisers at my school is that undergraduate major doesn't matter when you're planning to go to med school. Is this seriously true? I am a double major in finance and marketing and I'm also taking all of the premed classes as well. So far I've done above average in all my premed classes (mostly As and B+) but I know that I'm taking quite a few less science courses than most premeds due to my major (and maybe my finance/marketing courses aren't as academically intense). Is the fact that I'm a business major going to impact my chances at med school? I always thought it might help a bit if I planned on starting my own practice in the future.

 

[Rendar5]

nope, ur major will not impact on ur ability to get into med school.

 

[Wahina]

I wouldn't say it DOESN'T matter. But I would say it doesn't matter enough to worry about. And a double business major at least sets you apart.

 

[tifxiii]

No, it shouldn't impact your chances in getting into med school. If anything it may even enhance your chances because it's not the same old biology degree. (Like me!!) As long as you take all the required courses and take enough science to get you through the mcat you'll be ok.

 

[Rendar5]

I wouldn't say it DOESN'T matter. But I would say it doesn't matter enough to worry about. And a double business major at least sets you apart.

yeah, u're more right than my initial response.

 

[wei_i]

everyone above is completely correct. obviously your major matters, but to say that any major is preferred over another is false. you gain nothing by being a science major as opposed to being a humanities major in a general sense. just be successful at whatever it is you choose to do.

 

[EHILGENFELDT]

I heard majoring in science makes applying harder. This is because your application has to stand out in a pool of hundreds of other Science majors.

On the other hand, majoring in science does teach you how to memorize massive amounts of material which is a skill needed for Medical School.

 

[mshheaddoc]

My advice ... be yourself. I have known a TON of people to get into medical school with NO science background.

I have a theater major in my biology class. I know a photographer who was a journalist major who is now a resident, I know more people from a diverse background then I do science majors who are in medical school. 🙂

Do well overall! That is the point, make yourself distance!

 

[Doctormo24]

I think personally, that someone who is majoring in something else besides Chemistry and Biology, has an edge over the traditioanl applicant.

 

[ahumdinger]

it can be an advantage if you use it as one. In other words, it's all about spin. This is true for anything you do in your application process. For undergrad majors, in particular, you should study what makes you happy, 'cause you learn all the science again in med school. (but what has already been said is true, if you're a science major, it can be easier to learn the science in med school)

BUT... be prepared to give a well-thought-out reason why you still chose medicine in the end. For example, I was a linguistics major in college, and the question on the adcom's mind will be, "then why medicine? why not linguistics?" I had to really address that in my personal statement and also be prepared to address it in interview.

That being said, I haven't gotten any interviews yet, but I think it's due to my low BCPM rather than my major.

Good luck.

 

[Shredder]

All the things I've read in premed books and what I've heard from advisers at my school is that undergraduate major doesn't matter when you're planning to go to med school. Is this seriously true? I am a double major in finance and marketing and I'm also taking all of the premed classes as well. So far I've done above average in all my premed classes (mostly As and B+) but I know that I'm taking quite a few less science courses than most premeds due to my major (and maybe my finance/marketing courses aren't as academically intense). Is the fact that I'm a business major going to impact my chances at med school? I always thought it might help a bit if I planned on starting my own practice in the future.

they ask about it in interviews. pick something easy, theres no sense in picking something hard like engineering, like me. oh finance and marketing, sweet choices. tell them you got lucrative, hotshot job offers and turned them down so you can help people, theyll probably dig that

 

[Kimka83]

Is Premed even a major?!?!? Not a my school anyway. Just major in something that interests you. 🙂

 

[rpkall]

From a current med student who was in your shoes about 5 or 6 years ago, I can say that if you've taken biochemistry and some other advanced science electives, you'll have an edge when it comes to learning the material for med school. I'm not saying you can't go major in philosophy--that's great, and it can potentially get you into a school over some other kid who's "just another bio major"... But there's a reason 90% of my med school class is bio/biochem majors--cuz it's applicable to the molecular medicine stuff you learn in med school.

But if you're a reasonably decent student, you can do "bio" (with electives you like) and another major that interests you. Just take two or three of those other classes each year, and you'll have a double major. You have to make it a priority early on, though. You can't up and decide to do "comparative literature" second semester of your Junior year... 😉

 

[_ian]

But if you're a reasonably decent student, you can do "bio" (with electives you like) and another major that interests you. Just take two or three of those other classes each year, and you'll have a double major. You have to make it a priority early on, though. You can't up and decide to do "comparative literature" second semester of your Junior year... 😉

Hah, yeah... I didn't even decide to be pre-med until the end of my freshman year, so I was two terms behind in pre-reqs as it is... now I take a couple linguistics courses and want a double major, but it'd mean a lot of summer school that I can't possibly afford. At least I can pull out a minor.

 

[obgyny]

I think personally, that someone who is majoring in something else besides Chemistry and Biology, has an edge over the traditioanl applicant.

that sucks. i'm majoring in bio (hopefully something more specific when i transfer to a 4-yr university) not because i think it'll help me for med school, but because i'm TRULY interested in this stuff (which is why i'm going into medicine). i've never understood why someone would major in something like theatre if they want to go to med school.

 

[Medikit]

Being a biology or biochemistry major will probably help make the first year a bit easier

 

[Saluki]

The important thing is being able to explain why you picked that major. Eg I majored in psychology b/c I want to go into psychiatry and I thought that would be the best major for that. I majored in philosophy because I'm interested in medical ethics. I majored in Spanish, because I want to work in underserved Latino communities.

 

[neovenom]

in terms of admission to med school, i don't think the major actually matters. but what does matter is that you pick something that genuinely interests you, so that you can stick to it for four years. i've also found that being interested in a subject helps me make better grades in it. in your case, i definitely think that knowing a little something about the business world will benefit you later in life, no matter what profession you go into.

 

[Rendar5]

that sucks. i'm majoring in bio (hopefully something more specific when i transfer to a 4-yr university) not because i think it'll help me for med school, but because i'm TRULY interested in this stuff (which is why i'm going into medicine). i've never understood why someone would major in something like theatre if they want to go to med school.

Because they're really interested in theater and it's the only time in their life to really do something like that, I would think.

 

[Law2Doc]

that sucks. i'm majoring in bio (hopefully something more specific when i transfer to a 4-yr university) not because i think it'll help me for med school, but because i'm TRULY interested in this stuff (which is why i'm going into medicine). i've never understood why someone would major in something like theatre if they want to go to med school.

well, you will actually find very little bio in med school, and a major like theatre or something involving interpersonal communication will actually often prove to be a much more useful background/skillset for a doctor from the third year of med school on. I wish I had done something like that. Med school will teach you all the science you need (beyond the prereqs), for the most part. So major in what you find most enjoyable, but don't assume bio is the "right" (or even particularly useful) major for medicine.