Double Major vs. Major and Double Minor?

[premedgirl1122]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Sorry for a similar posting, but I'm a sophomore at a top 50 academic university majoring in Biochemistry. I am thinking about some combination of major/minor in also International Studies and Spanish. I was just wondering what combination would make the most sense for med school admissions. Would it look better if I just double majored in two subjects? Or would the diversity of a major and double minor add to my application?

 

[Barcu]

Sorry for a similar posting, but I'm a sophomore at a top 50 academic university majoring in Biochemistry. I am thinking about some combination of major/minor in also International Studies and Spanish. I was just wondering what combination would make the most sense for med school admissions. Would it look better if I just double majored in two subjects? Or would the diversity of a major and double minor add to my application?

Double major. Take as much Spanish as possible.

 

[KindofBlue]

Whatever that gives you the best GPA.
Except for the fact that Spanish gives you an advantage over other applicants if the school you're applying is situated in a large hispanic community, I really don't know if a double major (other than for your own satisfaction) will benefit you that much. But if you really want to and are interested in the subject, sure, go ahead.

 

[zwitterion34]

Choose a major that you find most enjoyable and one that will ensure a good GPA.

 

[NickNaylor]

Choose what most interests you and is easiest to complete.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Sorry for a similar posting, but I'm a sophomore at a top 50 academic university majoring in Biochemistry. I am thinking about some combination of major/minor in also International Studies and Spanish. I was just wondering what combination would make the most sense for med school admissions. Would it look better if I just double majored in two subjects? Or would the diversity of a major and double minor add to my application?

Is there such thing as a non-academic university? Lol jk. The combination of major/minor/whatever doesn't matter. Fluency in Spanish would be awesome though, not so much for admissions but for life in general.

 

[deuist]

Double major?

Waste of time.

Double minor?

Another waste of time.

The short of it is that you study what you enjoy, whatever will boost your GPA, and whatever exposes to lots of and lots of Spanish. Hell, you could drop your biochem major, study only Spanish, and you'd be a more useful medical student than anyone with lots of science knowledge.

 

[physicsnerd42]

No one really cares what you major in. I'm serious. I graduated from college with a major and two minors and the only person who cared was me five years ago (and the me of today doesn't care).

Pick a major because you have to graduate. With your spare time, take classes that you actually want to take. If you end up with a minor or another major, great. If not, at least you took some interesting classes. All other things being equal, major in the thing that's most likely to help you get a job if you don't get into med school. If neither of the things you're thinking of majoring in is all that practical (in your case, biochem is probably more practical than the other options but it's still not engineering), just major in what you like.

 

[Neurosis]

Double major?

Waste of time.

Double minor?

Another waste of time.

The short of it is that you study what you enjoy, whatever will boost your GPA, and whatever exposes to lots of and lots of Spanish. Hell, you could drop your biochem major, study only Spanish, and you'd be a more useful medical student than anyone with lots of science knowledge.

👍

 

[Morsetlis]

Double major?

Waste of time.

Double minor?

Another waste of time.

The short of it is that you study what you enjoy, whatever will boost your GPA, and whatever exposes to lots of and lots of Spanish. Hell, you could drop your biochem major, study only Spanish, and you'd be a more useful medical student than anyone with lots of science knowledge.

Unless that 4.0 GPA in Spanish translates to a C average in med school.

 

[zamzee]

If you want to learn Spanish, STUDY ABROAD. That's better than any minor, IMO. And everyone here is right. Just study what you enjoy and what fulfills you as a person. Nobody cares what you major in unless you're going into engineering or finance or something.

Also, if you are thinking of double minoring, consider making your own interdisciplinary major. Usually universities have an Interdisciplinary Studies major where you can pick and choose your own classes and call it something. This way you can accommodate all of your interests without going through the mess of declaring two minors or having to pare them down by declaring only a second major.

 

[deuist]

Unless that 4.0 GPA in Spanish translates to a C average in med school.

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this statement. A person can work hard in Spanish and later work hard in medical school. A degree in biochem does not mean you'll be any more prepared for medical school beyond the first two weeks.

 

[inspirationmd]

I'm not sure where you're coming up with this statement. A person can work hard in Spanish and later work hard in medical school. A degree in biochem does not mean you'll be any more prepared for medical school beyond the first two weeks.

I don't know. I was a Business and Philosophy double major and I definitely felt like 1st year was way more difficult for me and a some other non-science majors I knew than the hard science majors. It does make life a little easier initially to do more than the premed requirements. Now when 2nd year hits it's all a wash and raw intellect coupled with how hard you are willing to go determined how Step 1 went. Just my opinion though.

 

[JESSFALLING]

It doesn't matter, you don't even need a minor or double major. In my opinion, Spanish = Biochemistry > Intl. Studies. Go with what you find most enjoyable. (If you don't love the biochem...please realize that you don't need a science major for admissions! Certain med schools may even prefer a Spanish major over a science major for obvious reasons.)

(Regardless of major, I think everyone should take a Biochemistry course before taking the MCAT and/or applying.)