double major?

[fleur64]

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Hey,
I am going to be a senior this fall and have decided to take a gap year so i can retake my mcat. Since I have time to bring up my gpa, my question is if I should still complete my second major in Psychology. My sgpa is a 3.57 as of now. I want to bring that up with my senior year grades. However, I also have 3 classes left for my psych major. Should I just minor in psych and take a couple more science classes instead? Whats worth more a double major or a better sgpa?

P.S I am planning on studying fall semester for my mcat.

 

[Ismet]

Double major is worth nothing. You need to bring up the GPA.

 

[Monika12]

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[superpom_7]

Your GPA is more important.

 

[user12]

Yeah, as someone with a double major in physics and bio, and applied twice with no acceptances, I can honestly say double major doesn't mean much. It sounds cool in passing conversation though.

 

[fleur64]

Yeah, as someone with a double major in physics and bio, and applied twice with no acceptances, I can honestly say double major doesn't mean much. It sounds cool in passing conversation though.

thanks for the advice everyone! yeah I have been able to combine my passion for psych and bio which I really enjoy but I have realized that I need to commit my time toward science classes.

 

[2.18281828459045]

Yeah, as someone with a double major in physics and bio, and applied twice with no acceptances, I can honestly say double major doesn't mean much. It sounds cool in passing conversation though.

"no acceptances"???
Wow, that's a wake-up call for me....

To how many schools did you apply?
Did the course load bring down your GPA and/or diminish time available for ECs?

Surely, given a choice between two students with identical GPA, MCAT, and ECs, adcoms would choose the double major who undertook the tougher curriculum, no?

BTW: Hi, this is my first post. Longtime lurker....

 

[gyngyn]

Surely, given a choice between two students with identical GPA, MCAT, and ECs, adcoms would choose the double major who undertook the tougher curriculum, no?

BTW: Hi, this is my first post. Longtime lurker....

No. There is no Sophie's choice in screening for interviews.
If they are "identical" and good, they both get an interview.

 

[Dr. Retractor]

"no acceptances"???
Wow, that's a wake-up call for me....

To how many schools did you apply?
Did the course load bring down your GPA and/or diminish time available for ECs?

Surely, given a choice between two students with identical GPA, MCAT, and ECs, adcoms would choose the double major who undertook the tougher curriculum, no?

BTW: Hi, this is my first post. Longtime lurker....

Yes, just because it shows that the one student was able to handle a lot more at once and has better time management than the other. However, it is very unlikely you will have two people with identical everything except for the fact that one has a double major. Students with only one major usually have time for many more things and have better ECs along with better grades, which allows them to have the advantage over those with double majors. Having 2 majors on your app doesn't really "add points" towards acceptance in and of itself, it's what's present besides the majors.

 

[2.18281828459045]

I appreciate the feedback.

Yes, just because it shows that the one student was able to handle a lot more at once and has better time management than the other.

Exactly. If you can fulfill the double major reqs without adverse effect on GPA or ECs, then it seems like it would be an advantage. If I were an adcom member, my preference would clearly be for the double major *all else being equal*. I'm not oblivious to the fact that it's been discussed many times here...but I can only guess that the reason why it seems to even out in so many anecdotes here on SDN is that most students *can't* do the double major without their GPA and ECs suffering (and that the nature med school admissions has changed dramatically over the past few decades).

BTW: I am a non-trad second bachelor's student considering math+biochem double major.

 

[Dr. Retractor]

I appreciate the feedback.



Exactly. If you can fulfill the double major reqs without adverse effect on GPA or ECs, then it seems like it would be an advantage. If I were an adcom member, my preference would clearly be for the double major *all else being equal*. I'm not oblivious to the fact that it's been discussed many times here...but I can only guess that the reason why it seems to even out in so many anecdotes here on SDN is that most students *can't* do the double major without their GPA and ECs suffering (and that the nature med school admissions has changed dramatically over the past few decades).

BTW: I am a non-trad second bachelor's student considering math+biochem double major.

That's correct, but think of it like this. This student who did a double major was able to do all the good ECs and keep up good grades like someone with just one major. Now if that student had forgone the extra major and spent the extra time doing AMAZING ECs and getting even better grades, the advantage isn't really there. That student would do much better in the app cycle with just one major than if they had done two. My advice is to do the major that will take up the least amount of time and allow to have the best grades, maybe do a minor in the other subject, and spend your extra time on ECs like research or volunteering.

FWIW, I was a triple major at one point and dropped two of the majors, leaving me with time to do tons of research and work on other ECs that I really enjoyed (as well as all the fees that go with having too many credits). Best decision I've made.

 

[user12]

I couldn't have gotten higher than a 3.8 or done any extra ECs, even if I only had 1 major. I didn't even do it for acceptance to med school... I just thought graduating with a double major in physics and bio would be badass. (apparently adcoms don't think it is)

 

[Goro]

As I routinely say, we care care what major or minor is, or whether you have 1, 2 or 6. We care about you doing well.

I couldn't have gotten higher than a 3.8 or done any extra ECs, even if I only had 1 major. I didn't even do it for acceptance to med school... I just thought graduating with a double major in physics and bio would be badass. (apparently adcoms don't think it is)