Double Majors

[jordews]

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Does anyone know if med schools take into account if you have a double major, and if so how much weight they would put on it? I doubt it could hurt you, but I can't decide if it's just a non-factor, or it really would make a difference. Any thoughts from someone who knows more about the admissions process than me? thanks

 

[moo]

It doesn't matter. Why? Because you will still be doing the required credits to get a degree. Instead of taking electives, you take courses in your two concentrations. I'm doing math and physics and I have very little space for anything else... In fact, I will be way over 120 credits when I graduate since i needed all the med prereqs.

 

[nashtrash]

i think having a double major adds a little to your app, but that's not based on any fact, just my opinion. If anything, i think it shows that you are adept in multiple subjects, especially if one of your majors is a non-science and one is a science. i also think that most people know that it's not a piece of cake to get a double major in college, and it takes organization, good time management, and no slack-off semesters. anyway, i myself do not have a double major--like i said, this is just my opinion. if you look at that "insider's guide to med school" book (i think that's it) they break down the majors for you and give their acceptance rates, but i'm not sure how much you can tell from percentages. ok bye!

 

[Popoy]

Just a small advice.... Make sure that upon doing a double major that you like those subject matter and not something to merely show the adcoms something different. If you enjoy the different majors, then by all means do it.... It can translate in larger load and diversity of classes which will probably show your potential as a medical student being able to time manage.

Will it make a difference? I think it will as long as you do well in both.... if you don't do well, then that's one way double majoring can really hurt your chances.

Every year students get in with just one major and doing well GPA and MCAT wise.... other than just majoring in one subject matter, these students also juggle, possibly, working, volunteering, researching, etc.... so this too shows that you can time manage and that you can be well rounded even though you have just one major.

Alrighty.... Just my two cents....

 

[Halaljello]

they dont care if ur a double major...what they care about is you're gpa/mcat... so if ur a chem engineering with a 3.2 and the other guy is a basket weaving major with a 4.0... and u have the same mcats....the 4.0 is gonna have the edge over u

 

[Georgey]

I tend to disagree with the previous post. I would think that things like difficulty of major, college attended, etc. would put a major spin on how one's GPA is interpreted. It would be ludicrous to think that a person with a 3.5 and a fashion degree would have experienced the same academic obstacles as a person with the same GPA who majored in nuclear engineering. I do agree though that a double major versus a single major makes little difference. I am a double major (Anthropology and English) and I don't anticipate this giving me any advantage in the admissions process. If you read the MSAR you'll see that most admission committees are more interested in the depth to which a student pursued his/her field of study (e.g. research) than the particular field of study.

 

[nero]

The primary way they screen out applicants is by GPA/MCAT. After that, then they look at your extras, i.e. activities, possibly major, etc. Point being, if you pass the first test then likely you are going to get an interview. Not many people with a 3.9 and a 34 are going to get throw out initally. No matter what their major/school is. Then after the first test it matters how well you perform in the interview.

Nero

 

[kreno]

Nero, and everyone else... although I'm sure the "primary" apps are filtered via GPA/MCAT *ONLY*, I wouldn't go that far to say that's how all, or even most schools are. I know, for one, that at my school, Michigan State University (i'm an undergrad), that's not the case necessarily.... i know someone on the admissions board.

Also, a friend of mine, non-minority, guy just got into john hopkins with a 3.6 and a 32 on the MCAT (10 verbal, 11, 11). He's one of the most charasmatic and most personable guys you'll ever meet - thus, I'm not surprised he got in, i'm sure his interview was what ultimately did it. But, he's also had some great experiences.

My point is... it depends on the school.

leon

 

[jordews]

I have a hard time believing that adcoms are so naive as to just blindly plug in numbers without regard for how or where these numbers were obtained. Even during the primary phase, I'm sure they give some weight to the undergraduate collge, and also the major that was pursued. There are just too many factors that they would be stupidly neglecting if they didn't. For instance, what if someone has a really high gpa, and is a double major in two hard majors, at a very respectable undergraduate institution, and say they spent a large part of their time studying for their classes, and they didnt have as much time to put into the mcat. On the other hand, you have a basketweaving major at a low-tier university, who can pull off a high gpa, and still have worlds of time to study for the mcat. So the basketweaver does slightly better on his mcat and has a higher gpa. So what? The adcoms would be missing out on a whole bunch of great students if they did things like this.

 

[moo]

Originally posted by jordews:
•I have a hard time believing that adcoms are so naive as to just blindly plug in numbers without regard for how or where these numbers were obtained. Even during the primary phase, I'm sure they give some weight to the undergraduate collge, and also the major that was pursued. There are just too many factors that they would be stupidly neglecting if they didn't. For instance, what if someone has a really high gpa, and is a double major in two hard majors, at a very respectable undergraduate institution, and say they spent a large part of their time studying for their classes, and they didnt have as much time to put into the mcat. On the other hand, you have a basketweaving major at a low-tier university, who can pull off a high gpa, and still have worlds of time to study for the mcat. So the basketweaver does slightly better on his mcat and has a higher gpa. So what? The adcoms would be missing out on a whole bunch of great students if they did things like this.•

jordews, the problem is, how do you define an "easy" and a "hard" major? I'm sure they lend the school attended SOME weight, since it's easier to quantify something like that (just rank the schools; majors are harder to rank, however).

As an illustration of my point, take my case for instance. I love math and physics. Wouldn't do anything else. I can see things that many people don't in these two subjects. However, I hate English. I will never be able to attain the GPA I have now had I majored in English. However, I am sure that math and physics are traditionally viewed as more "difficult" subjects (just see people's reaction when I tell them what I am majoring in) but I don't think it's fair to give it more weight b/c that's something that I like personally, and we're all different.

 

[nashtrash]

well i agree with you to a certain extent in that somebody who can pull off an impressive gpa at a more competitive university, especially with a double major, is going to draw attention from adcoms. i'm not sure if i go for your "lower mcat because I didn't have enough time to study" bit though--most people taking the mcat have classes to sort through and there's always the option of taking the mcat in august. though I don't think it's completely indicative of your intelligence and ability, it is a hard test and not just anybody can do well on it. just because somebody majored in something non-sciencey and "easy" like basket-weaving (I really wish that was a major) doesn't mean that they're not capable, and doing well on the mcat would show that they are. my opinion is that going to a good university helps you more if you have a less than stellar gpa, and going to a less competitive university won't hurt, especially if you can prove yourself on the mcat. here's a little break-down of what I think:

reputable university, high mcat, high gpa -- very good (you shouldn't be worried)

reputable university, high mcat, lower gpa -- hmm -- good (maybe the school's really hard) -- interview?

reputable university, lower mcat, high gpa -- interesting (did something happen?) -- interview?

reputable university, lower mcat, lower gpa -- not impressive

not-so-reputable university, high mcat, high gpa -- very good at most places

not-so-reputable university, high mcat, low gpa -- hmm what happened? not so impressive, but a possible interview

not-so-reputable university, low mcat, high gpa -- not impressive, doesn't say much about your school

not-so-reputable university, low mcat, low gpa -- sorry dude, that really stinks

anyway, that's just my little opinion on the subject--let me remind you that I know nothing about nothing so don't go extinguish your dreams if you fall under the low mcat and low gpa at middle-of-nowhere university. also, i'm sure extracurriculars/recommendations/personal statements throw that little break-down i did way off.

anyway, to make this more on the topic of this thread, i agree with the above posters when they said you need to make sure you're really interested in both your majors if you decide to double major because it'll be a lot of time and you want to make sure you'll do well in both of them. plus you won't really have time to take extra non-related courses, which can be interesting. ok bye!

 

[nashtrash]

and like moo said you can't really distinguish what a hard major/easy major is across universities because it's different everwhere. I would think that for majors that are non-science related and "questionable," there would be more emphasis on that person's science gpa from core requirements. I don't know!!

 

[jordews]

The problem is, their are definately "easier" majors at every university. What I mean by easier, is that regardless of your interest or ability in the subject matter, it would be far easier to make a high gpa in a certain major than others. I know this for a fact (especially at my university). I dont think that it's any fluke that over 90% of the athletes are lumped into one particular major here. I guess this is where the science GPA comes in. They make all premeds take these certain classes (biology, o-chem etc.) and if their is a big discrepancy between the student's ability to do well in their major classes, and their ability in these premed classes, then something is up. I guess all I'm trying to say is that I think there is a whole lot more that goes into the initial review of applicants than just plugging numbers into a formula.

 

[moo]

Originally posted by jordews:
•The problem is, their are definately "easier" majors at every university. What I mean by easier, is that regardless of your interest or ability in the subject matter, it would be far easier to make a high gpa in a certain major than others. I know this for a fact (especially at my university). I dont think that it's any fluke that over 90% of the athletes are lumped into one particular major here. I guess this is where the science GPA comes in. They make all premeds take these certain classes (biology, o-chem etc.) and if their is a big discrepancy between the student's ability to do well in their major classes, and their ability in these premed classes, then something is up. I guess all I'm trying to say is that I think there is a whole lot more that goes into the initial review of applicants than just plugging numbers into a formula.•

Ok, I agree with some of your points. (I could get into a lot of trouble for saying this, but here goes.) Psychology at my school is known to be one of those "easy majors" you're talking about. People who flunk out of science go into psych. And one of my friends is in psych because as he said "it's all fluff... make things up and get an A." But by athletes, I gather psych isn't what you're talking about? (Again I'm not meaning to degrade psych here. Just that psych has that reputation at my school.)

 

[jordews]

Yah, there are a bunch of majors like that here too. I can't personally compare the degree of difficulty of some of them, but there are a few majors that are notorious for having the students who have a hard time. The major I was referring to with the athletes is Human and Organizational development. I go to Vanderbilt, and I guess its somewhat different here, because we are considered a premier academic institution, but our athletic teams also compete in one of the best conferences in the nation (SEC). So i guess there is a need for an easier major where the athletes can make passing grades, but still try and compete at the highest level athletically. To tell you the truth, I'd probably opt for the easier major here if I had to put in as much time as those athletes do. There are a few athletes who are in some of the more difficult majors. Ya gotta respect those guys. There were actually a few premeds on the soccer team.