Double Majors?

[laifalove]

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What's the take on double majors? I'm currently a biological sciences (B.S.) + anthropology (B.A.) double major (going to finish both in 4 years). Today, I attended a Q&A session with the dean of admissions for the med school at my university. According to her, she's "neutral" on double majors. Has anyone else have any experience with committees and their take on doubling? Thanks!

 

[URHere]

I think "neutral" is a pretty common stance. Unless your double major tanks your GPA or gives you something extraordinarily unusual to talk about during your interview, I doubt it will make a substantial impression either way.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Only double major if you're honestly interested in both. Otherwise, just major in the one you like.

 

[ezsanche]

I doubled majored in microbiology and chemistry. Although you learn a lot of interesting stuff it is pretty much pointless if you are aiming for a MD.

 

[J ROD]

It's more about what you wanna do. Med schools are not impressed for the most part....

 

[InanelyHighNut]

I view it as "negative."

It could hurt your GPA and take time away that you might want for yourself or for better extracurricular activities.

But if it makes you happier, double major. Only if you're happier. ;]

 

[laifalove]

I view it as "negative."

It could hurt your GPA and take time away that you might want for yourself or for better extracurricular activities.

But if it makes you happier, double major. Only if you're happier. ;]

That's what the dean of admissions said too, but anthropology is what is going to save my cumulative GPA. Too bad it won't help much with my science GPA but still better than nothing. It's also a major that doesn't require anywhere near as much studying as the hard sciences do so it won't hurt my sGPA either.

 

[LiveUninhibited]

I think it helped me to have one in hard science and the other in humanities. It made me a more well-rounded applicant, and interviewers have commented on me taking on both majors in a positive way. However, I also took a bit over a year extra to graduate due to a complete lack of overlap between them, so it's not for everybody. Definitely don't do it in such a way that edges out ECs. Personally they both opened up EC opportunities for me, though.

 

[scattun]

FWIW, at the one interview I have attended so far, one of my two interviewers, who was an adcom member, commented very positively about my majors. I think having more than major can only help you if:

1. it doesn't lower your GPA by more than a negligible amount. I consider .01-.02 to be negligible in most cases.

2. you don't have to take an obscene number of hours every semester to do it. The hours themselves don't matter so much, but rather that is time which you could otherwise have devoted to developing EC's.

3. the majors are in completing different fields. The more different the better, bio/anthro is a good but not great combination for this. My majors were about in that same range of difference. Much better than two science majors but not as unique as a science/arts double major.

Of course you shouldn't get an extra major unless it is really something you want to do. There are a lot of easier ways to improve your application.