Dual Degree Helpful

[MikaëlMDsoontobe]

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Hello all,

I was wondering if a dual degree is helpful or separates me from my peers along with a good MCAT, GPA, medical research and EC's. I've heard you shouldn't have one major but have two before admission. Any clearance on this topic?

 

[DrHart]

I assume you mean having two undergraduate degrees From what I've heard, its generally no more helpful than just having one.

 

[tessellations]

You can get into med school with one major.

 

[allantois]

Who is spewing such nonsense?

 

[deleted480308]

Hello all,

I was wondering if a dual degree is helpful or separates me from my peers along with a good MCAT, GPA, medical research and EC's. I've heard you shouldn't have one major but have two before admission. Any clearance on this topic?

No one cares

 

[RooskayAliskay]

Are you going to be applying to just medical schools or to combined programs like the MD/PhD or MD/JD routes? You definitely don't need two undergrad degrees to be an excellent candidate for med schools, provided that the rest of your application is strong, but if acquiring another related degree (such as completing a double major) is relatively easy for you to do, then it certainly wouldn't count against you and could be useful in the future, depending on your career choice. Of course, you wouldn't want to jeopardize getting a great GPA or valuable MCAT study time just for the sake of having two degrees, so it's definitely important to consider the amount of time you would realistically have to devote to getting this second degree, as well as how many additional credits that would be needed.

For the combined programs, having another degree that you can actively apply may give you a very slight advantage or be an interesting point to discuss during interviews (at least, this is what I have been told by advisors at three separate institutions. I am not an expert on this, so it would be wise to consult those that actually are).

If this second degree is something that you are exceedingly interested in and you know that you will do very well in, it could certainly be worth pursuing and achieving. Just make sure that the positives outweigh the negatives 🙂

 

[MikaëlMDsoontobe]

Who is spewing such nonsense?

Yea the internet isn't the best source for this information which is why I come here to learn from those that actually know from experience.

 

[MikaëlMDsoontobe]

No one cares

Why'd you feel the need to comment? LOL

 

[MikaëlMDsoontobe]

I assume you mean having two undergraduate degrees From what I've heard, its generally no more helpful than just having one.

Ok thanks for the help Doctor Hart.

 

[MikaëlMDsoontobe]

Who is spewing such nonsense?

Are you going to be applying to just medical schools or to combined programs like the MD/PhD or MD/JD routes? You definitely don't need two undergrad degrees to be an excellent candidate for med schools, provided that the rest of your application is strong, but if acquiring another related degree (such as completing a double major) is relatively easy for you to do, then it certainly wouldn't count against you and could be useful in the future, depending on your career choice. Of course, you wouldn't want to jeopardize getting a great GPA or valuable MCAT study time just for the sake of having two degrees, so it's definitely important to consider the amount of time you would realistically have to devote to getting this second degree, as well as how many additional credits that would be needed.

For the combined programs, having another degree that you can actively apply may give you a very slight advantage or be an interesting point to discuss during interviews (at least, this is what I have been told by advisors at three separate institutions. I am not an expert on this, so it would be wise to consult those that actually are).

If this second degree is something that you are exceedingly interested in and you know that you will do very well in, it could certainly be worth pursuing and achieving. Just make sure that the positives outweigh the negatives 🙂

Ok great. Thanks for the positive feedback.

 

[deleted480308]

Why'd you feel the need to comment? LOL

You asked a question, I answered.

No one cares about dual bachelors

 

[MikaëlMDsoontobe]

You asked a question, I answered.

No one cares about dual bachelors

The sassyness is real haha have a nice life.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Adcoms want to see you pick a courseload you can excel in. It doesn't matter if you pick a hard major, have a minor, or double/triple major.
With many degree programs at many universities requiring minors or second majors it will hardly make you unique or stand out.

 

[deleted480308]

The sassyness is real haha have a nice life.

Not sassy. That's a literal answer.