Education major for med school

[Medical field27]

How do med school look upon on people with education majors, I'd personally would like to take up this major so that when I'm through with med school and residency, one day I could hopefully work at a teaching hospital and teach up coming residents. What would med achools think about this major? Do they look down on it like they do to nursing degrees from what I've heard or is that not so true? Thank you

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[Ismet]

You don't need an education degree to teach. Having an MD degree is enough to teach at a medical school or train residents.

If you have an interest in education outside of the motive that you said, and if you can do well in that major along with doing well in the pre-med pre-reqs and do well on the MCAT, then by all means go for it.

 

[LianaStan]

The poster above is correct. You do not need an education degree to teach. If you still want one, I am not exactly sure how this will be looked upon. Surely you cannot explain it with your current explanation so you must find another reasoning for wanting the degree. However, if you CAN explain your reasoning, then yes, go for it. This is because many medical schools, especially top-tiers, look for uniqueness in their applicants and having a different degree may give you experiences that allow you to stand out. Of course, make sure you take all the science classes required of being pre-med, not just the ones required for your major.

 

[dsoz]

From my experience, med schools seem to love former teachers. I am VERY nontraditional, and have taught high school science for 19 years. I was canceling interviews by December because I had three acceptances already, including my first choice school. I didn't want to have to pay for more interview travel.

One of the common themes in my secondaries was "In the original Latin, the term doctor means teacher. In that aspect, I have been practicing how to communicate with patients for many years."

Now if you are going to apply to med school without any teaching experience, that may be a different story. Without the actual teaching experience then you would not have as much of an advantage.

Also, like someone posted above, you don't need a teaching degree to teach at a med school. The only place where an Ed degree can help you is in getting a job in primary or secondary schools. Higher education has no requirement for having any educational background. All they require is either an advanced degree or a special knowledge or experience in the field.

dsoz

 

[Medical field27]

The poster above is correct. You do not need an education degree to teach. If you still want one, I am not exactly sure how this will be looked upon. Surely you cannot explain it with your current explanation so you must find another reasoning for wanting the degree. However, if you CAN explain your reasoning, then yes, go for it. This is because many medical schools, especially top-tiers, look for uniqueness in their applicants and having a different degree may give you experiences that allow you to stand out. Of course, make sure you take all the science classes required of being pre-med, not just the ones required for your major.

About the unique degrees, would this fall into that category or no? It is unique in the way it's not a science degree so would it be considered unique like people say?

 

[bunionberry]

About the unique degrees, would this fall into that category or no? It is unique in the way it's not a science degree so would it be considered unique like people say?

I'd say it's unique if you can make it work to your advantage. Meaning, do well in your pre-med courses and show that you're a good candidate. It'll let people know you're not just taking an "easy" major to keep a good GPA. Unfortunately, a lot of people have a somewhat negative view of education majors. If you like the material though, just stick with the major and find something that'll help you stand out.

I don't think med schools will look down on you for being an education major, but they won't consider you unique unless you give them something more than just your major.

 

[LianaStan]

About the unique degrees, would this fall into that category or no? It is unique in the way it's not a science degree so would it be considered unique like people say?

Ah, let me clarify. The degree itself does not constitute the uniqueness that adcoms look for. It is the experiences that you get from the degree that make you unique. i.e. Having a Public Policy major would give you more familiarity with health policy and our healthcare system today. You can touch upon these things in your apps which is always helpful.

dsoz's post above is the perfect example. He/she used her nontrad experience to her advantage to show his/her strength in communication and teaching, which are two of the biggest traits medical schools look for. I certainly think with an education degree, if you go a nontrad route and do some teaching after graduating, it can help you immensely by bringing something cool and new to the table. I know I personally would choose a nonscience major if I could redo things, but I wouldn't go a nontrad route because I want to go to medical school ASAP.

 

[Goro]

Your major will help or hurt you. Teaching experience at the university level will always help at some schools. Rsearch heavy shcools consider teachign a necessary evil; I've heard that some will even look down upon faculty that won teaching awards.

How do med school look upon on people with education majors, I'd personally would like to take up this major so that when I'm through with med school and residency, one day I could hopefully work at a teaching hospital and teach up coming residents.


We do NOT look down upon nursing degrees.

Do they look down on it like they do to nursing degrees from what I've heard or is that not so true? Thank you[/QUOTE]