French Minor?

[NodForce]

Ok I'm a junior right now, and I have taken French since practically elementary school(still not fluent lol). I was wondering if I took a French minor would it help my chances for getting into medical school? I would need 4 more classes to get it. It would be hard and I would probably have to take a summer class, but if it would make a significand difference in my application, I would do it. It would make me trilingual btw, if that makes any difference.

tl;dr

Would a french minor help my chances of getting into medical school?

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[Vihsadas]

Ok I'm a junior right now, and I have taken French since practically elementary school(still not fluent lol). I was wondering if I took a French minor would it help my chances for getting into medical school? I would need 4 more classes to get it. It would be hard and I would probably have to take a summer class, but if it would make a significand difference in my application, I would do it. It would make me trilingual btw, if that makes any difference.

tl;dr

Would a french minor help my chances of getting into medical school?

It's cool to be well-rounded, but IMHO your motivation to pursue a certain course of study should be genuine interest in the field. I don't advise anyone to choose the activities that they pursue solely to get into medical school. Having a goal, and doing the things you need to do to get there are great, but if you can't enjoy the process of attaining that goal, you're missing out on life. The activities you choose should be ones that you are really passionate about. If that's healthcare work, then great, do that! If it's French or sports or whatever else, then do that. Experience truly is the spice of life, and if you're not getting something meaningful or positive out of your current endeavors, then why are you doing them?
Are you interested in pursuing this minor? Are you interested in learning about the french language? Those are the questions you should ask yourself. Truthfully, it's not going to hurt or help your chances to get into medical school.

 

[thegetupkid]

If your academic career has already been great, this won't do much to improve your medical school prospects. Honestly, you should enjoy the time you have left in your undergraduate years: maintain your friendships and relax.

If you are fluent in French, you will be able to put it on your application. If you aren't fluent in french, but put your french minor down, then you may (e.g. Tuft's interview) get randomly interviewed in that language and look like a fool.

Cliffs notes: The time you will need to put into the minor probably will not outweigh the slightest edge you'll gain in being able to check one box on your primary application.

 

[TexasPhysician]

Being honest, I don't think it will help any. It sounds cool, but French isn't a language needed much in the U.S. If you were applying to a southern med school and the language was Spanish, I would say that it IS worth your time.

I would find something else that interests you that would help your CV more.

 

[135892]

Would a french minor help my chances of getting into medical school?

No.

 

[kevinm]

Ok I'm a junior right now, and I have taken French since practically elementary school(still not fluent lol). I was wondering if I took a French minor would it help my chances for getting into medical school? I would need 4 more classes to get it. It would be hard and I would probably have to take a summer class, but if it would make a significand difference in my application, I would do it. It would make me trilingual btw, if that makes any difference.

tl;dr

Would a french minor help my chances of getting into medical school?

I have no qualifications that would enable me to answer your question. However, I just finished my French minor, and the reason I did it was because I thoroughly enjoy the language. If I don't get accepted to medical school this time around, I will probably go to France for a year to become fully bilingual.

If your application is the only reason you're going to pursue a French minor, why not put the time in elsewhere, into something where the effect is guaranteed to be positive, like studying for the MCAT?

 

[Law2Doc]

No.

Second this. Minors do not matter. Repeat - Minors do not matter. It might make your parents proud, and give you something to put on a resume down the road, but it won't help one lick in getting into med school. Being fluent in a foreign language will be positively regarded, but french isn't a language in as high demand in the states (it might be up north) as spanish or some of the eastern languages. And having it as a major/minor won't matter. Med schools don't care what you major in. They care even less what you minor in. Do what you enjoy. If you do well and pick up all the prereqs, that's all that matters.

 

[kevinm]

Being fluent in a foreign language will be positively regarded, but french isn't a language in as high demand in the states (it might be up north) as spanish or some of the eastern languages.

The only school where I think being fluent in french may help one's admission chances is McGill

 

[Vihsadas]

The only school where I think being fluent in french may help one's admission chances is McGill

Actually I don't even really think that language is considered much of an issue for non-residents. Now, if you are a Quebec resident who is bilingual, it might be different.