Liberal Arts as a Major

[mastamark]

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Hello All,

I am considering a major change from Biology to Liberal arts. I want more room in my coursework to learn things I feel will help me in my career in medicine. The liberal arts major completes 2 minors and has room for tons of electives. I am in my second year now. I have completed Bio 1 and 2 as well as gen chem 1 & 2. The bio minor includes those classes in addition to orgo 1 and 2, microbiology, and genetics. I can take physics 1 and 2 as an elective. The other minor I want to take is sociology which has obvious benefits in dealing with a wide array of patients. I have been told by my pre-proffesional advisor that I wont get into med school as a lib arts major, but she also said that I must major in Biology to be accepted as well. That is why I am seeking you SDNers opinion. does this sound good to you guys. I mean the genetics and micro will be good upper div classes. I also have space to take languages like I wanted to.

 

[Zerosixjt]

My best advise is to contact programs that you are interested in and ask them, but as long as you complete and do well in med school pre recs and have outside activities that show a comitment to medicine, a liberal arts degree shouldn't hold you back to much.

 

[group_theory]

Shouldn't be a problem as a liberal arts major. A well-rounded doctor is what med schools are looking for. Just make sure you take all the premed courses and do well in them. If you want, you can take a few additional courses in addition to the premed courses to show that you have a firm grasp when it comes to learning science (such as biochemistry, or genetics, or molecular biology). Do well in your premed classes and on MCAT - and med school won't care if you majored in jazz, women studies, or biology

Just get some healthcare experience (shadowing, volunteering, EMT, etc) to show med schools that you have some idea what you are getting yourself into (and didn't decide to become a doctor after watching Grey's Anatomy/ER/Scrubs)

 

[Raven Feather]

Hello All,

I am considering a major change from Biology to Liberal arts. I want more room in my coursework to learn things I feel will help me in my career in medicine. The liberal arts major completes 2 minors and has room for tons of electives. I am in my second year now. I have completed Bio 1 and 2 as well as gen chem 1 & 2. The bio minor includes those classes in addition to orgo 1 and 2, microbiology, and genetics. I can take physics 1 and 2 as an elective. The other minor I want to take is sociology which has obvious benefits in dealing with a wide array of patients. I have been told by my pre-proffesional advisor that I wont get into med school as a lib arts major, but she also said that I must major in Biology to be accepted as well. That is why I am seeking you SDNers opinion. does this sound good to you guys. I mean the genetics and micro will be good upper div classes. I also have space to take languages like I wanted to.

I am a liberal studies major where we pick major and minor areas of concentrations. My major area was/is natural science. Did all my prereqs for med school that way. I was also told by the school the same thing you were told--"you need to be a bio major to get in." They are WRONG and I knew better. I was accepted into all the places I interviewed at so far. What is wrong with these misinformed advisors? Anyway, the funny thing is, at my school, the Liberal Studies/Social Sciences dept has a better acceptance rate than the bio department. Don't be misguided!

 

[Spankete87]

My advice - Major in whatever you want to major in. You will get to major in Bio in med school. 😉 In all seriousness, as long as you have the prereqs and volunteering and shadowing and can get good letters of rec from science professors, you should be FINE. Actually most of the people I know that were Liberal Arts majors and then went to med school were accepted. Plus, most of my friend that majored in something other than bio had better GPAs and science GPAs than the people who majored in bio!

Study hard for the MCAT and do well in all your science classes and you won't have a problem getting into school.

 

[mastamark]

Shouldn't be a problem as a liberal arts major. A well-rounded doctor is what med schools are looking for. Just make sure you take all the premed courses and do well in them. If you want, you can take a few additional courses in addition to the premed courses to show that you have a firm grasp when it comes to learning science (such as biochemistry, or genetics, or molecular biology). Do well in your premed classes and on MCAT - and med school won't care if you majored in jazz, women studies, or biology

Just get some healthcare experience (shadowing, volunteering, EMT, etc) to show med schools that you have some idea what you are getting yourself into (and didn't decide to become a doctor after watching Grey's Anatomy/ER/Scrubs)

I appreciate the feedback guys. I guess I needed to hear this from someone other than myself and my wife. As for the EMT I have been a paramedic for 5 years now. Hopefully it helps me too.

 

[Jayrod14]

I was accepted to osteopathic and allopathic schools and I majored in something very similar to Liberal Arts. I also know several people who did the same thing. It is definitely possible to do.

 

[G. Willie]

I appreciate the feedback guys. I guess I needed to hear this from someone other than myself and my wife. As for the EMT I have been a paramedic for 5 years now. Hopefully it helps me too.

I was a physical anthropologie major. The ad com's loved it. I didn't have any trouble getting interviews. Your experience as a paramedic will probably weigh heavily, as it did with me. You really don't have to have a bio or natural science degree to get into med school.

 

[(nicedream)]

Don't listen to advisors about anything, they are idiots.

 

[NapeSpikes]

Hello All,

I am considering a major change from Biology to Liberal arts. I want more room in my coursework to learn things I feel will help me in my career in medicine. The liberal arts major completes 2 minors and has room for tons of electives. I am in my second year now. I have completed Bio 1 and 2 as well as gen chem 1 & 2. The bio minor includes those classes in addition to orgo 1 and 2, microbiology, and genetics. I can take physics 1 and 2 as an elective. The other minor I want to take is sociology which has obvious benefits in dealing with a wide array of patients. I have been told by my pre-proffesional advisor that I wont get into med school as a lib arts major, but she also said that I must major in Biology to be accepted as well. That is why I am seeking you SDNers opinion. does this sound good to you guys. I mean the genetics and micro will be good upper div classes. I also have space to take languages like I wanted to.

Your advisor is totally wrong. All you need in addition to what you've completed is Phys 1 and 2, like you mentioned. Those are the core classes, and beyond that, for most schools, you can take and major in whatever else you want (liberal arts majors will have the English Reqs covered).

 

[mastamark]

Ha! I thought I would uodate everyone who has helped me. I went to see the chair of my Biology department so I could declare Biology as a minor and change to Liberal Arts. The first thing she asked me was: "What are you planning to do with this?" Before I could answer, she foolows with. "Because you are not going to get into any medical schools with a Liberal arts degree. This degree is made for people who are truly undecided and have no idea what they want to do. Pre-Law students frequently use this but not Pre-Med." Gawsh I hate even going to see them. I get so intimidated by them. I know what they are saying isn't true, but how do I even proove this to them or anyone else. I would like to tell the dean about this, but it seems they all stick together. I told another proffesor about this and he goes, " well they see this all the time and they should know, based on who they see succeed in med-school." Thie thing that makes it even harder is that the head of this department claims that she went to medical school, finished, and decided during her first year as a resident that she didn't want to pursuit medicine anymore 😕 . I dunno. I smeel a rat. 🙁

 

[NapeSpikes]

http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/about/start.htm

Seriously, this is all you need. These five classes (chem, bio, phys, orgo, english) and a bachelor's degree are all I had, and I got in.

I bet you can find similar info on the DO's association's site, too. Good luck.

 

[HunterGatherer]

ALL of the above advice is great! If you really want to switch out of biology:

-You can skip the preprofessional committee and switch majors to liberal arts.

-Get you professors to send LORs to interfolio.com so you may resend them to your deisred schools.

-get a letter from your academic advisor for schools like PCOM that require this when not using a premed committee. There is a post on this and you should call PCOM during the next cycle to confirm.

-osteopathic schools like to have a variety of students in their classes so there is no serious concern with going non-science as a major. It seems that your major (and EMT job) will have some unique qualities and may be something to mention in interviews, PS, or secondaries.

-as an EMT start networking now to find someone to give you a nice DO LOR

-call the osteopathic schools for some peac of mind regarding your decision of switching to Liberal Arts

-rock the MCAT!!

good luck.

 

[GrapeApe]

You are at an advantage over the traditional applicant; your liberal arts background will make you look well rounded, and assuming your science pre reqs go well you have a higher chance statistically of getting in when compared to the biology/chemistry counterpart. Every school webpage, pamphlet, and bound publication clearly states that you only need the pre reqs to apply. The current trend of well rounded doctors stems from a need for physicians who are capable of doing the erudite sciences while at the same time are capable of relating to patients.

 

[mastamark]

Thanks guys, I really needed to hear it again. It is just so hard when you speak to some of these advisors with these psuedo-gatekeeper mentalities. As if they have a say in who goes to medical school. I am sure they have seen success with the method they choose, however there is more than one way to get checkmate.

Appreciate you all, and good luck at your schools. If you haven't got in yet good luck on your pursuit. 🙂

 

[Raven Feather]

Ha! I thought I would uodate everyone who has helped me. I went to see the chair of my Biology department so I could declare Biology as a minor and change to Liberal Arts. The first thing she asked me was: "What are you planning to do with this?" Before I could answer, she foolows with. "Because you are not going to get into any medical schools with a Liberal arts degree. This degree is made for people who are truly undecided and have no idea what they want to do. Pre-Law students frequently use this but not Pre-Med." Gawsh I hate even going to see them. I get so intimidated by them. I know what they are saying isn't true, but how do I even proove this to them or anyone else. I would like to tell the dean about this, but it seems they all stick together. I told another proffesor about this and he goes, " well they see this all the time and they should know, based on who they see succeed in med-school." Thie thing that makes it even harder is that the head of this department claims that she went to medical school, finished, and decided during her first year as a resident that she didn't want to pursuit medicine anymore 😕 . I dunno. I smeel a rat. 🙁

Sure many bio students are the ones they are gonna be seeing succeeding in being accepted into med school but what would they expect when they are going around misguiding students who don't know any better that the *MUST* get a bio degree to get in? Logically you wouldn't see liberal arts students getting in---because all the would have been BLA students are bio students! Duhhh.

Don't believe the hype!!

 

[Pemulis]

Your advisor is not just wrong, but demonstrably wrong. Studies consistently show that your odds of being accepted to med school are considerably higher if you are a liberal arts major. I believe that English majors in fact have the highest rate of acceptance, with history, econ, sociology, etc. being right behind. Bio and chem majors are way down on the list. The reason is obvious enough: there are tons of bio majors applying to med school, but a lot fewer applicants who were, for example, philosophy majors. Med schools want to diversify their class. Hence, they will look at the philosophy major (or art history, or sociology, or whatever) more favorably. Of course, if you love bio, then major in bio. But if you do well in your pre-reqs and on the mcat, have a strong overall gpa, and you have good ec's and letters of rec, you'll be a competitive applicant regardless of your major.

 

[Jamers]

Hello All,

I am considering a major change from Biology to Liberal arts. I want more room in my coursework to learn things I feel will help me in my career in medicine. The liberal arts major completes 2 minors and has room for tons of electives. I am in my second year now. I have completed Bio 1 and 2 as well as gen chem 1 & 2. The bio minor includes those classes in addition to orgo 1 and 2, microbiology, and genetics. I can take physics 1 and 2 as an elective. The other minor I want to take is sociology which has obvious benefits in dealing with a wide array of patients. I have been told by my pre-proffesional advisor that I wont get into med school as a lib arts major, but she also said that I must major in Biology to be accepted as well. That is why I am seeking you SDNers opinion. does this sound good to you guys. I mean the genetics and micro will be good upper div classes. I also have space to take languages like I wanted to.

As long as you complete the requir. for medical school, they don't care if you were a dance major. Complete the class they want (Bio (I/II), Orgo and physics, get the grades and do well on the MCAT, that is all they want.

 

[medhacker]

I was accepted with no problems

my major is precisely "liberal arts"

 

[scpod]

I was accepted into all the places I interviewed at so far. What is wrong with these misinformed advisors? Anyway, the funny thing is, at my school, the Liberal Studies/Social Sciences dept has a better acceptance rate than the bio department. Don't be misguided!

If you look at the MCAT statistics, social sciences majors usually fair better than Biology majors. The only thing worse than Biology majors is Health Sciences majors. Go figure...

 

[scpod]

As long as you complete the requir. for medical school, they don't care if you were a dance major. Complete the class they want (Bio (I/II), Orgo and physics, get the grades and do well on the MCAT, that is all they want.

Keep in mind that there are some schools that don't actually have prereq requirements. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) has no course requirements at all. They want a "well-rounded" college student to apply. Not a DO school, BUT no prereqs. Granted, they prefer students from SC, but they'll take out-of-state students in the mid 30's (MCAT) any day. Plus, living in Charleston isn't all that bad...

 

[drPLUM]

Advisors' livelihood depends on students staying in their department. No advisor is going to recommend that you switch out of their department. The number of students enrolled in a school/college within a particular university goes a long way towards getting funding and support in general. There is no free lunch and there are no impartial observers. Everyone has an agenda. I don't mean to sound paranoid or anything, but I was accepted to MD school with a liberal arts degree and I was told all the same stuff as a pre-med. It is not true, trust me.

 

[Raven Feather]

If you look at the MCAT statistics, social sciences majors usually fair better than Biology majors. The only thing worse than Biology majors is Health Sciences majors. Go figure...

Yes, I am aware of that, and is also, in part, why I think it is funny how these so-called "pre-med advisors" are telling aspiring physicians they HAVE to be bio majors to get into med school. All one has to do is look at the statistics to tell them what degree program may increase their chances gaining acceptance into med school.

I will also have to agree these "pre-med advisors" that are generally in the bio department will not encourage students to go into Liberal Arts. If students are going to be accepted into med school, they want their department to be recognized for it. I know this first hand.

 

[mastamark]

Yes, I am aware of that, and is also, in part, why I think it is funny how these so-called "pre-med advisors" are telling aspiring physicians they HAVE to be bio majors to get into med school. All one has to do is look at the statistics to tell them what degree program may increase their chances gaining acceptance into med school.

I will also have to agree these "pre-med advisors" that are generally in the bio department will not encourage students to go into Liberal Arts. If students are going to be accepted into med school, they want their department to be recognized for it. I know this first hand.

When I initially cited those stats to my advisor she laughed and said that people can interpret them to their advantage. She says that "..the percentage of bio major is low only because there are more applicants from the biology disciplines."

 

[lunallena]

Hey:

i majored in Liberal Studies (BA) because it gave me the opportunity of finishing my bachelors in 3 years. it also gave me the flexibility of taking all the med school pre-reqs + upper division science classes. I'm starting NSU this fall. Good luck

 

[Raven Feather]

When I initially cited those stats to my advisor she laughed and said that people can interpret them to their advantage. She says that "..the percentage of bio major is low only because there are more applicants from the biology disciplines."

Have her go to the AAMC website and look up the MCAT scores b/w bio majors and the humanities majors--she cannot claim those being interpreted to someone else's advantage. You always hear those "pre med advisors" say that a bio degree will best prepare you for the MCAT. The MCAT score results does not support that at all. I am not saying that nobody should do the bio major or what not--I am just trying to show that these "premed advisors" are misguiding a lot of premeds!!

You can use me as an example and tell her what I have told you--that I was told I needed to be a bio major but didn't and I am in!! 😱