Majors other than science

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Would environmental science (College of Agriculture) be considered a non traditional major for medical school and be looked on as different. I know there has been discussion regarding majors in art, economics, etc. and how they can help due to major diversity.

I am majoring in that field. I also have the chance to do a dual degree in biology/environmental science but I think I need one or two classes more. I just think I should focus in studying for the mcat with that time.

Any opinions?

 

[Oso]

You should major in what you're interested in (and can do well in), and not what you think med schools would find interesting/ 'non-traditional'.

If you want to do the double major w/ bio, that's fine, but it won't add anything significant to your app, so make sure you do it for you (do not sacrifice MCAT for an extra bio major)

 

[mcloaf]

Major. Doesn't. Matter.

 

[frosted_flake]

 

[1badmamajama]

I think you should do whatever you want to do. There's philosophy, business, art and biology majors in medical school. Doing other majors besides Biology makes you stand out, adds diversity, and is always a great conversation during an interview. You'll score better in something that you enjoy then something you're doing just to impress a committee.

I do think there's a teeny tiny, ever so slight advantage in being a Biology major.. because you have a little more exposure to upper level courses and some material you'll see in medical school. It's also nice to be around people who understand the pre-health struggle bus. But then again, for some people that prior exposure has minimal benefits (it helps me though).

 

[plumhill]

I do think there's a teeny tiny, ever so slight advantage in being a Biology major.. because you have a little more exposure to upper level courses and some material you'll see in medical school.

False. There are a good number of non-science majors in some of my upper-level science classes who are taking them as electives, and they're actually some of the smartest people in there. As long as you have the pre-reqs done for an upper level class, any person in any major can take it.

 

[deleted407021]

I'm the only non-science (psych) major in my grad level Human Genetics class. I know a 2nd year med student at Mercer who studied philosophy. We are everywhere. Major doesn't matter, mate. Do what pleases you, b/c you won't get the chance to immerse yourself in it for a long time/ever again.

 

[sakabato93]

False. There are a good number of non-science majors in some of my upper-level science classes who are taking them as electives, and they're actually some of the smartest people in there. As long as you have the pre-reqs done for an upper level class, any person in any major can take it.

I think that mamajama's point was that Bio majors are more generally going to have more exposure to courses that will have overlap with medical school curricula because they are required to take those courses. However, you are right in that non-bio and non-science majors will have similar opportunities to take some of the same courses. But, remember that other majors, especially non-science majors, have their own curricula and difficulties that students must complete. Lots of times they won't be able to take a lot of the same med school preparing courses as the Bio majors are required to take.

For example, two of my roommates are engineers, and one of them is chemical engineering. His schedules have been so strict and demanding from his first semester that he's not even been able to complete both introductory bio courses until this semester (he's a senior and is graduating in May). No bio courses count into his major, which is decently common major amongst non-bio major pre-meds.

 

[gyngyn]

We really don't care about your major. You should care about your major.

 

[Life Sucks]

You could be an underwater basket weaver or a master's in janitorial maintenance , and still get in. You can have all that for the price of a bunch of prerequisites.

 

[sazerac]

Last time I checked, the undergrad major with the highest success rate applying to medical school is Music.

 

[Lucca]

You could be an underwater basket weaver or a master's in janitorial maintenance , and still get in. You can have all that for the price of a bunch of prerequisites.

What is it with SDN and their obsession with janitors.

 

[sakabato93]

What is it with SDN and their obsession with janitors.

The Janitor was the best character on Scrubs, and all pre-meds secretly want his life?

 

[Cinclus]

It is different, but it shouldn't matter too much.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Last time I checked, the undergrad major with the highest success rate applying to medical school is Music.

 

[Lucca]

Application success is inversely related to neuroticism. Fact.

 

[Long Way to Go]

Application success is inversely related to neuroticism. Fact.

Dear God, would were it so.

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Application success is inversely related to neuroticism. Fact.

I'm going to go ahead and say you probably can't extrapolate anything near that conclusion from that data set.

 

[Lucca]

I'm going to go ahead and say you probably can't extrapolate anything near that conclusion from that data set.

Twas a joke 😉

 

[PreMedOrDead]

Twas a joke 😉

 

[lobo.solo]

We really don't care about your major. You should care about your major.

I'm going to highlight this... Which is coming from an adcom. Nobody cares really... Do what you're interesting!!!

 

[Life Sucks]

What is it with SDN and their obsession with janitors.

I was a janitor in real life, I kid you not. Not because of scrubs.