minoring a language

[coachriley5]

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is minoring a language appealing for med schools?

 

[DropkickMurphy]

It can't hurt. I'm going to be a French and psychology major and German minor, so I might be kind of biased.

 

[Queenshawtii]

I wonder if minors really matter to adcoms? i was told that they aren't, but it shows your interest in other subjects? Input anyone?

 

[strawberryfield]

I minored in Spanish, this was looked upon very favorably in my interviews, "you're thinking ahead" is what one of the docs I interviewed with at PSU said. It shows you are diverse and interested in understanding/communicating with other cultures and willing to pursue another area of study.

 

[LizzyM]

I have never heard an adcom member voice an opinion, one way or the other, on a minor. They seem to ignore that information on the AMCAS.

A minor does require that you take some upper level courses so it does make a transcript look a little better, perhaps, than one that is littered with 100-level courses in 15 different subject areas (breadth but no depth).

 

[NY Musicologist]

is minoring a language appealing for med schools?

I doubt that any minor is truly a make-or-break issue, and you ought in any case to be choosing your minor for yourself, not for your adcoms. 😉

That said, I think it's a fine idea. Globalization isn't going to come to a screeching halt any time soon, and fluency in a second (or third) language can serve you in any number of ways beyond your medical practice. The question is, which language will you choose? Spanish might be the most useful (especially since more and more schools are adding med-spanish into their curricula), but Chinese or Arabic could also be advantageous in today's world (and will help you stand out from the rest of the Romance-languages crowd).

 

[NonTradMed]

I think if you are fluent in the language and/or it's a nonromance language, it could impress the adcoms. They like well rounded individuals with standout skills. But it's not going to make or break your app.

 

[Shredder]

I minored in Spanish, this was looked upon very favorably in my interviews, "you're thinking ahead" is what one of the docs I interviewed with at PSU said.

That insinuation is disturbing but it's more of an Everyone discussion

 

[strawberryfield]

That insinuation is disturbing but it's more of an Everyone discussion

what? the fact that half of the country in the coming years might be spanish speaking? maybe disturbing, but probably true. I am from the southwest, and it's probably about that way here now! Spanish here is EXTREMELY useful!

 

[Rafa]

That insinuation is disturbing but it's more of an Everyone discussion

Keep your superiority hogwash in the DrLounge, bro. Not here.

To address the OP, it can only help. Good luck.

 

[lookslikerain]

I don't see why "appealing to med schools" is an issue. If you like languages, then do it. If you don't, then don't.