Picking a major out of interest, not passion

[Klyx]

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Hi guys,

I've been looking around in the forums, and though there have been many generic posts regarding picking a major, I couldn't find a coherent answer to this question:

Do adcoms ding applicants for majoring in an "interest" field that doesn't have much to do with medicine?

By interest field, I mean a major in which I am interested, but not something I would consider a passion. In my case, that is linguistics. I've only taken an introductory class, but all the topics seem to be really fun to learn about while I'm here. On the other hand, my passion is biology. I smile from ear to ear when I learn about it and when I share with other people what I know. That's the main reason why I am premed-- I love bio. Given my current GPA, I assume that I will get into *a* med school, so why not study something else that I am interested in to make me less one-dimensional? I'd be doing bio for the rest of my life.

The conflict arises because the consensus on this forum seems to be to major in something you're passionate about. I don't see how that works because if I were truly passionate about linguistics, I'd be pursuing a PhD in linguistics, not an MD. Would it count against me in the application process if I major in something purely out of interest?

 

[circulus vitios]

People who talk about "passions" are pretty weird. It's best to ignore them and what they say.

 

[AdrianVeidt]

Passion must be brought about by interest; sexual relationships start with someone asking for someone's name. When I chose my major it was because I was interested in the field. Go with what you won't mind taking classes in every semester for the next 3-4 year because new insights in it will continue to peak your interests. If that's linguistics, then go with it.

 

[Juxxtaposition]

I do not think that there could be passion without interest...

 

[derpderpderp]

If linguistics is what makes you hard, then go for it. As long as you take all the med school pre-reqs you won't be penalized. If you want to stand out even more, try to integrate linguistics into some medically relevant extra-curricular. I don't know how you could do this because I don't know anything about linguistics, but if no opportunities like this exist then grab life by the balls and create your own opportunity.

 

[mimelim]

The conflict arises because the consensus on this forum seems to major in something you're passionate about. I don't see how that works because if I were truly passionate about linguistics, I'd be pursuing a PhD in linguistics, not an MD. Would it count against me in the application process if I major in something purely out of interest?

This is not true. You can be passionate about something and it be impractical or simply not want to do a PhD in something. Passion means that you have a powerful connection to the material. It is a way of thinking about problems, how you approach subjects, how you interact with others in the field. I was a Physics major because I was passionate about Physics. There is a certain way Physics is taught, problem based, lateral thinking, theoretical and experimental that drew me in. I am a better physician because I studied Physics. I learned how to think. That was my undergrad's biggest gift to me.

Just because I was passionate about Physics didn't mean that I was destined to spend my life doing it or getting a PhD in it. I am passionate about rock climbing, but I don't do it professionally. I spend as much time as I can with Physics and rock climbing and enjoy the few hours that I can spare.

No one will ever look down on you because you major in something because thats what you are passionate about or simply interested in.

 

[circulus vitios]

This is not true. You can be passionate about something and it be impractical or simply not want to do a PhD in something. Passion means that you have a powerful connection to the material. It is a way of thinking about problems, how you approach subjects, how you interact with others in the field. I was a Physics major because I was passionate about Physics. There is a certain way Physics is taught, problem based, lateral thinking, theoretical and experimental that drew me in. I am a better physician because I studied Physics. I learned how to think. That was my undergrad's biggest gift to me.

Just because I was passionate about Physics didn't mean that I was destined to spend my life doing it or getting a PhD in it. I am passionate about rock climbing, but I don't do it professionally. I spend as much time as I can with Physics and rock climbing and enjoy the few hours that I can spare.

No one will ever look down on you because you major in something because thats what you are passionate about or simply interested in.

You're confusing passion with fondness, and I'm not just breaking balls and arguing semantics.

 

[Josh7]

You're confusing passion with fondness, and I'm not just breaking balls and arguing semantics.

If you have a passion for something that means that you are deeply interested in it. That also means you will be fond of it.

 

[mimelim]

You're confusing passion with fondness, and I'm not just breaking balls and arguing semantics.

Uh, no. I do not have a fondness for rock climbing. It is a passion. There is an emotional connection to both Physics and rock climbing. It is a part of who I am. Ergo, passion. Look at the definition. I'm sorry, but how can you possibly tell me how I feel about something?

 

[TheMightySmiter]

You'll never really have another chance to learn about linguistics in-depth, so I would totally go for linguistics as an undergrad. You could always double major, though.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Uh, no. I do not have a fondness for rock climbing. It is a passion. There is an emotional connection to both Physics and rock climbing. It is a part of who I am. Ergo, passion. Look at the definition. I'm sorry, but how can you possibly tell me how I feel about something?

I've read the word "passion" so many times it's become meaningless. It looks very much like "poisson", which means "fish" in French.

You know, you do seem to have an awful lot of time for a first-year surgical resident. 😀 I'm taking that as a good sign for those of us who haven't reached that level?

 

[Josh7]

I've read the word "passion" so many times it's become meaningless. It looks very much like "poisson", which means "fish" in French.

You know, you do seem to have an awful lot of time for a first-year surgical resident. 😀 I'm taking that as a good sign for those of us who haven't reached that level?

I agree with him though.. Passion requires a deep seeded interest in the topic. I'll agree that it is overly used though because people like to try to impress admissions with them having a passion for something they clearly don't.

Also don't knock the guy I need mimelim to keep posting so I can learn more about vascular surgery 😛 (my current favorite specialty)

 

[circulus vitios]

I agree with him though.. Passion requires a deep seeded interest in the topic. I'll agree that it is overly used though because people like to try to impress admissions with them having a passion for something they clearly don't.

Also don't knock the guy I need mimelim to keep posting so I can learn more about vascular surgery 😛 (my current favorite specialty)

I must be weird because I've never had a "intense, driving, or overmastering feeling or conviction" or "strong and barely controllable emotion" about my major, hobbies, extra curricular activities, etc.

 

[Mosa]

If you love linguistics, then go for it. I think that linguistics would give you a great idea about other people and likely their cultures as well, this indicating fair cultural competency, which is a must for physicians and listed as a goal on most med school websites. I have a double major in biology and English--bio because it's amazing to learn about and what I want to do the rest of my life and English because I love it. Having another non science major opened my eyes up to a lot I would not have learned or noticed had I been a strict science only undergraduate. I figured I'm in college once and I have some extra schedule time so why not use it to pursue another major in a subject I love?

 

[mimelim]

I've read the word "passion" so many times it's become meaningless. It looks very much like "poisson", which means "fish" in French.

You know, you do seem to have an awful lot of time for a first-year surgical resident. 😀 I'm taking that as a good sign for those of us who haven't reached that level?

Weekends + after 8pm. My wife is out of town. After I finish reading not much to do 😛

 

[Klyx]

Passion means that you have a powerful connection to the material. It is a way of thinking about problems, how you approach subjects, how you interact with others in the field. I was a Physics major because I was passionate about Physics. There is a certain way Physics is taught, problem based, lateral thinking, theoretical and experimental that drew me in. I am a better physician because I studied Physics. I learned how to think. That was my undergrad's biggest gift to me.

...

No one will ever look down on you because you major in something because thats what you are passionate about or simply interested in.

We differ on the threshold at which we define something a passion, but that's not too important. Did you major in physics with the knowledge that it will improve your skills as a physician in the aforementioned aspects? Right now, I have no idea how linguistics will ever help me as a physician, but I like it. Making rules in syntax, identifying morphological quirks in a language, figuring out how languages have changed over the years, etc., all are fun, and in many ways, more approachable than biology (physicians and biologists abuse acronyms like there's no tomorrow).

I am just afraid of this hypothetical scenario down the line:
Interviewer: So why did you major in linguistics?
Me: Cuz it's fun and I wanted to do something other than the biology I'd be inundated with for the rest of my life.
Interviewer: But how would it help you be a better physician?
Me: Uh...

 

[IncognitoGuy]

We differ on the threshold at which we define something a passion, but that's not too important. Did you major in physics with the knowledge that it will improve your skills as a physician in the aforementioned aspects? Right now, I have no idea how linguistics will ever help me as a physician, but I like it. Making rules in syntax, identifying morphological quirks in a language, figuring out how languages have changed over the years, etc., all are fun, and in many ways, more approachable than biology (physicians and biologists abuse acronyms like there's no tomorrow).

I am just afraid of this hypothetical scenario down the line:
Interviewer: So why did you major in linguistics?
Me: Cuz it's fun and I wanted to do something other than the biology I'd be inundated with for the rest of my life.
Interviewer: But how would it help you be a better physician?
Me: Uh...

Because it gave you a different perspective than what will be a good chunk of your incoming medical school class? Consider that a good majority of applicants will be the cookie-cutter Bio/Pre-med, hospital volunteer, shadowing, research and involvement in some unremarkable organizations.

To the school (and from a logical point of view), it is harmful to build a class of people like this. A given school is capable of forming a class of 3.9/35+ people, but if they all think the same way, how are they going to really develop a broad view of not just medicine, but of people and different perspectives? From this, majoring in a non-science is valuable - you bring to the table a different way of approaching problems, of delving into the unknown and of compartmentalizing information in your mind that will inevitably synergize or enter into conflict with others.

But there's the beauty of this - if you do well in your pre-requisite courses and the MCAT, then you present yourself as somebody who can excel on both sides of the coin - you can balance the scientific with your other pursuit (linguistics or what you choose) and draw on experience from both fields to teach not only yourself, but the rest of your class as you interact with them.

There's no cut and dry way most things can help you as a physician - you won't even know where you'll end up for medical school, much less what kind of physician you'll become. So don't fret about this - just live in the experience, soak in everything you can and let things play as they will. You don't get to be an undergraduate again and pursue what you want to, so live it up to your heart's content now.

 

[mimelim]

We differ on the threshold at which we define something a passion, but that's not too important. Did you major in physics with the knowledge that it will improve your skills as a physician in the aforementioned aspects? Right now, I have no idea how linguistics will ever help me as a physician, but I like it. Making rules in syntax, identifying morphological quirks in a language, figuring out how languages have changed over the years, etc., all are fun, and in many ways, more approachable than biology (physicians and biologists abuse acronyms like there's no tomorrow).

I am just afraid of this hypothetical scenario down the line:
Interviewer: So why did you major in linguistics?
Me: Cuz it's fun and I wanted to do something other than the biology I'd be inundated with for the rest of my life.
Interviewer: But how would it help you be a better physician?
Me: Uh...

I only have about 10 minutes of free time tonight, but in short, if you are asking this question, you should be doing a linguistics major. I took as much linguistics in college as I did biology. I would say that the linguistics was more valuable than the biology. (I was UG at Wash U.) You will need to take some science outside of the pre-reqs the equivalent of a science minor.

I had no idea that I was going to medical school when I came into college or even until late sophomore year. I have always lived by the, "Don't let your schooling get in the way of your education." I just went where I was learning, was always working hard and ended up much better well prepared than 99% of my medical school classmates. *shrug* You learn more when you enjoy what you are working on or studying. It isn't about the content, it is about learning how to think. You can do it with just about any subject matter.

 

[Klyx]

Thanks for all the replies! I'm more comfortable with the idea of majoring in linguistics and enjoying the opportunity to study something more than bio regardless of whether adcoms would approve of it.