Picking a Major

[vstexas09]

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So I think more than likely, I am going to the University of Texas at Austin, and since I am set out on becoming a neurosurgeon, I want to know what the community thinks about selecting a major. I chose Biology, but I feel as though if it's too cliche' to study...any suggestions for majors?

 

[RySerr21]

So I think more than likely, I am going to the University of Texas at Austin, and since I am set out on becoming a neurosurgeon, I want to know what the community thinks about selecting a major. I chose Biology, but I feel as though if it's too cliche' to study...any suggestions for majors?

your undergraduate major absolutely, positively, 100%, DOES NOT matter. Major in whatever you want....if you truly enjoy biology, then major in biology. Don't choose biology b/c you think itll help you get in to med school or become a neurosurgeon. It wont. Med schools dont care and residencies could care even less (if thats possible). Major in religious studies, sociology, anthropology, WHATEVER it is that you enjoy learning about. Dont worry about it being "cliche" or "easy" or anything like that and dont listen to anybody else. Major in what it is that YOU enjoy.

 

[gabeybaby]

So I think more than likely, I am going to the University of Texas at Austin, and since I am set out on becoming a neurosurgeon, I want to know what the community thinks about selecting a major. I chose Biology, but I feel as though if it's too cliche' to study...any suggestions for majors?

Although Ryserr is correct in saying that your major does not matter to the med school admin, I do feel that majors in humanities do give you an edge in the application process. You want to be "different" from all the other applicants [..and can you imagine how many biology majors will be applying to med school??!- (rhetorical question 😀)]
And also, keep in mind that if you do get into med school, it will be practically all biology.... so do something interesting wihle you can in undergrad-- something that you love-- don't let med school influence your major selection! 🙂

 

[GoodmanBrown]

Triple vote for something different. Do French literature and study abroad in France for a year. Or maybe animal biology and go to Africa for a semester to study chimpanzees in the wild.

Honestly, the crazier the better. Live an awesome life in college. You'll regret it if you gun for four years and end up in the same place as someone who did something much awesomer. So be that person and make someone else jealous that you didn't stick around Austin for four years taking biochem.

 

[gabeybaby]

Triple vote for something different. Do French literature and study abroad in France for a year. Or maybe animal biology and go to Africa for a semester to study chimpanzees in the wild.

Honestly, the crazier the better. Live an awesome life in college. You'll regret it if you gun for four years and end up in the same place as someone who did something much awesomer. So be that person and make someone else jealous that you didn't stick around Austin for four years taking biochem.

i would loveee to do that if i had the money!

 

[RySerr21]

Although Ryserr is correct in saying that your major does not matter to the med school admin, I do feel that majors in humanities do give you an edge in the application process. You want to be "different" from all the other applicants [..and can you imagine how many biology majors will be applying to med school??!- (rhetorical question 😀)]
And also, keep in mind that if you do get into med school, it will be practically all biology.... so do something interesting wihle you can in undergrad-- something that you love-- don't let med school influence your major selection! 🙂

Exactly. So DO NOT choose a major b/c you think it will "give you an edge." I promise you whatever "edge" a humanities major gives you is close to nothing compared to the rest of your application. Whats more impressive, a 3.8 as a bio major or a 3.4 as a sociology major? You will do better in your courses if you are genuinely interested in them. If your passion is biology, major in biology.

 

[Dr Lyss]

Exactly. So DO NOT choose a major b/c you think it will "give you an edge." I promise you whatever "edge" a humanities major gives you is close to nothing compared to the rest of your application. Whats more impressive, a 3.8 as a bio major or a 3.4 as a sociology major? You will do better in your courses if you are genuinely interested in them. If your passion is biology, major in biology.

👍 this is good advice. Do what you love. At the end of the day med schools won't care as long as you did well. I don't necessarily thing having a humanities major gives you an edge per say. I wouldn't be an English major just for the sake of being different - do what you love and you can't go wrong!... and your prereqs of course 😀

 

[xnfs93hy]

Ok, a humanities major def. does NOT give you an edge. If you majored in astrophysics or something (or some ridiculously extremely difficult major) and got a 4.0, then THAT looks impressive. Don't think that being a bio major and getting a 3.7 will look impressive (even though a 3.7 is great), because it won't.

 

[236116]

Ok, a humanities major def. does NOT give you an edge. If you majored in astrophysics or something (or some ridiculously extremely difficult major) and got a 4.0, then THAT looks impressive. Don't think that being a bio major and getting a 3.7 will look impressive (even though a 3.7 is great), because it won't.

No, not quite.

Unless your major is something occupational like nursing, rad tech, elem ed, your major will not matter regardless of your ugrad or gpa. If you pick something occupational, there will be queries as to why.

 

[KempDrumsalot]

Ok, a humanities major def. does NOT give you an edge. If you majored in astrophysics or something (or some ridiculously extremely difficult major) and got a 4.0, then THAT looks impressive. Don't think that being a bio major and getting a 3.7 will look impressive (even though a 3.7 is great), because it won't.

Wrong. Standing out from the typical Bio-Pre-Med group will help you.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Wrong. Standing out from the typical Bio-Pre-Med group will help you.

Maybe a little bit. I know you should study something you "like', but you can do a million and one things with a degree in Chemistry as opposed to Humanities. This is just my opinion.

I still think getting a 4.0 and being a Chem major is going to look better than a humanities major or something, seriously. A non med major may help you look more "unique", but I think that a Chem major is still more impressive, or anything dealing with hard sciences.

EDIT: Regardless, a 4.0 from anywhere will look good, major really doesn't matter much when applying to med/law school as long as it isn't a "joke" major.

 

[gabeybaby]

Maybe a little bit. I know you should study something you "like', but you can do a million and one things with a degree in Chemistry as opposed to Humanities. This is just my opinion.

I still think getting a 4.0 and being a Chem major is going to look better than a humanities major or something, seriously. A non med major may help you look more "unique", but I think that a Chem major is still more impressive, or anything dealing with hard sciences.

EDIT: Regardless, a 4.0 from anywhere will look good, major really doesn't matter much when applying to med/law school as long as it isn't a "joke" major.

there is no such thing as a "joke" major, or however you worded it.
majors are there for a reason; people are diverse & have different interests.

regardless, we all have different opinions. now let's get on with life...

 

[236116]

Maybe a little bit. I know you should study something you "like', but you can do a million and one things with a degree in Chemistry as opposed to Humanities. This is just my opinion.

I still think getting a 4.0 and being a Chem major is going to look better than a humanities major or something, seriously. A non med major may help you look more "unique", but I think that a Chem major is still more impressive, or anything dealing with hard sciences.

EDIT: Regardless, a 4.0 from anywhere will look good, major really doesn't matter much when applying to med/law school as long as it isn't a "joke" major.

Firstly, there's a crap ton you can do with either.
Secondly, it doesn't make a difference.
Thirdly, there are no joke majors.

 

[lhtran07]

Ok, a humanities major def. does NOT give you an edge. If you majored in astrophysics or something (or some ridiculously extremely difficult major) and got a 4.0, then THAT looks impressive. Don't think that being a bio major and getting a 3.7 will look impressive (even though a 3.7 is great), because it won't.

Of all the interviewers/adcoms I've talked to for med and dental school....they all say that your major doesn't matter much. Your science GPA is a big factor though, so as long as you take the pre-reqs the school requires and ace those courses, you can basically major in anything you want.

By being a science major, you'll be exposed to a majority of the science courses that is in the med/dental/opto/pharm school curriculum...so you'll have an advantage by being familiar with the full science courseload.

But most applicants are bio/chem majors so by majoring in English, business, communications etc. (with a high overall GPA and science GPA) you'll stand out. Schools do like diversity, and anything that can help you stand out will be good.

A 4.0 in bio/chem is great but when you have thousands of applicants with that same high GPA, same major.....the adcoms are gonna want to see something unique.

 

[seelee]

The only thing that I would add, that has not really been addressed is this. While major really doesn't matter, things like Science GPA, and curriculum do. Take hard courses, Go beyond the prereqs. It would be advisable to take Genetics, Biochemistry, Anatomy, Physiology, etc. Taking those classes along with your major will help you not only with the MCAT, but it will give you a foundation for medschool and you can see if you can hang with the science.

 

[seelee]

But most applicants are bio/chem majors

Check the stats...most are bio majors. Chem majors are much more rare. This is from Knox college (anecdotal I know, but the national numbers are similar)

46% Bio major
6% Chem major

Don't group us together. Personally I think the harder the major the better preparation it will be for your future. Besides, you also need to consider a plan B. You could get a major in underwater basket weaving...but good luck finding a job with that. I have dozens of friends who majored in Exercise Science because they it was the easiest major offered that included the prereqs for medschool. Only 3 of them got in, and the rest don't know what to do with themselves.

 

[Depakote]

I get the feeling your major matters more for "why" you picked it than what it actually was.

They might ask you to explain your rationalization for your major... but the fact that you were an XYZ major isn't going to put you at an advantage over someone that majored in ABC unless the person that majored in ABC really didn't discuss it well in the interview.

^so if you wind up majoring in Philosophy because you take some philosophy courses, find them really interesting, want to have that different approach to thinking... that's great. Say that.

If you want to go to med school and think that being a bio major will help so you majored in bio because you thought you were supposed to. That might hurt. Now if it turns out that you just loved bio... say you loved bio, but understand it's not going to help you get into school any more than another major.

 

[Depakote]

Check the stats...most are bio majors. Chem majors are much more rare. This is from Knox college (anecdotal I know, but the national numbers are similar)

46% Bio major
6% Chem major

Don't group us together. Personally I think the harder the major the better preparation it will be for your future. Besides, you also need to consider a plan B. You could get a major in underwater basket weaving...but good luck finding a job with that. I have dozens of friends who majored in Exercise Science because they it was the easiest major offered that included the prereqs for medschool. Only 3 of them got in, and the rest don't know what to do with themselves.

Just because high proportions of applicants are bio majors doesn't mean they're successful... and if they were successful, it doesn't mean it had anything to do with them being a bio major.