POLL: which major would you choose?

[Quester]

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Hey guys,

I know that it's been said many times before that it doesn't really matter what you major in because GPA is more important. But, I still would like to know the statistics of people's opinions on it.

 

[FlowLimited]

Physics.

 

[Aladdin]

Hey guys,

I know that it's been said many times before that it doesn't really matter what you major in because GPA is more important. But, I still would like to know the statistics of people's opinions on it.

....it doesn't matter...

 

[dmblue]

engineering

 

[Evergrey]

This poll is leaving out all the important majors.

 

[behealthy]

Photography

 

[Quester]

This poll is leaving out all the important majors.

I'm just saying, if you had the choice of those two, which one would you choose, because well...I'm in that situation and I just want to hear what others had to say.

 

[ksmi117]

I'm just saying, if you had the choice of those two, which one would you choose, because well...I'm in that situation and I just want to hear what others had to say.

Most people wouldn't find themselves in this situation so they wouldn't know. Just pick whichever you'll be happier doing.

 

[Appless]

Most people wouldn't find themselves in this situation so they wouldn't know. Just pick whichever you'll be happier doing.

Exactly. If med school is your goal no matter what then i guess the easier major just for GPA, but really, both majors are easy to get a good GPA in so its not going to matter. bio is not a hard major by any means. Choose what you like best, i wish i did this but 4 years later its too late and i majored in something i hate.

 

[dr seuss]

Philosophy.

 

[loveoforganic]

I too think I would have really enjoyed a philosophy major. If I could triple major, it'd probably be to add philosophy.

 

[witness23]

comp sci/physics/foreign language/

 

[pianola]

music

c'mon man. Bio is so 1990s.

 

[Lacipart]

comp sci/physics/foreign language/

I'd toss Education in there too.

 

[NoMoreAMCAS]

Physics.

Agreed, most interesting science by far.

 

[Narmerguy]

If you're looking at it this way, take whichever one you think you'll do best in.

 

[vinniekan]

engineering

+1 👍

 

[FlowLimited]

I totally derailed this thread before it even had a chance to start. Forgive me.

 

[acridknight]

engineering

+(1*2)^1k 😀

Honestly, though, do what you're most interested in. This will allow you to put in the 50+ hours per week (in tough weeks) to do well. Moreover, doing what you really like in UG will allow you to do the extracurriculars, research, and other perks that will make you a well-rounded applicant.

EDIT: As a corollary, focusing solely on GPA "fluffing" will make you miserable. You need to enjoy what you'll be doing, or you'll have a grueling UG.

Also, while most schools do not put any numerical weight to a particular major, they will be impressed (or lack thereof) of your workload. If you major in basket weaving, for instance, and graduate with a 4.0... how much will this say about your ability to withstand med school? Now, if you major in physics with a concentration in quantum mechanics, with a GPA of 3.7, does this make you a better candidate. I'd argue yes (back to the workload argument). (note that once your GPA goes above, say, 3.7, you're in the golden spot, and it'll prob be more fruitful to work on extracurriculars than GPA).

 

[tiedyeddog]

Basket weaving.

Minor in being underwater.

 

[EyEnStein 07]

Physics.

Right on.

 

[acridknight]

... your poll seems skewed towards the basic life sciences. Are you set on the Bio/Chem/Physics/ other basic sciences? I came in as a Bio major, changed to Eng, and I haven't looked back. Best decision of my undergrad too. I love it & the exp, and I know its made me more competitive for med school.

If you move away from the basic sciences, you can also be more competitive for a contingency plan if you don't get into med school or later decide that medicine is not for you. Just be open minded when you choose your major, and choose something that you'll love studying and doing. 👍

 

[Van Chowder]

Basically your poll blows. No offense, but really?

Public Health

 

[Evergrey]

Anyway I can't really answer your question because my alma mater didn't offer Honors majors or anything like that. If I were you, I would ignore the grades stuff and go for what makes you happy. That's what I did, I had to bust my butt to make it, but I'm way glad I did it my way.

 

[Bildo]

History

If I had time or AP, I'd add Chemistry or Biochem.

 

[ACGator09]

science so i can selectively take stuff im interested in. (read: NOT ecology as required by many bio majors)

 

[ziggyd0c]

i was a philosophy major

 

[acridknight]

Take what interests you... as a backup, remember... what the F can you do with a bachelors in biochem, psychology, biology, chemistry, physics... other than go for a grad degree or some very abstract highly competitive positions that don't pay much? How about mechanical/electrical/computer engineering? There's three you can put to use by themselves AND as a doctor w/ an engineering degree, you can invent stuff for the medical field. 👍

amen. that's the future of medicine, IMHO.

a word of caution, though: engineering tends to have the lower GPAs of all of the standard UG majors; unless you really want to do Eng, your GPA may suffer.

 

[sarahl86]

Foreign Languages FTW!

 

[tiedyeddog]

The poll is pretty worthless, IMO.

 

[Brent8927]

Major in art! I did, and when I go crazy someday and am placed in an asylum, I'll at least be able to paint better than the others! 😀

But seriously--I agree with the others--do what you love! You say you're 100% sure about medicine, but people's opinions change. I was 100% sure I wanted to be an architect as a Freshman, but I didn't recently take the MCAT and apply to medical school to do that...

It's good to always keep an open mind---you may find something that will make you even happier than medicine. So for that reason, major in something you find interesting and enjoy.

 

[Quester]

music

c'mon man. Bio is so 1990s.

lolll. you mind expanding that thought?

 

[Quester]

+(1*2)^1k 😀

Honestly, though, do what you're most interested in. This will allow you to put in the 50+ hours per week (in tough weeks) to do well. Moreover, doing what you really like in UG will allow you to do the extracurriculars, research, and other perks that will make you a well-rounded applicant.

EDIT: As a corollary, focusing solely on GPA "fluffing" will make you miserable. You need to enjoy what you'll be doing, or you'll have a grueling UG.

Also, while most schools do not put any numerical weight to a particular major, they will be impressed (or lack thereof) of your workload. If you major in basket weaving, for instance, and graduate with a 4.0... how much will this say about your ability to withstand med school? Now, if you major in physics with a concentration in quantum mechanics, with a GPA of 3.7, does this make you a better candidate. I'd argue yes (back to the workload argument). (note that once your GPA goes above, say, 3.7, you're in the golden spot, and it'll prob be more fruitful to work on extracurriculars than GPA).

Basket weaving...lol. That's actually what my physics teacher last year told us as an example (for course selections).

The problem was that I truly screwed up my freshman year; hence, needed to find "the WAY" to compensate it (in terms of GPA). Here in Ontario anything less than 3.8 cGPA isn't competitive🙁 I guess I really have to figure out what I'm extremely passionate about.

 

[Quester]

Basically your poll blows. No offense, but really?

Public Health

Thanks...I've been getting that vibe since I started this tread. lol

The problem is that my school doesn't offer that many different kinds of majors within the faculty of science. So really, my options are limited.

 

[Quester]

amen. that's the future of medicine, IMHO.

a word of caution, though: engineering tends to have the lower GPAs of all of the standard UG majors; unless you really want to do Eng, your GPA may suffer.

Exactly...that's why I chose Science over Eng. when I enrolled last year. Biomedical engineering would've been interesting though...😀

 

[pianola]

lolll. you mind expanding that thought?

OK, med schools love music majors 🙂. We have the highest acceptance rate of any major.

Bio...eh...everyone's bio. (I think I read a statistic that said 80% of applicants were bio).

See, schools used to like bio majors. Now they don't any more. (Is what I basically heard paraphrased somewhere on SDN).

 

[acridknight]

OK, med schools love music majors 🙂. We have the highest acceptance rate of any major.

Bio...eh...everyone's bio. (I think I read a statistic that said 80% of applicants were bio).

See, schools used to like bio majors. Now they don't any more. (Is what I basically heard paraphrased somewhere on SDN).

my interpretation is that schools prioritize and only consider diversity and breadth of work. conceptually, you could have all bio matriculants at a school, but since they intrinsically do most of the same thing, there will not be much diversity in such a theoretical matriculating class.... unless you're a bio major with an interest in space medicine (hmmm..... ponder that), majoring in bio may not make you as diverse.

a major in music can be a diversifying factor simply b/c there aren't as many of those pre-meds that apply, thereby making you intrinsically more diverse.