Social Science majors...

I'm currently taking a public policy course this semester and I've taken numerous political science classes in the past. I'm really interested in these fields and I'm particularly interested in international relations and the international political economy. I enjoy writing papers in these classes and I'm amazed at the quality of the professors in these departments as well.

However, I also enjoy studying biology and the sciences. I'm basically torn as to what major to declare now because I really enjoy my bio classes as well. It's definitely harder to earn As in the science courses I've taken than in the social science classes...but I'm willing to do the work.

My only problem is...I really do not want a double major because that highly restricts the # of units you can take outside of the two majors and it would probably also postpone my graduation for at least a semester. So I'm trying to decide which major to pick.

I know that this should NOT be a factor when deciding which major to pick..but I can't help but notice that certain medical schools have stated that they look favorably on people with degrees in humanities and social science fields (that obviously deviated from the standard "premed" path of declaring biology or molecular biology as a major). I posted a link below to Penn's admissions page where they state, "The School of Medicine encourages students to obtain a broad education in the liberal arts, while undertaking preparation in the sciences that is appropriately rigorous. " So I'm very tempted to declare the social science major (political science)...any opinions on my dilemma?

Link: http://www.med.upenn.edu/admiss/admissions1.html

 

Yeah...I'm leaning towards the political science major now. I can still take upper division bio courses that interest me...like biochemistry, physiology, etc. I'll probably make my final decision in the next week or so. Thanks for the advice guys and keep it coming!

 

I think I'll probably declare political science. It'll give me a more well rounded education and I can take classes that I simply will not be able to take in medical school (international relations, politics of post-war europe, etc). I was just thinking about it over a cup of hot chocolate at Cafe Strada on Bancroft Street (all the Berkeley folks should know where this is)...this will be the LAST time in my life that I can take courses in political science, philosophy, economics, and the like.

When I'm in medical school, every course for the first 2 years will sound like biochemistry, molecular physiology, gross anatomy, etc. I might as well take advantage of the opportunity to take non-science courses while I can simply because this opportunity won't really exist in the future. In addition, being a political science major will help to separate me from the 2348723947238 other premeds that declared biology and will be applying in my application cycle. I think it'll make for interesting discussion during my interviews. I can also have the option of doing an honors thesis in political science which would be awesome.

Well, hope to see more advice in here. Thanks for the guidance guys! You guys beat the idiotic counselors that work in the L&S advicing office. Keep it coming folks!

 

First of all, I'm a "he" Secondly, a biology degree is pretty worthless and it MIGHT get you a job as a lab assistant but it won't get you any further than that. In years past, a bachelor's in biology might have earned you a job in biotech but that certainly isn't true anymore given the horrible job market and outsourcing. Thirdly, seeing as there are 30,000+ applicants to medical school each year and we know that MANY of those are biology majors or molecular biology majors...wouldn't choosing a different major (outside of the sciences) help one differentiate themselves from the legions of other premeds out there applying?

 

Sorry to burst your bubble but you couldn't be any further from the mark on that. There are NOT legions of premeds that major in areas outside of biology...that's the whole point. In raw numbers, the biology majors, molecular biology majors, and biochemistry majors have all of the non-bio majors beat by a HUGE margin...it's not even close. You really think there are legions of premeds out there that major in comparitive literature, economics, political science, or philosophy? The answer is NO.

As for your comment about adcoms not wanting differentiation...that just makes no sense whatsoever. If you have tons of people applying with the same major (biology) and similar GPAs (3.6-3.9) and similar MCATs (30+)...how are you going to tell one from the other? You're going to have to rely on essays, extra-curriculars, volunteering, etc...of COURSE they want differentiation.

As for the comment about the BS degree...again...the job market is absolutely atrocious and outsourcing is occurring in biotech and many other fields. Yes, a BS in biology MIGHT get you a job as a lab assistant...but you're not getting much more than that. Many of us aspire to become something more than a lab drone who pipettes all day.

 

I never said the job market would be more receptive to a B.A...I just said that outsourcing and the horrible job market will definitely not allow more job security for people with BS degrees. You said that adcoms actually WANT premeds "to do this, this, and this to have a reasonable shot at getting admitted"...ummm....I hope you meant, "Study hard in your premed classes and get good grades, major in whatever interests you and excel in your major, and do well on the MCAT." Those are the ONLY things that the adcoms expect of ALL applicants...I hope you're not trying to imply that adcoms actually expect all of the applicants to follow the "traditional" route to medical school by doing a biology major and doing the typical contrived extra-curricular activities (hospital volunteering, lab research, etc).

You're actually telling me that adcoms will ask me why I chose to deviate from the "traditional" path by not doing biology and not rushing out to do same hospital volunteering that 387423984792 other premeds are already doing? The vast majority of applicants will be biology, molecular biology, or biochem majors. I"ll be a political science major. The VAST majority of applicants will all have X hours of hospital volunteering on their applications. I founded my own non-profit organization last year which has nothing to do with medicine. My non-profit works through colleges to provide college admissions workshops and seminars to underprivileged high school students throughout the country. We have chapters at Berkeley, Claremont McKenna, Rice University, UC Davis, and SUNY-Stonybrook.

If adcoms dislike the fact that I dared to deviate from the "traditional" path by doing another major...well...too bad for them. I'll have no regrets...I'm studying a field I enjoy and learning tons from it. If adcoms don't appreciate the fact that I didn't rush out to be a candystriper in a local hospital or wheel around folks from one floor to another...again...sucks for them...I worked myself to the bone to build a non-profit organization from the ground up (that means filing Articles of Incorporation, filing for Tax Exemption from the State of California, and submitting grant proposals to private foundations and donors).

From what you're saying...the fact that I'm actually deviating from the cookie-cutter formula for premeds will actually HURT me in admissions. Somehow, I find this very hard to believe.

 

I agree. Why study the same material twice? In addition, this is your LAST opportunity to study what you truly want to study. Medical schools don't offer courses in comparitive politics, international economics, game theory, foreign policy, the philosophy of Friedrich Nietzche, etc.