Undergraduate Major Bias

[rchapman200]

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I am a sophomore bioinformatics undergraduate, and I’ve recently decided that I want to pursue a career in medicine. I’m ahead in terms of computer science credits, but I have to add a 5th year to account for all of my pre-med requirements (my major only requires the 1 semester general chemistry and organic chemistry course equivalents).

I’ve heard that medical schools do not care about your major, however my pre-med advisor told me that the medical center in my area has a ‘bias’ toward bioinformatics majors from my university, and that I should consider changing my major. I really enjoy bioinformatics and programming, and I don’t want to switch - I just don’t want that to be my future career. Plus, I’ll pretty much be starting over in my degree path is I switch to a science major, and will have wasted 2 years of time/scholarship money.

I’ve met with a bioinformatics major who recently got accepted, as well as heard stories from my degree advisor and bioinformatics professors of students being accepted, as well.

Just interested in what everyone else’s opinion on the matter is. I am probably going to take the risk and stick with my major because I enjoy it, and I’m willing to put in the effort that will reflect in my gpa, MCAT, and ECs (I’m sitting at a 4.0 currently, just started clinical volunteering last week, and am involved in research on campus).

 

[LizzyM]

I've never heard of a bias against bioinformatics majors. I've seen bias against sociology majors, nutrition majors, medical technology majors, but not bioinformatics.

 

[Goro]

I am a sophomore bioinformatics undergraduate, and I’ve recently decided that I want to pursue a career in medicine. I’m ahead in terms of computer science credits, but I have to add a 5th year to account for all of my pre-med requirements (my major only requires the 1 semester general chemistry and organic chemistry course equivalents).

I’ve heard that medical schools do not care about your major, however my pre-med advisor told me that the medical center in my area has a ‘bias’ toward bioinformatics majors from my university, and that I should consider changing my major. I really enjoy bioinformatics and programming, and I don’t want to switch - I just don’t want that to be my future career. Plus, I’ll pretty much be starting over in my degree path is I switch to a science major, and will have wasted 2 years of time/scholarship money.

I’ve met with a bioinformatics major who recently got accepted, as well as heard stories from my degree advisor and bioinformatics professors of students being accepted, as well.

Just interested in what everyone else’s opinion on the matter is. I am probably going to take the risk and stick with my major because I enjoy it, and I’m willing to put in the effort that will reflect in my gpa, MCAT, and ECs (I’m sitting at a 4.0 currently, just started clinical volunteering last week, and am involved in research on campus).

Your advisor is yet data point that pre-med advisors are *****s.

 

[SouthernGent]

You're fine.

 

[DNAJB6]

I've never heard of a bias against bioinformatics majors. I've seen bias against sociology majors, nutrition majors, medical technology majors, but not bioinformatics.

Interesting. How many LizzyM points does that subtract for those candidates?

 

[LizzyM]

Interesting. How many LizzyM points does that subtract for those candidates?

Hmmm.. maybe 1 or 2.

 

[yellowranger]

Hmmm.. maybe 1 or 2.

Aw, this is sort of sad as an anthro major. would you still detract these points given a high mcat?

 

[LizzyM]

Aw, this is sort of sad as an anthro major. would you still detract these points given a high mcat?

I never said that anthro majors are victims of negative bias. #notSociology

 

[WaterFlow]

I never said that anthro majors are victims of negative bias. #notSociology

If the candidates coming from those majors completes all the pre reqs, succeeds in advanced bio classes, and rocks the MCAT, why does this bias even exist?
If students are still able to show they will be great med students, there should be no bias against any major.

 

[DNAJB6]

Hmmm.. maybe 1 or 2.

That still sounds like a nice little set up given that I've never met a sociology major with less than a 3.8-3.9. Do a bit better on the MCAT and welcome to Hahvaaaaaad... 😉 😛

 

[LizzyM]

If the candidates coming from those majors completes all the pre reqs, succeeds in advanced bio classes, and rocks the MCAT, why does this bias even exist?
If students are still able to show they will be great med students, there should be no bias against any major.

Because even if the sGPA is 3.8, the assumption is that the coursework for the major was not challenging leaving more time to concentrate on the pre-reqs. Put a physics major or even philosophy major up against a nutrition major with the same gpa and MCAT and see what happens in the application review process. I even recall one adcom (now decesased) who scoffed at Human Biology at Stanford as a flabby major. (He was only one vote and most people ignored his bias and voted their own mind.) Don't sweat it. Getting a 3.8 in sociology will still get you farther than a 3.3 in physics or philosophy.