Why don't psych majors have an equal chance of getting into MD school?

[ratman7]

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If there is a psych major who only took the minimal prereqs,
with a 3.75 GPA, psych research 2 years, solid ECs, 150 hrs clinical volunteering, average MCAT

I still feel like the adcoms would choose the science major over the psych major with the above credentials. Is this true? If so, why - they say majors don't matter but in reality, they do when distinguishing between similar candidates?

 

[Doug Underhill]

It sounds to me like you came up with a contrived scenario, arrived at a conclusion that may or may not be true, and then asked a question in the topic title assuming the truth of your flawed conclusion.

 

[Ismet]

Is this true?

No.

 

[Lucca]

You are going to be ok. Pick up a new hobby, perhaps.

 

[Goro]

Again with the insipid questions, Ratty? I swear, you're turning into mrh125.

Your question is ill-informed. This candidate would be highly competitive. A simple perusal through MSAR would should that significant numbers of matriculate are non-science majors. The majority of applicants simply major in the Sciences.

If there is a psych major who only took the minimal prereqs,
with a 3.75 GPA, psych research 2 years, solid ECs, 150 hrs clinical volunteering, average MCAT

I still feel like the adcoms would choose the science major over the psych major with the above credentials. Is this true? If so, why - they say majors don't matter but in reality, they do when distinguishing between similar candidates?

 

[ratman7]

Again with the insipid questions, Ratty? I swear, you're turning into mrh125.

Your question is ill-informed. This candidate would be highly competitive. A simple perusal through MSAR would should that significant numbers of matriculate are non-science majors. The majority of applicants simply major in the Sciences.

Okay, your word should satisfy my question.

I was just thinking that the psych research and lack of additional science classes could hold me back.

 

[Goro]

One of our valedectorians was a Psych major.

A dear friend who went to HMS was a was an English Lit major. Another was a English major, still another was a Drama major. Wonderful clinicians all.

Okay, your word should satisfy my question.

I was just thinking that the psych research and lack of additional science classes could hold me back.

 

[AspiringERMD]

One of our valedectorians was a Psych major.

A dear friend who went to HMS was a was an English Lit major. Another was a English major, still another was a Drama major. Wonderful clinicians all.

One of the best doctors I know was a literature major. Very compassionate!

 

[CherryRedDracul]

One of the general surgery chief residents at our hospital was a philosophy major!

 

[Hospitalized]

With equal stats as you've implied, it comes down to the person. Communication ability, compassion, and humanism will be the difference makers.

 

[ridethecliche]

It sounds to me like you came up with a contrived scenario, arrived at a conclusion that may or may not be true, and then asked a question in the topic title assuming the truth of your flawed conclusion.

 

[Aloft085]

If there is a psych major who only took the minimal prereqs,
with a 3.75 GPA, psych research 2 years, solid ECs, 150 hrs clinical volunteering, average MCAT

I still feel like the adcoms would choose the science major over the psych major with the above credentials. Is this true? If so, why - they say majors don't matter but in reality, they do when distinguishing between similar candidates?

I don't think it really matters. I do think most science guys view psych as an easier major, but that probably doesn't make much of a difference. You're probably much better off with your 3.75 in psych than a dude with more difficult classes and a 3.5.

 

[pyrrion89]

If there is a psych major who only took the minimal prereqs,
with a 3.75 GPA, psych research 2 years, solid ECs, 150 hrs clinical volunteering, average MCAT

I still feel like the adcoms would choose the science major over the psych major with the above credentials. Is this true? If so, why - they say majors don't matter but in reality, they do when distinguishing between similar candidates?

Where is your evidence? Anyway, I'm a psych major. There are plenty of us.

 

[zero0]

It's not that medical schools favor science majors as much as it is that they favor majors with difficult course loads. That said, the rigor of a sociology major's academic transcript will likely pale in comparison to the biochemistry major's, but that might not always be the case. Anyway, there's no preferred major for medical schools. It just so happens to be the case that when most pre-meds take all of the prerequisite courses for medical school, they go on to major in biology or chemistry since they already have most of the classes done for that major. These same people then apply to med school, matriculate, and contribute to the skewed undergraduate major statistics for entering classes that you are likely noticing.

 

[ilaurenzv]

With equal stats as you've implied, it comes down to the person.