Will A Political Science Major Put Me At A Disadvantage???

[Confused 20]

I was a political science major in college with a 3.719 gpa and I was wondering if this will put me at a disadvantage in applying to medical school? If I make it to the interview phase of the application process, will I be asked why I would be interested in medicine when I majored in political science? Will they really grill me on why I choose political science as a major?

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[Chris127]

I was a political science major in college with a 3.719 gpa and I was wondering if this will put me at a disadvantage in applying to medical school? If I make it to the interview phase of the application process, will I be asked why I would be interested in medicine when I majored in political science? Will they really grill me on why I choose political science as a major?

Not a problem. In fact, many med schools look favorably upon those without a science major, simply for diversity purposes I assume. I have had 2 cousins enter med school without science majors, so I really dont believe it puts you at a disadvantage. As long as your GPA is good (which yours is), you should be fine.

 

[SanDiegoSOD]

To answer your second and third questions: yes, and maybe. I was a political science major, and I was always asked why I chose political science as a major when I knew I wanted to be a doctor. Out of 7 interviews and probably 15 interviewers, I was only "grilled" on this issue twice. One student interviewer just couldnt seem to understand why I would choose political science when I've known for many years that I want to be a doctor. On the most part, however, I think the major was nuetral at worst and positive at best, as most people were interested in my choice, and naturally, how I feel politics and government has affected and will affect health care in the United States. If I can suggest one thing, it would be to make sure that you know a good deal about health policy before you enter your interviews. Most people will expect you to know a good deal about this based solely on your major, despite the fact that you may have never taken a single course on health policy throughout your undergrad years (I never did; I concentrated in Law, but that doesnt stop others from making assumptions 🙂) Good luck, feel free to ask more questions.

EDIT: To provide a little context for my comments - I start medical school this August; I was offered 10 interviews and received multiple acceptances, despite having a lower 😱 GPA than yours 👍

 

[Sub Zero]

Thats a good gpa, but they aslo look at other things, like clinical experience, volunteer experience, research, ect. They want to know what else you have been up to besides school. A political science major with a 3.8 gpa and nothing else doesnt look as appealing as someone with 3.4 gpa and is president of student council, red cross, captain of the football team, volunteers at his hospital while doing research in the summer and working as a patient transport during the year. Or any combination of these.

I'd suggest beefing up your resume, if you haven't already done so, and you shouldn't worry too much about majors i've seen Political Science majors get in.

 

[OSUdoc08]

I was a political science major in college with a 3.719 gpa and I was wondering if this will put me at a disadvantage in applying to medical school? If I make it to the interview phase of the application process, will I be asked why I would be interested in medicine when I majored in political science? Will they really grill me on why I choose political science as a major?

Medical schools prefer a major in political science over biology or chemistry.

You will be at an ADVANTAGE.

 

[LO281OK]

One student interviewer just couldnt seem to understand why I would choose political science when I've known for many years that I want to be a doctor.

What I don't understand is why ANYONE would want to major in biology with the justification that they want to be a doctor. There are so many courses in a biology major that don't relate (closely) to human medicine. I always considered biochem, genetics and chemsitry to be better than bio as long as you take the freshman bio courses.

What value does a bio degree give a med student over other students in becoming a doctor? What value does the bio degree have if you decide not to go to med school? I thoroughly enjoyed my poli sci classes. I don't know.. I guess it just bothers me that some med student would have a problem with your poli sci major. I guess I would have shot myself in the foot by saying that I am interested in more than just one thing (ie. science) 👍 😕

 

[Tiger26]

I am a poli sci major and am going to med school next year--everybody thought it was something interesting

 

[OSUdoc08]

What I don't understand is why ANYONE would want to major in biology with the justification that they want to be a doctor. There are so many courses in a biology major that don't relate (closely) to human medicine. I always considered biochem, genetics and chemsitry to be better than bio as long as you take the freshman bio courses.

What value does a bio degree give a med student over other students in becoming a doctor? What value does the bio degree have if you decide not to go to med school? I thoroughly enjoyed my poli sci classes. I don't know.. I guess it just bothers me that some med student would have a problem with your poli sci major. I guess I would have shot myself in the foot by saying that I am interested in more than just one thing (ie. science) 👍 😕

Nope. Chemistry is even less applicable than biology.

 

[LO281OK]

I always considered biochem, genetics and chemsitry to be better than bio

Nope. Chemistry is even less applicable than biology.

Never said chemistry was MORE APPLICABLE than biology, just better (in terms of non-medicine careers in science, 2 sections of the MCAT have chem questions). So you could probably lump physics, economics, accounting and finance in with biochem, genetics and chem, too. Sorry for the confusion in switching from saying the majority of biology major courses are not all that applicable to medical training (At least not enough so that non-bio majors are at a disadvantage) to saying that other majors have equivalent or better value for premeds. So, unless you want to have a career as a biologist as your back-up to med school, why force premeds into the bio major stereotype (or science major stereotype for that matter)?

My major point was that there is a HUGE gap between the perceived value added and the actual value added by majoring in bio (or science) to becoming a non research physician....

As for research physicians, I think it could be argued, to at least a draw, that you may be better served with a biochem, genetics, chemistry or even physics degree (probably in that order) than biology? They have much more rigorous lab work and each overlaps into the medical/bio realm very well once you get into upper level courses.