<p>I will be starting my junior year this fall in an accounting program. I have decided that I would like to apply to medical school, but if I do, I will need to have an extra year of courses in order to fulfill the accounting and premed requisites. Will medical schools frown upon the extra year of schooling? Also, will majoring in accounting help me or hurt me in the admissions process. It seems like such an unusual subject to be majoring in, and I am not sure whether it will help me stand out in a good or bad way. I plan on taking the MCATS at the end of my fourth year, will this effect me negatively (If I am a five year student)? What is the acceptance rates of business majors to medical school? Also, how could I use my background in accounting to become a better physician?</p>
<p>Major won't help or hurt, though I've heard from practicing physicians that a business background is helpful when setting up a practice. The stats show that nationwide, the majors of matriculants are in nearly identicle ratios as the majors of applicants. There might also be some unique openings in things like running the financial sides of a hospital (being like a CFO), or auditing of medical practices.</p>
<p>4 vs 5 is a very, very, very, minisculely minor qualm that few schools would actually hold against you. It's even less of a worry in your case since you are - in effect - changing your major 1/2 way through undergrad. You're major doesn't have any of the med school required course as part of it too, so you have no way around taking an extra year. You literally have no other choice.</p>