<p>Hi, I am a senior this year and I want to pursue the path of medicine. However, I am wondering what is the best major if I want to follow the path of medicine. Most are biology majors and I think recently Biomedical engineering is popular. I don't really like engineering. So what do you think would be the best option. I like both biology and chemstry. thank you.</p>
<p>The best major is whichever subject interests you most. Medical schools place little if any emphasis on <em>what</em> your major was. What they do look for, among other things, are a high overall and science GPA, and high MCAT scores. No matter which major you pick, you will need to complete the pre-med courses (English, Biology, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Physics, Calculus).</p>
<p>Bio and chem majors have lower med school acceptance rates than, say music majors, since someone majoring outside the sciences has to take the courses for their major and all the premed courses -- nothing counts for both.</p>
<p>I think the stats regarding bio and chem major acceptances could be misleading. Many, many people majoring in biology or chemistry apply to medical school, versus probably a relatively small number of music majors, and the music major applicants are likely the top students.</p>
<p>I buy those numbers. Majors in underrepresented areas like music enjoy increased faculty access and will stand out among the crowd of bio and chem majors. You still have to excel in your science courses which is no easy feat no matter what your major is. You should also try to form some 'connection' between your major and medicine, say taking a literature course about death or illness, for example.</p>
<p>Taking one literature course about death and illness isnt much of a link. It doesnt matter what you major in. It's not like they have a medicine major in college. Everyone that's applying to medical school is going into it because they're interested in that field. Just major in whatever else you like. You might have trouble expressing why in an interview but if you're articulate and genuinely like both medicine and english or whatever major you choose, they'll get it. Just because you like medicine doesnt mean you like chemistry. Also college is the one chance you get to concentrate in any area you want aside from medicine. Med schools realize that. Major in what you want. Make sure you have pre-med extracurriculars though. Community service, shadowing doctors, anything like that is good, the more you know about medicine the better. </p>
<p>If you're just looking to impress an adcom and dont really care what you learn, then do biomedical engineering, biomedical physics, biochemistry, or cell biology. But if you're structuring four years of your life just for an adcom, you should rethink the actions that will define your life. In actuality, no major is going to impress an adcom. Every single person who attends college has a major, a major isnt going to get you into med school, it doesnt separate you from the crowd. Passion, involvement, and a genuine desire to contribute to medicine is the best way to get in.</p>
<p>Biomed Eng. is the closest thing you will have to a "medical" major. We do learn A LOT about medicine, we have to know how certain diseases affect people to make wheelchairs and things like that. We need to know how certain surgeries work to make the necessary tools. And at the same time we need to know the body perfect to make implantable materials. BUT, and this is a big BUT. DO NOT think it is an easy ticket in. It is very very hard, with many many math courses coupled with science. You will most likely not have the same high GPA as other pre-meds but hopefully you will have one high enough to get your foot in the door at some places.
Moral of the story, pick what you like. But do not do something because it looks good on paper, especially any engineering. It is a beast of a course of study. With tons of hard work it will pay off in the end. If you slip up, thats it.</p>
<p>Consider majoring in physiology if your college offers it. It's an extremely interesting major (imho) and will be applicable to you when you start med school. Physiology incorporates both biology and chemistry but in their relationship to the human body.</p>
<p>Majoring in biology is the most practical way to get to medical school. No one will look down upon you for choosing a major thats requirements are right in line with pre-med reqs. You could choose to major in psychology or something, but you would have to take alot of psych classes along with the already demanding pre-med reqs. You could major in what you "like", but honestly if your intent is to get to medical school, biology is what you should major in.</p>
<p>Personally, I like biology and chemistry, etc. However, I have heard that med schools look down upon bio and chem majors, as boring and not standing out from the crowd. Is this just a rumor or has this been supported by evidence?</p>
<p>pre-med chemistry</p>
<p>Avoid anything that actually says "premed" in the title.</p>
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pre-med chemistry
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Why did you revive a 3 year old thread?</p>
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Avoid anything that actually says "premed" in the title.
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</p>
<p>What about med? e.g biomedical engineering.</p>
<p>Biomedical engineering is okay. But, if it says biopremedical engineering, watch out.</p>
<p>Just get good grades in the classes you take, and take the required courses for entry. The application to med school looks at your transcript. There's no section that asks for major. So, as far as applying goes, it doesn't much matter.</p>
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But, if it says biopremedical engineering, watch out.
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:D :D :D :D</p>
<p>actually, UCSD has a major called Bioengineering:Pre-medical...</p>
<p>how about chemical biology? is it kinda off for medical school? how is it compared to molecular and cell biology?</p>