I was planning on duel majoring physics and biology. My first question, is this what I should be majoring in if I want to become a physician? Also what would be a better minor for me: philosophy, psychology, or sociology.
Thanks
Also I still don’t understand majors. Do you stick with them throughout college or do they change every year?
You should major in something that you are interested in. The courses required for medical school application can be added to nearly any curriculum. Only you know what the best minor for you would be.
Talk to the pre-med advisor at your college about the pre-requisites that are needed for admission to medical school. Then go ahead and major in whatever it is that you are passionate about: whether it’s biology, physics, art history or computer science. Remember, grades matter so work hard.
One growing trend to be aware of: Some medical school applicants are now taking a fifth year before applying in order to get more sciences in. Ask your advisor about this trend.
Also I still don’t understand majors
College courses typically come in 3 flavors (gen ed (GE), major, and other). GEs tend to be a broad sprinkling of subjects (i.e., math, sci, english (writing), etc.) A major refers to required courses in a specific area (eg. bio, math, history). Other courses are just that, other courses. When you graduate your diploma will state what you majored in (eg BS Math, BA History). If these other courses satisfy the requirements of another specific area, you can end up earning a double major. If they end up fulfilling approx. half of the reqs of a major, then you also earn a minor. For a lot of students, these other courses end up being taken in a variety of unrelated subjects to their major or GEs reqs out of interest or just to fill up their schedules as often financial aid is dependent upon being a full time student. So every term, a student will sign up for varying flavors due to availability or if it’s a course that is sequenced (e.g. bio 1, then bio 2, or math 1 then math 2, etc) So one term a student might sign up for 2 GEs, I major, I other. Next term might be 3 major, I other. Following term might be 2GEs, 2 others. This goes on typically for 4 years until all graduation reqs are met.
Med schools do not care what your major is. They care, in part, about how you do in GEs, major, and premed reqs (GPA wise). Take a major that interests you as if you like material you’re more likely to do well which is what med schools care about. Most students end up being bio majors simply because if you satisfy reqs needed for bio major, you’re probably also satisfying premed reqs, whereas if you’re an art history major, you’ll have to find time to complete premed reqs. Simply put, being a bio major kills two birds with one stone (bio major and premed reqs). Note that people graduating with bio majors tend to find job market thin upon graduating which is a concern since approx. 60% of med school applicants fail to get in anywhere.
Let me add that if you’re thinking that double major will awe med schools, it wont unless you do well in both (GPA wise)