<p>Bluedevil
Sounds like a great major. Now can you fix the payment problems in medicine?</p>
<p>ps. Is a guy named "Markowitz" still a big name in micro economics?</p>
<p>Princess'Dad, why are you attacking PhillySASer? He is not refuting your position of telling kids to major in what they want to. He is simply saying that you gain no advantage or disadvantage whether you are a humanities major or a bio major. </p>
<p>From one of BDM's threads about what to major in:
[quote]
From MSAR 2005:
Applicants:
Math and Statistics (<1%)
Specialized Health Sciences (<4%)
Humanities (<4%)
Social Sciences (11.2%)
Physical Sciences (11.7%)
Other (11.8%)
Biological Sciences (57.6%)</p>
<p>Accepted Applicants:
Math and Statistics (<1%)
Specialized Health Sciences (<4%)
Humanities (<5%)
Social Sciences (11.9%)
Physical Sciences (12.9%)
Other (10.7%)
Biological Sciences (56.8%)
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Looking at those numbers, it seems that there is 0 advantage for non science majors. 56-57% of applicants are bio majors and 56-57% of those accepted to med school are bio majors. ~20% of applicants aren't sceince majors of any kind and ~20% of people accepted to med schools aren't science majors. If the numbers were like 60% of applicants are bio majors and 50% of those accepted are bio majors then you could argue that bio majors are at a slight disadvantage, though you could also argue that many of them fulfill all the premed requirements through their majors and possibly apply to med school because they don't have many good options going into the work force and figure they can just become doctors.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Kids need to do what they want and NOT do a major based on what people from Penn tell them or what some committee feels they should "Premed majors" is probably the worst major in my and my colleagues opinion.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>That is not true about Penn. From their premed website : Career</a> Services, University of Pennsylvania
[quote]
It is just fine to apply with any major to medical school; you should choose the subject that most interests you. If you do pick a non-science major, though, it is advisable to take at least one advanced science course, above and beyond the basic requirements.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Don't be so hostile on a web forum Princess'Dad. There is no proof that you are on a med school admissions committe board as there is no proof that Philly, BDM, or any other poster is someone who they say they are. What is true is that high school and college students read this forum to get advice. It is better to give them broad based advice backed by facts rather than giving them an absolute like one is most likely to get into med school as a humanities/social science major.</p>
<p>I do agree with you that many students feel that they need to be bio or "premed" majors to apply to med school and agree that it is always not the best route. I blame the false notion that bio=med school on poor advising. At top schools advising is stronger and they encourage students to pursue whatever major they choose (whether it be bio or art) and help the students know when to take classes for premed requirements and which ones to take.</p>
<p>ven</p>
<p>From the 2007 AAMC facts page, you will also see that 52% of those applications from humanities were accepted while only 34.7% of those from the sciences were - their GPAs and MCAT scores were almost identical.</p>
<p>Looked at the Penn website, would agree with taking the more advanced intro biology (science major) than the basic one which meets requirements.</p>
<p>Again, my major advice is to major in what you enjoy and do well in it. Do NOT think you have to be a science major. From data above, higher % of humanity major applicants get accepted. DO more than just go to college counselor - DO go to the med school you are interested in your freshman year and talk to the Dean there. Getting a job (eg phlebotomist) at a hospital does not hurt. Do be an expert at something. Do stand out.</p>
<p>One story told by a Head of Admissions at Stanford was a kid who asked him if he could borrow $10 during his interview and then repayed him later that day. When asked why, the student said "so you would remember me". He got in and the Dean still remembers him.</p>
<p>^can you provide a link?</p>
<p>AAMC:</a> FACTS Table 18: MCAT and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical</p>
<p>maybe from this site?</p>
<p>I'm actually somewhat surprised that BDM, NCG, or myself didn't find this data sooner. It's kind of interesting...</p>
<p>Matriculation rates by Major
Biological Sciences - 9876/23786 = 41.5%
Humanities - 725/1499 = 48.4%
Math and Stats 112/311 = 36%
Other 2469/6312 = 39.1%
Physical Sciences 2291/4798 = 47.7%
Social Sciences 1931/4487 = 43%
Specialized Health Sciences 355/1122 = 31.6%</p>
<p>To put it in perspective, overall matriculation rate for 2007 cycle was 17759/42315 = 41.9%</p>
<p>I think the specialized health science data absolutely confirms what has been said previously about "pre-med" majors not being good. They get in at a rate that in my opinion far exceeds what could be accounted for solely by their lower MCAT scores. Math and stats is pretty borderline, may be statistically significant (I surely don't remember how to calculate significance...but these folks probably can! - sorry bad joke). The rest...not a whole lot stands out. A proper analysis would need to control for the slight variation on MCAT scores (obviously). </p>
<p>The applicant GPA for all fields does not seem significantly different. Only the MCAT scores for the Specialized Health Sciences applicants look to be far enough away from the mean MCAT score to even have a chance at being statistically significant. For matriculants, Science GPA for Social Science majors may be a significant, but all other GPA issues look insignificant. MCAT, Specialized Health Sciences again lag behind, but compared to the mean, probably not significant...</p>
<p>
[quote]
From the 2007 AAMC facts page, you will also see that 52% of those applications from humanities were accepted while only 34.7% of those from the sciences were - their GPAs and MCAT scores were almost identical.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Only the second part of this is true.</p>
<p>If we lump bio, physics, and math majors together, we get 42.5% acceptance rate. If we lump humanities and social science majors together, we get 44.3%. I didn't do any statistical tests but they don't look much different to me. I don't know what the "other" category entails so I won't touch that and, has been noted, specialized health majors are a bad idea. But, I honestly don't see a significant difference b/w science and non-science majors.</p>
<p>This thread has me a little concerned. I'll be majoring in science because I love it and I always have. I've been doing a lot of the standard pre-med activities (hospital volunteering, etc.) for years as a high school student not because they look good on a resume, but because I find these activities to be truly fulfilling. I honestly don't think I could be happier doing anything else. I am passionate about science and helping people, but I'm worried that medical schools will just see me as yet another phony science major trying to "build a resume." What can I do to prevent this?</p>
<p>Essays and interviews.</p>
<p>lalala
As Bluedevil said, show them why. But back to my original point; please do throw in some history and literature classes. Study overseas if your university has a program. This will make you stand out.</p>
<p>Redid humanity math with calculator instead of head/slide rule, you are right.</p>
<p>Perhaps it is conceptional. But when you have > 30,000 science majors and only 1500 Humanity majors, the humanity majors stand out. Again, you also need to look at the schools. I believe the big research schools (Stanford, Harvard, Hopkins) have more science type majors accepted, which again would bias the above.</p>
<p>grades/mcat required: AAMC:</a> FACTS Table 17: MCAT Scores and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical Schools
colleges producing success:AAMC:</a> FACTS Table 2: Undergraduate Institutions Supplying Applicants to U.S. Medical Schools, by Applicant Race and Ethnicity, 2007</p>
<p>major:AAMC:</a> FACTS Table 18: MCAT and GPAs for Applicants and Matriculants to U.S. Medical
4.1 % (725/17,759) of accepted medical students are humanities majors</p>
<p>I am a non-traditional student. I am currently in the military, have just under three yrs left, and have a bachelor's degree absolutely NOT science-centered. I was a very strong student in high school, and excelled in the sciences. My desire to continue in the sciences has not left me, and why I did not continue in the sciences in college is...complicated. I want to go to med school, very possibly for clinical research. I figure if I'm going to do it, I may as well do it right and shoot for Harvard. I just don't know how to get back into the swing of things at this stage. I still have time left to serve, during which time I will be acquiring at least one language and a Masters Degree online. I am willing to go back to the basics, regarding sciences, and to put in the time and effort necessary to get back on track. I have been through the most mentally straining 15 months I could imagine - though, from many stories, i recognize it could have been worse - so, I know I have the capability to not only succeed, but to exceed standards in a very stressful and sometimes chaotic environment. I just need some advice. Plain and simple.</p>
<p>Get your "required courses done" and then look.</p>
<p>The military school is maybe as good as Harvard in alot of ways and with your years of service may offer you advantages you should think of.</p>
<p>Talk to some senior military academic physicians and get their input.</p>
<p>Ok, but I am wondering where the best place is to complete my required courses. I graduated HS top of class, but that was a LONG time ago. I got a 3.65 GPA at Wheaton College (IL), and now that I've regained my confidence and grown a backbone (thank you, uncle sam), I'd like to at least shoot for the stars and see where it takes me. Staying military is not an option for me, which is why I am trying to figure out the best civilian route.</p>
<p>I'm transferring out of art school after two years there with the intention of going into medicine. As I have none of the requirements needed for medical school, would it be for the best if I were to major in biology? </p>
<p>Also, I have narrowed down my choices to Wellesley, TCNJ, and Rutgers. Which, if any of them, would better prepare for medical school? Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>My s, a junior in HS, is seriously considering Pre-med, major not sure..probably science major, neuroscience, or chemistry perhaps. Both his parents are premed (one went through on a 6 year BA/MD program, the other traditional) and he volunteers at local EMS so he knows esactly what he is getting into in terms of choosing medicine as a career. Current GPA is 3.85 unweighted at a HS that does not rank. SAT 1st time 780M 640V
I don't want him going to a school where he will be "weeded out" in the premed courses. Having been through the experience, I saw too many very bright students who would have made wonderful docs, but got weeded out by intro courses that are put there and graded on a curve specifically for that purpose. Because of this I will not have him apply to Cornell, although his college advisor listed it and Brown as possibilities (but probably a stretch) if he gets his V score up. Also, I find you cannot trust the medical school acceptance rate quoted you by many colleges. It often only includes students who were accepted into their "pre-med" program, thus artificially inflating the score. Another issue: many undergraduate schools will only allow you to take your pre-med courses at their school which might be a hardship for my son if he wants to take some of the pre-med courses over the summer (something I did which I found to be helpful in clearing our my sophmore year to concentrate on getting an A in Orgo and getting all the premed courses in before taking the MCATs).
So, if there is anyone who can critique the following pre med programs? I am especially interested in the level of comraderie among the students (not interested in a cut throat program) and the helpfulness of the pre-med advisors and the true accepted rate of undergrads to medical school.</p>
<p>Emory (his first choice right now as his sister goes here and loves it but is not pre-med)
Brown (I think a real strecth for him)
Northwestern
Wash U.
Tufts
Vanderbilt
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Universtiy of Maryland College Park
Binghamton State University of New York (we are residents of NY)
Boston University (his safe school)
George Washington University (another safe school)</p>
<p>Having re-read my post, it should read both his parents are MD's (not pre-med) sorry.</p>
<p>It is interesting to see that you mentioned that he does not want to be weeded out and then you listed some of the most challenging colleges in a country. I cannot say that I am very familiar with these particular porgrams. My D is at state school. Her first semester freshman Honors Bio (requirements for Honors program was top 2% of HS class and ACT=32) was weed out class. A lot of kids in this class (very top students as you can see from stats requirements) changed their major after this class. This was way before O-Chem (taking currently in sophmore year) and at state school. D mentioned that the classes are much more challenging that she ever imagined in HS. She graduated from small private HS at the top of her class with GPA = 4.0 uw.
Your son will have to work extremely hard at any of these schools. "Weed out" is one consideration, another is a reguirement of high GPA for Med. School applicants. The best wishes!</p>
<p>I'd just like for anyone to assess my current situation. I am a senior at my current HS in NJ and I'm VERY interested in Medicine (hoping to become a Neurosurgeon.) As of now I'm planning to attend Monmouth University OR (depending on whether or not i get accepted) Lehigh University. I want to know what path i have to follow in order to get in the Med School of choice (or any med-school for that matter.)
P.S.
It would also be great if someone can help me weigh my options. For example if i go Monmouth i should do _<strong><em>.. Or if i attend Lehigh i should do _</em></strong>..
THANKS in advance!</p>
<p>Yes, they do have A,B, or F. Because the school believes that anything under a B is unsatisfactory, so instead, they simply fail you, so you have the option of retaking it.</p>