<p>There seem to be two lines of thought as to which is the best route to take to med school.
Some say to major in Biology or something along that lines to better prepare for the MCAT. Others say it doesn't matter what your major is as long as you major in a subject that brings diversity to your resume. It seems that many people think that GPA and the MCAT score are the first, last and only thing that matters. I know that some majors are harder than other majors. If your ultimate goal is to enter med school, why not look for the a major that provides less obstacles to a high GPA unless the major is preparing you for a higher MCAT score?
I am fully aware that one should major in what they really like. However, for the sake of this discussion, let's assume that many majors are equally appealing.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>
Don’t be that guy/gal.</p>
<p>Another thing that matters is to have medical type experiences, I’ve heard. Working in a hospital, research, whatever…</p>
<p>i am new to CC and did not realize there was a pre med forum. thanks…i will go there!</p>
<p>Major in physics. Or math. In our physics department, we’ve never had anyone not get into medical school in the history of the department. Our review board isn’t especially strict either. Internships and research are a plus. GPA is a given, as well as MCAT.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Not very good advice…OP should major in something that is both of interest and that he/she can enjoy enough to be successful studying. Once in Med school, if a person is fortunate to be accepted, the entire curriculum is science and more science…you don’t have to be a science major to go to Med school.</p>
<p>OP, if you like Bio, then major in Bio. If not, take the courses required for Med school admission and major in ANYTHING you want to other than a “vocational” major.</p>
<p>A third line of thought is to major or minor or take courses in something that may be useful in a medical career.</p>
<p>For example, someone who wants to run his/her own private practice may want to consider some business administration and economics courses. Someone interested in sports medicine may want to consider the courses for sports coaches. Those with research interests may want to consider chemistry, statistics, and social studies courses.</p>
<p>A fourth line of thought is to major in something that can be useful career-wise if you do not go to medical school (i.e. so that you do not become a biology graduate working as a low paid lab assistant).</p>
<p>I have known a woman who was an RN who went to med school & became a MD. Her working as an RN helped her get experience and was helpful for her in med school. She hadn’t planned to go to med school but everyone encouraged her & she enjoyed it and enjoys being a MD.</p>
<p>Premed hopefuls- please do not consider using another healthcare field as a jumping off point for becoming a physician. We need nurses, physical therapists, etc and I would hate to see a lack of many in needed professions because spots were taken by those who had no intention of making them their career (it is different for some to discover a different profession after doing one for a time, especially in an era when women weren’t encouraged to go for medical school in lieu of other health care professions).</p>
<p>Can’t say it often enough- choose a major you like/subject you want to learn. Use college to get an education. A good thing about US medical education is the obtaining a bachelor’s degree first, then concentrating on the medicine. Also try to take the courses in all of those subjects you won’t have time for later in life, whether it be a medical education and career or any other. Don’t worry about taking courses covering material offered in medical school- they require all of the coursework needed to be able to do the medical school work and that undergrad time is best spent doing things you won’t have time for later. If you can’t handle the workload of medical school without a sneak preview of the material you don’t belong in medical school- some day you will be faced with totally unknown material and be required to learn it in the time given.</p>
<p>Use electives for fun stuff- art history, symphony, another language, literature, philosophy… If fun for you includes sciences, go for it.</p>
<p>Do not worry about needing another job field to supplement your work as a physician- there is plenty to do in the field. Sometimes later in life you may choose to branch out- you would then want current knowledge, not your decades old college material.</p>
<p>Most importantly, be prepared for a life without medical school. Only 1/3 of applicants will get in, and many more will not bother to apply for various reasons. For some the academic requirements will be the deciding factor- you have to do well with chemistry is one. For others they realize their, not their parents’, dreams. Or they discover a field they never knew existed before college. Do not go into medicine without allowing yourself to change your mind. Having “always wanted to be a doctor” is not reason enough. The worst reasons are money and prestige (there are a lot easier ways to obtain both).</p>
<p>I’m one of those who majored in chemistry because I liked it, then choose medicine somewhere along the way in college instead of grad school and suffered the era of much male dominance and discrimination. I notice hearing about doing volunteer work and such in college now- a change from my generation. All parents can do is support their child’s decision and provide sources of information.</p>
<p>My S was thinking about medical school, volunteered at the hospital and even went to a summer camp to get a feel for it. After the summer camp, he changed his mind. No, he is very good at bio and chemistry. It is not the rigor required for the discipline. It is not due to being afraid of blood or other stuff associated with being a doctor. The main hesitation stems from the fact of having to stay in school for 12 years(4 in college, 4 in med school and 3-4 as residency doc.) By the time you are in your 30’s, you will be a real doctor…Like I was told before, “if you love someone, send him/her to medical school. If you hate someone, send him/her to medical school.” If only consideration of going to medical school is for the money and prestige, then that is the wrong way to go about it, as pointed out by Wis75.</p>
<p>I know many excellent nurses and other healthcare professionals. They are excellent in what they do and have much more flexiblity in travel than MDs, including the ability to work through most of the US and get a job. The route to becoming a MD is not for the faint-hearted and the pressures from patients, insurers, bureaucrats and others is what makes the profession especially challenging. Still, those I know who love their jobs as MDs wouldn’t trade it for the world & many have their own kids who plan to follow in their footsteps, trudging that tough road. We DO need all kinds of wonderful healthcare professionals. I don’t see anything wrong with getting a degree and credential of whatever type of healthcare professional you’re interested in before deciding if you plan to continue along and also get a degree as a MD, but that’s just me.</p>
<p>
It’s pretty obvious that if you don’t like math or physics at all then you shouldn’t do it. If you do, however, have an interest in it, then it’s a good idea to do it. Physics majors are around the top if not the top for scores on the MCAT, and physics and math teaches you how to think, much more so than the other sciences. Medical admissions know this…</p>
<p>I first read this title as “BUS route to med school” which may or may not be the best route.</p>
<p>"If your ultimate goal is to enter med school, why not look for the a major that provides less obstacles to a high GPA unless the major is preparing you for a higher MCAT score?
I am fully aware that one should major in what they really like. However, for the sake of this discussion, let’s assume that many majors are equally appealing. "</p>
<p>What is easy/appealing to some, might not be so for another. This is very personal. There is no reason on earth to major completely outside of your comfort zone only because it might sound like “easier” major. On the other hand, some kids avoid taking classes that are “easy” for them, they hate to be bored. When you are completely not interested in subject, taking easy class will take fun out of your studying. So, idea of easier class might actually create obstacles instead of eliminating them. (Comment from my D. in regard to her Honors English (required by Med. School): what a waste of time, learned nothing.) She has always been a strong writer who got very easy “A” in this class while being frustrated with reading novels that she did care to read.
Have major that is exciting for you, otherwise it is not going to work.</p>
<p>I suspect someone looking for a “route” to medical school is someone not likely not to make it. From observing my son go the long and arduous path to medical school, I think what is most needed is a strong sense of self confidence. You need to be (or become) the kind of person who believes they can major in what they like, go to the school that best suits them, and still wind up with the necessary resume. Thus, when looking for an undergraduate school, do not look at what provides a “route,” look for the school that will make you the strongest person that you can be, because that’s what it will take.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>While I agree with the advice in general, I would point out that no one can tell, 4 years down the road, the difference between the 4.0 at Uppsala State who went there to “game the system” and get all A’s but would have otherwise gone to a better school, and the 4.0 at Uppsala State who couldn’t have afforded anything but Uppsala State, went there and worked his butt off.</p>
<p>thank you all for the advice</p>
<p>*OP, if you like Bio, then major in Bio. If not, take the courses required for Med school admission and major in ANYTHING you want to other than a “vocational” major. *</p>
<p>???</p>
<p>Are you saying that you shouldn’t major in some kind of engineering? </p>
<p>I don’t agree.</p>
<p>Many pre-med students are bio-med engineering students, ChemE students, etc. there’s nothing wrong with that.</p>
<p>Engineering is probably closer to scientist than technician, if you’re talking about traditional engineering degrees, though I suppose it depends on the actual discipline. Still, I wouldn’t say it’s vocational…</p>
<p>And to whoever that said ‘if you’re looking for a “route” to med school you won’t make it’, I think that doesn’t make much sense at all really. This person is actually thinking about his or her future, which is a lot more than most do. Figuring out how to be successful and what hoops to jump through is useful … most people aren’t super geniuses and can’t own everything they do so there ought to be other things that can help them get into medical school besides grades and test scores.</p>
<p>“OP, if you like Bio, then major in Bio. If not…”
I am not sure about “not liking Bio”. Your major does not matter, but not liking Bio and going to Med. School seems contradictory to me. It is like saying that you hate math and going to engineering or you cannot write and want to major in English.</p>