Biology and Society as pre-med?

College Majors
1

I’m applying to Cornell, but I can’t decide between biological sciences and biology and society as a major. I plan on taking the MCAT after undergrad, so obviously pre-med is priority, but biology and society seems extremely interesting to me, and I would prefer to major in that over biological sciences. Does the biology and society major prepare you for the MCAT?

2

You don’t need to major in anything specific to prepare for the MCAT. That’s what the pre-med curriculum is for - to help you take the classes necessary to do well on the MCAT and, by extension, do well in medical school. People have successfully majored in non-biology things like philosophy, art history, psychology, etc., and gone to medical school.

So if biology and society seems more interesting to you…yes, go ahead and major in that! Follow the pre-med curriculum.

Also, another point to consider: Although many students prioritize the biological/life sciences when selecting a major for pre-med, there are lots of other pieces of knowledge that are important to being a doctor. Studying society - and thinking about how society and people’s interactions may impact their adherence to your medical orders, for example, or whether or not they take the meds you prescribe or can afford to get the specialist care you recommend - can be a really big help to a budding doctor.

3

Med schools require a bachelor’s degree with any major of a student’s choice. Although premed reqs might/might not expose students to background material tested on MCAT, they are not meant to target MCAT. They are courses open to anyone with an interest, premed hopeful or not. When time comes you’ll either need to prep for MCAT on your own/ perhaps small group, or take formal review course (eg Kaplan). If you’re interested in course material, you’re more likely to do well GPA wise, something med schools care, in part, a great deal about. As most that start premed change their minds or fail to gain even one acceptance, consider a major that can serve as a Plan B. Sounds like biology and society fits the bill.