<p>How is good is this major if you want to go to a top med school? Is it better than majoring in something traditional like biology or chemistry?</p>
<p>Ultimately, medical schools put little (if any) emphasis on what you majored in. They look mainly at your GPA/MCAT/ECs/Recs.</p>
<p>What if you majored in something hard like engineering?</p>
<p>Then you're screwed, unless you are very smart and can get good grades in engineering.</p>
<p>do any other school offer "pre-med" as a major? are there advantage to this than a traditional biology degree?</p>
<p>Pre-med is not a major. It is a set of courses that a person has to take before going to medical school. You can major in anything that interests you. Your goal is to obtain a high GPA, which is why engineering is not recommended.</p>
<p>The reason people will tell you to major in something you're interested in, is because you are more likely to get high grades in something you enjoy. It also gives you something to fall back on just in case med school doesn't work out.</p>
<p>At my friend's school it IS a major. Its called Bachelor of Science in Premedical Studies. Would this look good to med schools?</p>
<p>Probably not better than any other major. If you don't get into med school, what can you do with a BS in premed?</p>
<p>Well, norcalguy, in fairness, plenty of people get degrees in subjects that are not exactly the most useful degrees in the world. For example, I don't believe that a degree in Leisure Studies (yes, there really is such a thing as a degree in Leisure Studies) is the most practical degree in the world, but that evidently doesn't discourage people from getting it. </p>
<p>A BS in Premed Studies may not be the most useful degree to have, but I can't imagine that it would be any less useful than some of the other degrees out there.</p>
<p>Just curious what could you do with a BS in Premed Studies if somehow don't get into med school? Would that degree be useless compared to other degrees like biology?</p>
<p>Could you tell me which university offers a BS in Premed Studies? I'm curious to find out what courses students have to take to fulfill the degree requirements.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Just curious what could you do with a BS in Premed Studies if somehow don't get into med school? Would that degree be useless compared to other degrees like biology?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Well, honestly, if you look at the starting salaries available for people who get degrees in biology, I wouldn't exactly call biology a particularly useful and marketable degree either. Sad but true - I think bio majors who can't get into med-school get screwed.</p>
<p>Well with biology you could go on to grad school if you don't get into med school. Yes, with a bachelor's in biology you probably can't do much, but with grad school I'm sure you could do something that you like. Also I think it depends where you get the degree from. I also think a degree in Premed or Health Science isn't very useful, which is precisely the reason why I'm currently doing biology. I plan on going to med school in the future.</p>
<p>With a degree in Biology you could also go to dental school, pharmacy school, optometery school, or even law school.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Well with biology you could go on to grad school if you don't get into med school. Yes, with a bachelor's in biology you probably can't do much, but with grad school I'm sure you could do something that you like.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>But only if your grades are decent. What if your biology grades are mediocre, and is the case for many biology students (mostly due to the cutthroat competition from all the other premeds)? What kind of biology graduate school would you realistically be able to go to? </p>
<p>
[quote]
Also I think it depends where you get the degree from.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>True, but that cuts both ways. Think about getting a BS in Premed Studies from a super-prestigious school vs. getting a biology degree from a no-name school. Honestly, which one would you rather have? </p>
<p>
[quote]
I also think a degree in Premed or Health Science isn't very useful, which is precisely the reason why I'm currently doing biology.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Look, my point is not that I'm saying a degree in Premed Studies is very useful. My point is that there are LOTS of people who get degrees in things that are not very useful, and they find success anyway. Again, what are you going to do with a degree in "Leisure Studies"? Or "Parks and Rec"? Or "Radio, TV, and Film"? Yes, those are actual majors at some schools. Yet plenty of people continue to get these degrees. And not all of them are consigned to the dustbin - some of these people actually become quite successful.</p>
<p>Look, the truth is, the kind of degree you get only matters for your first job. After you've been working for a few years, nobody's going to care about what your degree is in. They're only going to care about your work experience. So if you get a degree in Premed Studies, use it to get a job as a Wall Street investment banker, and become highly successful in doing that, nobody's going to care what your degree is in. </p>
<p>Hence I honestly believe that most people place FAR too much stock in what exactly their degree is going to be in. They should spend the same time and energy worrying about what they should major in and apply that time/energy into getting work coops and internships to position themselves for grad-school admission and/or employment. </p>
<p>
[quote]
With a degree in Biology you could also go to dental school, pharmacy school, optometery school, or even law school.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>And so can a guy with a BS in Premed Studies. Heck, many of those schools (like pharmacy school) don't even require a BS at all. Again, these kinds of professional schools don't really care about what you majored in, they only care that you demonstrate strong academic ability.</p>
<p>Now look, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that everybody should go major in Premed Studies. What I am saying is that I believe a lot of people spend too much time worry about exactly what kind of degree they are getting, and hence they are missing the forest for the trees. Honestly, 2-3 years after you graduate, almost nobody's going to care what you majored in. Hence, in the grand scheme of things, your choice of major means little relative to the kind of work experience you will have. If what you want is to get a job, I would be far more concerned about securing internships. If what you want is med-school, I would be far more concerned about amassing volunteer hospital experience.</p>