Yes, but this student is interested in music not math or philosophy, which are also excellent majors. If the student is a great music student and can get high grades for a music major (not a BM but a BA) - and few students consider majoring in music or double majoring in music and science unless they have both interest and aptitude for music- then it’s perfectly acceptable for med schools. It’s MUCH better to be an excellent music major who has good grades in premed prereqs than a typical biology major with premed prereqs. It stands to reason that a strong music student will stand out more compared to the plethora of biology majors. Being able to handle two different fields and ways of thinking is valued in the med school process. They want excellence in a variety of fields and a diversity of academic experiences
(Obviously it does NOT mean a music major is cut any slack in terms of science GPA, shadowing experience, work or volunteering or research… They have to be able to handle to work.)
Premeds have to know themselves, what they’ll be best at.
@studygeek03 Consider these points in addition to all the responses provided so far.
- Though many BS/MD programs have restrictions, still there are few programs (in all tiers), which give enough flexibility and allow students to major in any area including Music. So you can consider few of those programs during your application cycle.
- If you are in BS/MD programs and if that program allows flexibility to graduate either 3 or 4 years, it is possible to graduate in 4 years with Music major. Especially if the school allows AP credits and double dipping etc
Check out OU BA/MD Medical Humanities program when you are ready for your application cycle. They do offer 5 years of Tuition aid (though it is not 100%) but still substantial. Also they allow any major and any # of years, though they prefer Humanities major and to graduate in 4 years. In my DD batch, if I am not mistaken all 5 students are non-science major (my DD History, another Religious studies, 3rd one I believe Music). The students who graduate in 4 years tend to double major.
http://www.ou.edu/content/honors/specialprograms/MedHumanitiesScholarship.html describes the OU combined program. Note that it has the following requirement to retain the MD program admission: