Hi. I am currently a senior in high school. I have already gotten into my #1 college, Rutgers New Brunswick, but I don’t know what major to choose. Chemistry or Biology. I want to choose the right major that will help me the most on my MCAT and in med-school. Please tell me about your experiences and help me!!!
There isn’t a major that will help you best with the MCAT.
Which subject (bio, chem, English, whatever) is your favorite or BEST subject?
I like both Biology and Chemistry. This is why I am confused on which one to major in. Thank You
For premed you have to take Bio, Chem, Org Chem. Either major will prepare you well.
You don’t have to declare right away…generally you declare a major sophomore year. take both Bio and CHem freshman year and see which one you like better.
You can major in anythign (as long as you take all pre-med pre-reqs) for medical school.
^Agree. Once you are actually a student at your school you will quickly realize 1) which subject you prefer 2) which subject has the best professors/program. If you are neutral/equal on how much you like each major, choosing the one with the best program will ensure you are more engaged in the major and therefore will do better. Don’t decide now.
I would pick one in which I can get better grades. It’s not that you are abandoning other, you can minor in it, double major or just take required courses, whatever works better for you. Don’t forget that GPA is a big factor as well.
Why on earth do you think you have to decide now? Take some college level classes in a number of different subjects and see where your interests and aptitudes lie. And keep in mind that one does not need to be a science major to be pre-med, it is just a matter of taking the required prerequisite courses.
I believe that most students take a MCAT review course.
Thank You all for the feedback!
@FutureDoctor23 This is always a controversial topic, so as a preface, this is just my opinion based on my experience in medical school.
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MCAT doesn’t matter because, as stated above, the core “pre-med” courses will prepare you for it.
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My personal opinion is that you should major in whatever allows you to take the most courses you personally want to. College is four years of your life, not just a four years of classes or four years of a stepping stone. To this day, they were the best four years of my life. You should enjoy your time there as best you can, which also means taking classes you look forward to waking up for.
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That said, being a neurobiology major has made life very noticeably easier for me compared to anyone who majored outside of the life sciences. During all of the neuro lectures, I was often able to sit back and relax as it was entirely or largely review; it was the same during the embryology lecture for my classmates who majored in dev bio, etc. The extra training in biology can potentially, in some situations, translate into both an easier time during classes as well as a deeper understanding of cases in the clinical setting.
Although there might be a few exceptions, college majors are not typically intended to prepare students for MCAT or med school. Any major is fine for med school. The material taught in some majors (eg bio, chem) may provide exposure to background material tested on MCAT, but when time comes you’ll probably need to self study or take a formalized courses (eg Princeton Review, Kaplan, etc) for MCAT prep. At your #1 school (Rutgers New Brunswick), look at bio major courses that satisfy major and premed reqs. They are Bio 115, Bio116. They are not titled Bio 115 for MCAT prep (or for med school prep), or Bio 116 for MCAT prep (or for med school prep). Unless you tell prof, he/she probably wouldn’t even know you’re premed (or even care). One doesn’t have to be premed to take premed reqs. One only has to have an interest and satisfy any course prereqs. Most premeds tend to be bio, chem major, maybe out of interest, but also because course overlap (ie major and premed reqs get satisfied at same time).
As most premeds will change their minds along the way and never set foot inside a med school, pick a major with a Plan B in mind. So what interests you? If med school doesn’t pan out, what do you plan to do with your bio/chem, or whatever degree? I don’t need an answer, it’s something you should give consideration to. Considering going slow first year, satisfying GEs, taking a wider range of courses before committing to any one particular major. Good luck.
I was a Chemistry major because I loved Chemistry, but in hindsight, I wished I had taken more bio courses. Physiology, Molecular Bio, Anatomy Biochem would all be helpful.