<p>Do Prestigious Med Schools Prefer Non-Science Majors?</p>
<p>I don't think so, but someone asked this question in another forum, so I was wondering if there were any stats about this...and where are such stats?</p>
<p>the student thought that med schools like Johns Hopkins prefer non-science majors because they are more "well-rounded."</p>
<p>So, what are the facts?</p>
<p>The facts are that non-science majors generally have the same acceptance rates to medical school as science majors with similar GPA’s and MCAT scores. The facts are that medical school performance are roughly equal b/w non-science and science majors (with science majors outperforming non-science majors slightly in the first two years and non-science majors outperforming science majors in the third year). Whether you’re a science major or not, you have to be well rounded in order to get into med school. I’ve never heard of someone making it via their GPA/MCAT score alone.</p>
<p>no 10 char.</p>
<p>No 11 char.</p>
<p>But seriously, some schools like them more than others. Yale has 50% nonscience, Harvard has 15% I believe. As norcal mentioned, schools prefer well rounded individuals who can wear many hats.</p>
<p>Are the stats for admits by major for each school in the MSAR? Sorry to have to ask, but D has it at school 1100 miles away. I never realized schools may vary on preference by major. D is Classics, so it would seem Yale vs. Harvard by what mmmcdowe says above, only as a factor in choosing schools to apply to.</p>
<p>I’m just a single data point, but I picked up 3 pretty prestigious interviews (still waiting on decisions) with about the most generic of all pre-med majors: biology.</p>
<p>From my experience (me + friends this year and last), your major’s not the thing that’s going to make or break you in terms of admissions. And probably, no single thing is going to really make or break you. Like mmmcdowe mentioned, it’s all about the hats. Multiple hats. Multiple, high-quality hats that are unique in some way too. That’s how you get to the doorsteps of prestigious programs.</p>
<p>Most of my D’s pre-med friends (including my D.) have non-science minor(s) (music, art,…), and some are double majors. They also participate in such a wide variety of EC’s that you cannot possibly consider them narrow minded, scincy types. It is all included in thier applications. D. was interviewed at all but 2 of schools that she has applied and has several acceptances. Again, this is anecdotal non-stastistical example of one graduating with BS. At her school, she could have graduated BA with exactly the same major, but BS seemed to be more desirable for whatever reason.</p>
<p>I just want to caution people from jumping to conclusions (and no schools don’t publish stats by major in terms of who they accept). Just because Harvard has less nonscience majors than Yale this doesn’t necessarily mean that having a nonscience major is more or less preferred. It could, for example, mean that a lot of nonscience majors are weaker on research simply because of other interests and that Harvard has higher requirements for research experience. It could mean that Yale’s environment attracts more nonscience majors and so they matriculate at a higher rate. Etc</p>
<p>Perhaps this web page may be of interest:</p>
<p>[SUNY</a> Oswego - Admission Data by Major](<a href=“http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/biology/faculty/mackenzie/homepage/advising/Pre-health_Careers/major_admission_data.html]SUNY”>http://www.oswego.edu/academics/colleges_and_departments/departments/biology/faculty/mackenzie/homepage/advising/Pre-health_Careers/major_admission_data.html)</p>
<p>if you’re a science major with good GPA,MCAT + well rounded the adcoms would obviously choose you over any nonscience.
im assuming many science majors get crappy GPA and MCAT and cry when the non-science majors get accepted. Even I would choose a good GPA non science major over crappy GPA science majors.</p>
<p>It’s pretty simple. Get out there and do something. Make a difference. Solve a problem. Study hard. Find your passion. Volunteer in service to other people. Establish yourself as a leader on campus. If your passion’s medicine, you’ll find a way to make it work. Each of us did, and there’s no reason why you are completely different or the only exception. If there’s one thing all medical schools are looking for, it’s candidates who work hard and have both the promise and potential to be wonderful physicians in the future. The road to medical school has no space for being lazy or whining about how hard the work is or looking for loopholes or taking the easy way out. It’s hard for everyone.</p>
<p>I might clarify that the tone in my #11 is different than it usually is because I was responding to a post (now deleted) from a poster who is probably a ■■■■■. I think my advice is the same regardless of who it’s for, but the “who” I was addressing in #11 tends to come off as whiny and and irritating, which is why my reply might come off as annoyed.</p>
<p>I’d revise it to say: </p>
<p>Really, it’s pretty simple to get into medical school and it doesn’t depend on your major. What you need to do is distinguish yourself. Get out there and do something. Make a difference. Solve a problem. Study hard. Find your passion. Volunteer in service to other people. Establish yourself as a leader on campus. If your passion’s medicine, you’ll find a way to make it work. </p>
<p>If there’s one thing all medical schools are looking for, it’s candidates who work hard and have both the promise and potential to be wonderful physicians in the future. Show them that they’re going to be making a great investment by admitting you, that they’d be crazy not to take you, and you’ll be on your way to White Coat Ceremony before you know it. Good luck!</p>
<p>“What you need to do is distinguish yourself.”</p>
<p>-Or just have high GPA, decent MCAT and reasonable EC’s, it will do, no need to go to some top elite UG, go to the one that is cheapest and matches your personality and goals and do not be concerned, what major. Some of my D’s friends have triple majors, believe it or not, others migh be just music major at very selective Conservatory of Music. As long as you have covered Med. School pre-req’s with decent numbers and EC’s at any place in any major(s)/minor(s) combo, you will be fine. Make sure also to apply to wide range of Med. Schools that match your own criteria.</p>