<p>I am a pre-med student trying to plan his majors. I was thinking about majoring in biopsychology and biological sciences, and minoring in physics and chemistry. Will this be appealing to medical schools? Will I be able to graduate in 4 years feasibly? Is how narrow of a spectrum of classes I'm planning to take restrictive, overly repetitive or simply not what medical schools want to see? Alternatively, I was thinking about majoring in biopsychology and biochemistry and minoring in physics, if that was any more alluring or logical. Thank you for your time and assistance.</p>
<p>Wow. I’m sure if you got good grades while doing a double major and a double minor, Med Schools would love that, however they also love well rounded students. Double majoring (not joint majoring) already takes plenty of time and dedication and then to throw in a double minor? I doubt you’ll have time to join student organizations and make yourself appealing to schools through academics and extra curricular activities. I don’t think Double Majoring and minoring is necessary. I’m sure it can be done but you will miss out on so much. Major in Biochemistry and minor Physics (or whichever ones you want to) and join some service organizations. Keep very good grades, get involved in relevant research, keep a record of service within the school community and I’m sure you’ll have Med school selection committees drooling. Doing a double major and a double minor isn’t necessary</p>
<p>That would certainly make for a heavy work load. I’m considering something fairly similar though myself. I’m in a community college right now…but when I transfer, I’d like to double major in physics and mathematics. I’m planning on going to UIUC, and they have a physics major with an astrophysics concentration that I want to go into. They award an astronomy minor to everyone that completes the astrophysics concentration. I also want to minor in either computer science or philosophy…and possible even both.</p>
<p>So, this would be a double major, with two minors…and kind of three minors. The astrophysics concentration is basically worked into the physics curriculum though, and basically constitutes the elective credits that would come with the major. I don’t think this would be as bad of a workload as some other combinations though…because there are a lot of crossover classes in these areas that would count as credit towards both majors, and the minor.</p>
<p>I’ll likely end up only declaring one minor though…either computer science or philosophy. Most likely computer science. That would still basically be a double major/double minor though…with the added astronomy classes.</p>
<p>Medical schools are likely much more concerned about your GPA and MCAT score than they are about your majors.</p>
<p>Even humanities and social studies majors who take the pre-med courses as breadth or free electives appear to be considered similarly to science majors.</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/2012factstable18.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/download/321496/data/2012factstable18.pdf</a></p>
<p>A surprising trend that I’ve read a lot about lately, is many med schools tending to prefer candidates that majored in the humanities…namely philosophy. They don’t necessarily want to see every single candidate majoring in biochem, and seem to actually be leaning away from that in many cases.</p>
<p>@UCBAlumnus:</p>
<p>Your PDF seems to show that biological sciences majors are slightly under-represented in med schools.</p>
<p>Among applicants, their average GPAs are noticeably higher than those of social science majors, their MCAT writing samples equal, and their MCAT BS scores higher. Only the MCAT PS and VR scores are lower. </p>
<p>Yet 45% of social sciences applicants go to med school, versus only 42% of bio, versus 43% of all applicants.</p>
<p>Do you think that bio majors are “too heavy” on bio science and “too light” on other courses? </p>
<p>@SeanBrennan:</p>
<p>FTLoATIH, take some MUSIC courses too! ;-)</p>
<p>Or take plenty of soc, poli-sci and anthro… med schools seem to like those.</p>
<p>Medical schools will look at you GPA. As long as you have the required pre- med components in your transcript to get into med school, you can graduate in any major. I suggest a major that you can find work in case you cannot get into a med school right away(there are a lot less spots in med school than applicants). I think someone posted the GPA, MCAT list. Many people graduate with a biology degree because it allows for the highest GPA but once the do not get into med school they get stuck with a degree that pays very little and with very few career opportunities. Add languages as a major or minor, or finance or business. Any doctor will need that more than extra bio. My opinion.</p>
<p>College is now for vocational training. Unfortunately, most students and the public at large haven’t taken notice.</p>