<p>I am currently a second year Economics major at a honors college in MD. I have decided that I want to go to med school. Long story, but I have wanted to be a doctor for most of my life but discounted it because of some things people have told me. I have decided to pursue it anyways.
I have 2 options: 1.) spend an extra year or semester in school to complete my Econ major as well as a Biology major with med school pre-reqs OR 2.) graduate on time (4 year track) with an Economics major and med school pre-reqs.
Is it worth it to add a Biology major? Money is not a factor in this decision. Will the double major make me more appealing to med schools?
I currently have a GPA of approx. 3.0. I know that I need to increase that to at least 3.5 to have a chance of getting into med school. I am also working on getting an internship over the summer. Any other recommendations/advice?</p>
<p>Med schools don’t give a hoot about double majors. It is neither a plus nor a minus. Don’t add a bio major unless it’s critical to your post graduation non-medical school plans.</p>
<p>Another important question is what is your sGPA? (science GPA–all bio, chem, math and physics classes) While you probably haven’t taken any bio, chem or physics classes, as an econ major, you will have taken some math classes. Your sGPA will also need to be ~3.5.</p>
<p>RE: Internship-- physician shadowing or something similar, I hope, and not a econ/business internship. Because nothing says I’m committed to medicine like a business internship. </p>
<p>since your gpa is low, taking a 5th year and earning A’s is probably a good move, particularly since you will be taking upper division bio courses for the second major.</p>
<p>Number of majors does not matter. Low GPA does, as you know. You also need all kind of medically related EC’s, as you might know already. Many pre-meds have minor(s) and/or double/triple majors, but they are doing that to be involved in area of their personal interest(s), Med. School acceptance is not affected by that. So, get your GPA up to 3.6, get decent MCAT, make sure to have good number of medically related EC’s, engage in whatever is your other interests, and you will be fine.</p>