Favored pre-med majors

[vonlost]

<p>Is there a study that shows which majors medical schools favor when applicants' undergrad numbers (GPA, MCAT) are the same?</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>Negative. </p>

<p>But there is data that show that self-selecting music and philosophy majors with excellent science grades beat bio majors, on average. But again, that is a self-selecting pool, and rather small. (Not a lotta of Phil or Music majors take Organic Chem, but of those that do, they are already extremely strong in science, unlike the average bio major who will earn a C in Organic.)</p>

[plumazul]

<p>The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) states the following concerning choice of undergraduate major/courses:</p>

<p>

Medical schools recognize the importance of a strong foundation in the natural sciences-biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics-and most schools have established minimum course requirements for admission. These courses usually represent about one-third of the credit hours needed for graduation. This approach deliberately leaves room for applicants from a broad spectrum of college majors, including those in the humanities and social sciences. No medical school requires a specific major of its applicants or matriculants.Admission committee members are aware that medical students can develop the essential skills of acquiring, synthesizing, applying and communicating information through a wide variety of academic disciplines. Nevertheless, many premedical students choose to major in a scientific discipline. Ideally, they do so because they are fascinated by science and perceive that such a major can be the foundation for a variety of career options. Choosing science primarily to enhance one’s chances for admission to medical school is not in a student’s long-term best interest. Medical school admission committees seek students whose intellectual curiosity leads them to a variety of disciplines and whose intellectual maturity assures that their efforts are persistent and disciplined. In fact, practicing physicians often recommend that, during their college years, premedical students take advantage of what might be their last opportunity for the study of non-science areas (music, art, history, and literature) that might become avocational interests later in life.

</p>

[M_s_Mom]

<p>And I believe I’ve actually seen data (can’t remember where or I’d cite my source) that only 60% of med students are STEM majors so the humanities and social sciences are quite popular alternatives.</p>

[bluebayou]

<p>^Not necessarily. The amcas data (Table 18) indicate that STEM majors total approx. 70%. Hume majors are 5% of total, and Social Sciences is 11%; combined hume+social sciences is less than a fifth of all matriculants.</p>

<p>The unknown, however, is the “Other” category, which itself totals 17% of matriculants. (Dunno how to find what is in that “other” category.)</p>

[MiamiDAP]

<p>“Is there a study that shows which majors medical schools favor when applicants’ undergrad numbers (GPA, MCAT) are the same?”
-Even if there is, it would be grave mistake to choose your major base on Med. School preferences. Choosing your own path to Med. School will make you more desirable applicant. Med. School is looking for real people with their own real interests and passions that they are bringing to the team. Shine in your own way, do not try to tailor your life besides obvious requirements of GPA,MCAT, EC’s, which are your central goal and will require major commitments no matter what is your major or other activities that you decided to pursue and you should pursue the ones in your area of interest.</p>