<p>If I majored in something like English or International Studies and did the pre-med requirements, wouldn't that still be a disadvantage compared to majoring in something like biochemistry because of research? Majoring in biochemistry, I could get a lot of research experience with professors and I could volunteer in hospitals. But majoring in English, my extracurricular activities would be limited to volunteering, and achievements in my field like short stories, articles, etc.</p>
<p>So let's say there are two students from a state flagship school:</p>
<p>Biochem major, 3.6gpa, 32 mcat, directed research in cancer cells, volunteering in hospital.</p>
<p>International Studies major, 3.6gpa, 32mcat, peace corps, volunteering in hospital.</p>
<p>Would the biochem major have better chances due to their research?</p>
<p>1) No. There's a reason why we say major doesn't matter, and that's because it doesn't. The stats from the AAMC clearly show that the proportions of certain majors among those students who matriculate to medical school in a given year are nearly identical to the proportions of majors among all those who apply.</p>
<p>2) Your view of the narrowness of each major is very extreme. I was a sociology major with a bio minor, but it wasn't like any of my accomplishments were strictly sociology (with the exception of my election to Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honorary...which I skipped the initiation ceremony and never went to a single meeting...well I'm not sure they even had meetings). My involvement and TA'ing experiences were all in other areas besides sociology. I was a TA for a leadership class and involved in a number of things within the College of Arts & Sciences. Part of college is branching out and doing what you want to do. Sure if you want to only do english things, then you can only do english things, but there are lots of opportunities.</p>
<p>Are you less likely to have biomedical bench research as an English major? sure, but there's nothing saying you can't at least ask around if some bench researcher would be willing to take you on. Or you could do english research (like say on how health and illness is presented in literature?) and then sell the benefits of how that would make you a better physician in the future.</p>
<p>The only concrete scenario I can think of, in which an english major would be at a distinct disadvantage against a biochem major would be for MD/PhD admissions...</p>
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But majoring in English, my extracurricular activities would be limited to volunteering, and achievements in my field like short stories, articles, etc.
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<p>There is such a thing as research in English, history, any other language, any other social science. Research at the collegiate level is not limited to science.</p>
<p>You can also volunteer in a hospital as an English major. There is always the need for people who can communicate, particularly for working with patients.</p>
<p>you can do cancer research as a english major. im currently in a lab (science) and work with a history major and a poli sci major (both premed).</p>