<p>I posted something somewhat similar on the major board for general advice, but I think I should have posted here in the first place because of certain concerns I have. basically, assuming that i have good grades, good MCATs, go to a top 15 college, would a major in women's studies hurt me in the sense that a medical school adcom/hospital administrator/etc etc may be conservative and decide not to admit me because they would be like "oh she is just going to come here and perform abortions" (which is not true because neither do i have a desire to be an OB/GYN nor do i particularly want to perform abortions, but anyway)...as a ws major (which i haven't declared yet), i do plan to take several courses in women's health which will probably not look bad, but i don't know, i don't want this to bite me in the future...when you try to find hospitals to work in, do you have to tell them your college major? is this a bad idea for me then because i will automatically be labeled as a left-wing feminist and this could hurt my career as a doctor?</p>
<p>I would double major if I were you (in science - bio, biochem, chem, neuroscience, etc.). The only reason why Women's Studies may hurt you is because it isn't considered a rigorous major, not because of any political biases/stereotyping. So, you'll need a really high science GPA and non-science GPA to be competitive. Where are you going to college?</p>
<p>I don't think I could think of a major that would have less appeal to an admission committee. Now, that's just an opinion and it really doesn't mean anything, but I'd truely consider a more (preceived) academically challenging major .</p>
<p>davida- i go to wash u</p>
<p>Major has absolutely no bearing on admissions to medical school. The stats back me up on this. Matriculant majors are in almost an identicle ratio to majors of applicants.</p>
<p>BRM is 100% right. With that said, there are definitely a few caveats.</p>
<p>1.) Majors don't matter within a relatively large class; that is, physical science majors do as well as social science majors, etc. But what the data doesn't tell us is how well specific majors within those classes do - that is, it's not stated how well chemistry majors do relative to physics majors, only that "Physical Science" majors as a whole are not at a disadvantage.</p>
<p>I have no idea what class Women's Studies would fall into, but assuming that it's the same class as African American Studies, then while those sorts of majors overall (are they humanities?) do no worse than other classes, it may well be the case that specific majors within that class do better or worse.</p>
<p>2.) For medical schools in general, your major doesn't matter - but specific schools may or may not have preferences. Case Western is on record as preferring non-science majors; there is therefore probably at least one school out there that prefers science majors, etc.</p>
<p>Maharani, I consider myself a conservative and would appreciate a physician with an undergraduate in women's studies. I am not sure what courses that degree encompasses, but I could imagine that much could be applied to the needs of women in the practice of medicine, patient education needs, etc. I had a friend in undergrad. that went to med school from music/voice major. Just do well in your prereqs. and major in your interest.</p>