<p>“'m just asking whether majoring in something like philosophy or art history would work to the detriment of someone aspiring for prestigious graduate schools/medical schools/law schools that require high LSATs or MCATs. I mean, sure med schools may “love philosophy majors”, but it seems to me that a Bio major would have an easier time with the MCAT.”</p>
<p>Being a philosophy major may be viewed as a plus by prestigious professional schools, all of which value students with excellent critical thinking skills, something that philosophy helps hone.</p>
<p>There is a long list of required courses to go to med school. Those courses presumably are related to how students do on the MCAT. I believe students also take MCAT review courses. You don’t need to be a bio or chem major to excel on the MCAT.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, stop stressing about this subject. You won’t need to pick your major until the beginning of your junior year in college.</p>
<p>But don’t we need to pick one intended major during application?</p>
<p>You don’t have to pick an intended major. You can be undecided.</p>
<p>A lot of math skirts philosophy, so that’s another option.</p>
<p>As someone who is studying philosophy at Harvard (though I may end up with a social studies concentration in political philosophy and political theory), I would be happy to answer any questions people may have.</p>
<p>First, it is indeed possible to do a joint-concentration in Philosophy and Economics (a good friend of mine may do this), though it requires alot of pre-planing and arm-twisting. Philosophy and Math is the usual joint-concentration. A number of people also do the MBB track (Mind, Brain, Behavior) and go on to medical school or neuroscience degrees.</p>
<p>There is alot you can do with a philosophy degree (especially from a place like Harvard. As people have mentioned, phil students often go on to law school (philosophy students fall behind only math/physics students in terms of LSAT scores). However, there are any number of other careers that one could pursue. I know that McKinsey has been known to actively require in Harvard’s philosophy department in past years.</p>
<p>I really need to show this thread to my parents. Thank you all for being so helpful!
White_Rabbit, can you provide me with more information because your real life situation makes your argument looks very convincing?</p>
<p>There’s no reason for you to bother arguing now with your parents over your prospective college major. You don’t have to pick it until you are a junior. Harvard and other schools won’t force you to major in what you say on your app. </p>
<p>When it comes to majors, it probably is a plus if one is applying to Harvard and plans to be a humanities major and has a strong demonstrated interest in the humanities. Harvard gets far more prospective bio and chemistry majors than it gets prospective philosophy majors, yet it needs to provide students for humanities departments. Consequently, students with strong demonstrated interests in the humanities (This means students with a demonstrated track record of displaying an interest in the humanities, not students whose ECs and courses reflect only interest in math and science) are at an advantage in the application pool compared to the many, many aspiring doctors.</p>
<p>I’ve been regional admissions coordinator of alum interviews in my area, and most of the applicants planned to major in biology or biochem because they planned to go to med school. Harvard isn’t going to fill its class with only aspiring doctors.</p>
<p>I don’t really have a formal record in my ECs because philosphy is not something that can easily be demonstrated through activities that can be seen (e.g. Math competition, biology competition, etc). Besides, our school is quite science-oriented and it does not offer any philosophy-related courses. Is providing a reading list enough? I have read quite a few philosophy books. Or maybe to do something in the essays?</p>
<p>I talked to my mom again. She demanded me to give it up. Why is she so controlling? I need to rebel.</p>
<p>How’s your mom going to know what you major in or what you put on your app? You can send it without her seeing it. Your mom won’t find out what you major in until she sees your college graduation program.</p>
<p>It is always good to have the support of the family, isn’t it?
I have tolerated their indifference and now I need to tolerate their objection as well. It is a great experience for me to learn to grow up.</p>
<p>"It is always good to have the support of the family, isn’t it? "</p>
<p>What difference does it make if your family supports or doesn’t support now what you think you might major in college when you won’t have to make that decision for about 2 years? By the time you do have to make that decision, you may wish to major in something beside philosophy, and your parents may be wholly supportive. Consequently, no reason to stress about that now.</p>
<p>From what I’ve heard, Philosophy is actually considered quite highly for careers/further degrees such as Law and Politics, for which you must think critically and understand related philosophical concepts in the context of politics, legislation etc.</p>