<p>Also, FWIW, my MD/PhD program director told me that they specifically like to admit athletes and musicians as these are the two extracurriculars (other than research itself obviously) that require the same characteristics as people whom they think are good for the program. They both require never ending preparation for a constantly evolving field, and thus require a level of commitment, perseverance, and drive that the programs like to see.</p>
<p>Other than a job in the sciences (e.g. research, programming) or finance, I don’t really think what you major in really matters. Colleges, especially one like Penn are going to teach you how to approach problem solving, not simply give you a foundation of knowledge needed for a job. That being said, if you do go science and don’t get into med school, there will always be demand for lab techs and science teachers.</p>