<p>Just a quick question-- I know that majors are generally very flexible and you can major in anything and still be a pre-med student if you fullfill the requirements. But which major in JHU offers a better track for someone who is interested in medicine? In the most schools it's bio/chem track (I notice JHU doesn't offer biochemistry... but what about the public health option?</p>
<p>actually, i've heard many people say physics offers the best track... it makes a candidate look more interesting, supposedly. this is pretty much what my teachers said:</p>
<p>for medical school, people really like to see physics because it requires you to be able to pull pieces together abstractly and use them to solve a problem. the same is true in a medical setting, you must be able to take every little piece that you know and work towards an unknown, because it takes real skill to apply physics and solve problems, which is what a doctor must do when working with a patient, blah blah... </p>
<p>i don't even know if i'm being coherent, it's 12:30 lol.</p>
<p>ANYWAY. this is not hopkins-particular, but i've heard many a high school teacher talk about the higher acceptance rate for physics majors, etc.. because i mean think about, med schools probably look at more than your mcats and gpa (though they are decisive factors) and want an interesting person. compared to all those bio/chem majors, how interesting are you going to really look with a..... bio/chem major? this is not to say that bio/chem majors don't get in, becaus ehtey obvioiusly do.. but different is good... you get my drift</p>
<p>^^Good for me then. Let's just see if I can handle the physics program.</p>
<p>Actually I have read and heard a lot from medical schools that humanities majors are more likely to be admitted now then any other field. Not sure how true that is, but I do know that medical schools are highly selective and looking for the most unique students out there. Bio majors who did the right pre-med courses are a dime a dozen nowadays. </p>
<p>I will say though the best advice for pre-med students in college is not to select a major that you think will make your chances easier. Select the major you are most interested in and will help you and making yourself the most unqiue possible. It is your MCATs, your grades, your major -- but it also has to do with who you are and what you did in college. Research, internships, study abroad, work, clubs, leadership -- all of that matters!!! (and I think much more than what major you are.)</p>
<p>just my 2 cents</p>
<p>I agree with ^^...because I am a public health major and I love it... Physics at hopkins is a serious committment. I say do what interests you as well...I also love spanish and I am minoring it. So if you have a PASSIOn for physics then minor in it..if not do Sociology, A language, whatever floats your boat. Like laxfan said humanities are getting th edge now a days....it shows that you have an interests beyond sciences and shows that you are also connected to the world/culture and whats going on</p>
<p>JHU doesn't offer biochem, but it does offer biophysics which I believe is very similar.</p>
<p>oh, i definitely agree with you laxfan and mb. i plan to be a doctor, but i want to definitely attend schools that offer medicine and society majors (history of medicine, sociology of medicine, etc). it's very a good track, and it makes you look interesting. my teachers, however, said physics.. which is good too i bet</p>
<p>Hey ^^ Hopkins has a History of Science, Technology, Major..that was actually my major before I ultimately decided on public health</p>
<p>are chem majors too common these days?</p>
<p>Biochemistry is actually a track offered in the general Biology major.</p>
<p>And yes, chemistry majors are lumped into that group of traditional natural science majors who apply to Medical School. But if you love Chemistry - do it -- just define yourself in a unique way throughout your undergrad years.</p>
<p>Oh cool... well I really enjoy physics but I enjoy biology all the more. Mechanics of life > Mechanics of the universe anyday. :p</p>
<p>Wonder why JHU doesn't offer a genetics major. Hmm.</p>
<p>Genetics is actually another specialization one can pursue with a Biology degree.</p>
<p>Basically, JHU does not create a laundry list of majors (biochemistry, genetics, etc.) rather each majors has a number of specializations students can pursue to make the programs more suit their future goals.</p>
<p>It keeps things simple.</p>