<p>Hi, I'm entering my senior year in high school and I plan to apply to liberal arts colleges as a history/biology major. After college I hope to apply to medical schools. I would like to know how does attending a liberal arts college affect medical school admissions? Does it help or does it hurt? Also, I hope to double major in history and bioloy or major in history and meet the pre-med requirements. How do medical schools view humanities majors? Also, I'm African American, so does affirmative action still help in medical school admissions? Sorry, I have a lot of questions, but I would appreciate if someone could give me advice. Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>1.) Conventional wisdom indicates that LACs are good.</p>
<p>2.) Major doesn't matter.</p>
<p>3.) A huge difference. Race is by far the most important factor in this process. You can gain more specific information from <a href="http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2005/mcatgparaceeth.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2005/mcatgparaceeth.htm</a>. Notice that the average gap between your average black and Asian matriculant is 9 index points*, a gap that all other factors combined (i.e. EC's, research, essays, interviews, etc.) would not come close to closing.</p>
<p>[<em>Index = 10</em>GPA + MCAT score]</p>
<p>i know someone who doubled in government and international relations at a LAC and is now at an extremely prestigious med school which sounds similar to what you are wanting to do!</p>
<p>In my opinion both LACs and big universities have their pros and cons.</p>
<p>LACs would have a small student body, and would provide an environment for closer student-proffessor interaction compared to a large university. That might be good for getting great LORs.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Universities would provide better opportunities for doing research. </p>
<p>The bottom line is that any college that would help you achieve your potential and help you to succeed would be the best fit. Therefore, whether attending a LAC would hurt or help you, or do neither would depend on your interests and abilities as a student.</p>