<p>Hi everybody.
I'm considering medical studies in the US in 2 years (I'm now a junior) but I'm not well informed (I'm an exchange student, I just got here).
What do I have to major in if I want to go to med School?
What are the best colleges for this kind of studies?
What are the best med schools?
Thanks</p>
<p>You can major in anything. Being "pre-med" while an undergraduate means you will be taking the requirements medical schools ask for. The standard is 2 semesters of biology, 2 semesters of general chemistry, 2 semesters of organic chemistry, and 2 semesters of physics. A lab is required in all these courses. Those courses are required by every medical school, and from there most require a semester of calculus (though a small number require 2). After that, requirements vary some from school to school, but common requirements are 2 semesters of English (usually including one semester that is writing intensive), various levels of humanities and social sciences, some schools require a semester or two of biochem, and a semester of genetics is becoming more common. The key point though is that you can major in whatever - so pick something you are interested in and passionate about. </p>
<p>The data available shows that the majors of matriculants are in nearly the exact same ratio as the majors of applicants nationwide, proving that there is no advantage given to one major over another. However certain schools have come out on record as saying they give preference to non-science majors in admissions. It is not unlikely that some schools give preference to science majors then. But overall there is no advantage.</p>
<p>College choice should be based on finding the college that is the best "fit" for you. Never should you base your college choice on presumed impact on getting admitted to medical school. The worst thing you could do is choose a school that you think will get you in to medical school but end up hating. Find that school that will allow you to be the most successful you can be in all areas - academically, physically, socially, emotionally - and you'll be fine, even if you decide medicine is not for you. </p>
<p>There are only 125 medical schools in the United States and they are all excellent. They will all teach you the information you need to be a doctor and all will award that MD which allows you to do just that. Unless you are planning on going into research, most ranking systems really don't matter. Further, fewer than half (45%) of applicants are accepted each year, and most of those students will receive acceptance to only one school, so there is usually not much choice for students. Therefore your concern should be focused solely on getting in somewhere rather than the "best" schools.</p>
<p>Thank you!
It's really helping me.</p>