<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am currently finishing my first year as an undergraduate student at University of California, Riverside and I am considering going to medical school. Although, I do have a question, I was told that I should think about pursuing a different major besides Biology or Biological Sciences, like Environmental Sciences for example. My question is has anyone taken the Environmental Sciences track to med school before, and if so how was that?</p>
<p>Major in something you enjoy, and would have both opportunities and joy doing if you don’t get into med school. Sry, rationalism.</p>
<p>As long as you get the requirements and strongly recommend courses (biochem is the big one usually), you won’t be at a disadvantage at all.</p>
<p>I am majoring in biochemistry, because I like it and it will allow me to get ALL of my pre-med requirements, and psychology because I like it. I am also minoring in African American studies because I like it. So the moral of the story is do what you like but make sure you fulfill your pre-med requirements as well. Of course, if you like the biological sciences and you really want to major in it, than do so. This will NOT hurt your chances in getting into med school. Most people receive degrees in the biological sciences before going into med school. High GPA, high MCAT score, and the required course combined with good ECs is what gets you into med school.</p>
<p>First of all…</p>
<p>1) How were your grades this year?</p>
<p>2) What classes did you take?</p>
<p>3) How do you like bio?</p>
<p>4) How do you like chem?</p>
<p>Not sure who “told” you to pick a different major, but Enviro is not much “different”. Back in the old days, Enviro was nothing but a subset of Bio, and IMO, it still is. </p>
<p>In the end undergraduate major does not matter at all (unless you are applying to a MD/PhD program). Choose what you like, and can earn A’s in.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be surprised if someone told this student this…maybe not a pre-med advisor, but someone.</p>
<p>This mantra of taking something other than bio has been around for a long time. I can remember my brother talking to our family doc and he gave that advice. </p>
<p>I think it’s something that people have heard said, they think it has merit (without any real proof), so they repeat it like they’re sharing the password into med school.</p>
<p>I admit, I don’t know a lot about Environmental Science as a major. If it is a serious major, then fine…if it has a rep of being kind of a slide major, then not a good idea.</p>