<p>So instead of majoring in pre-med or bio like most md's..would criminal justice with the required extra science/math classes work.would it be looked down upon by a med school admission commitee???</p>
<p>You can't major in pre-med at the vast majority of schools. You can major in bio.</p>
<p>Yes, majoring in criminal justice would be looked down upon. It's a vocational major. Med school adcoms don't like seeing vocational majors.</p>
<p>It is fine to not major in biology. Economics, sociology, history, political science... all these are fine. Premed and Criminal Justice are not.</p>
<p>What about a business degree?</p>
<p>Also a vocational major.</p>
<p>Could you get in with a degree in CJ (or business or any other vocational major)? Yes. Does it help you in any way? Absolutely not. Could it hurt your chances? Yes, it definitely could. </p>
<p>Bottom line, no major is going to ruin your chances. The admissions committees aren't going to say "well gee, they were our number one choice but they've got that damn major in CJ, so we're not going to accept them ever". But it's possible that in the comparison to the majors of other applicants, you'll be placed a peg below the more academic majors - doesn't mean it happens every where, but it's a possibility. And that's why it's recommended against by the members on this board - why take a risk when you don't have to?</p>
<p>On the flip side, in the overall grand scheme of things, no particular major is going to be a feather in your cap. There are schools that have come out publicly in favor of either non-science or science majors, which certainly means that there are other schools that favor certain majors but haven't publicized it. But the statistics for the entire cohort of a given application cycle seem to demonstrate overall indifference. So since it's a non-factor, you want to keep it a non-factor.</p>
<p>If you absolutely love CJ, and you can't imagine studying anything else, then go ahead, but I'd strongly advise you to think long and hard about that decision.</p>
<p>Ali,
I sort of agree with bigred, sort of.</p>
<p>What you need to decide to major in is in what YOU LIKE. With rare exception (science for an ivy research school, non-science for a rural GP school) your major does not matter. What we discuss in adcom is why the kid did such and such. You will stand out. That is good if you have reasons.
eg: All of my family is in criminal justice and I thought I would combine medicine and criminal justice.... vs....it was an easy major.</p>
<p>I have never been on a adcom (including a west coast ivy) that looked at any major as good vs bad if the kid had a reason for it (with maybe the exception of premed --- but even it is ok if it is a second major, ie english and premed..</p>
<p>Turns out that Business may be a great major. All of my friends are going back to bus school now. Coming into medicine with a business major could open alot of doors for you after med school.</p>
<p>If you read some of my posts, you will see a continued theme of "after med school" as a reason for your major. Not "before med school as a way to get into".</p>
<p>In my judgment, a business degree might be helpful after medical school but would probably harm you during the admissions process. You might decide that that is a worthwhile tradeoff anyway. Alternatively, you could simply major in economics and dabble in the business courses.</p>
<p>It would also be helpful if you are not successful during the application season.</p>
<p>I spoke to my pre-health advisor today and she said she's had several students pursue a business degree and go on to be accepted to medical school, and that as long as you like what you are majoring in then it will not be a problem, so this whole "vocational majors hurts you in the process" idea seems to be complete bull. I'm sure you guys have your reasons for thinking so, but there is a lot of evidence to the contrary and in the end it probably won't matter that much.</p>
<p>I don't think it's complete bull but I do feel it is overstressed in this thread.</p>
<p>Edit: I think it would depend on the nature of your school and the program more than anything. I think a Wharton student would not be seen negatively.</p>
<p>So I had the same problem, whether or not i should change my major (management). But I want to take take management and learn all the things about corporations and business leading skills. It was something my father did and I looked up to that, besides its my interest/hobby. But that doesn't mean that outweighs my desire to be a doctor, I want to help people and try to do doctors without borders. It took me a while to figure out why I wanted to be a doctor instead of working in Wall Street but I think thats a valid reason for my vocational major choice and doing premed. I love learning something I enjoy and have a genuine interest about.</p>
<p>Truth smoker,
It is amazing to me as as a member of several med school adcoms the comments here. With rare exception, a business degree will probably help you at almost all med schools.</p>
<p>Lethargytm
You have the exact answer that adcom's want. Why did you do the major and what do you want to do with it.</p>
<p>Lethargytm
You have the exact answer that adcom's want. Why did you do the major and what do you want to do with it.</p>
<p>You need to distinguish between "vocational" and "practical" majors. The thing that can hurt is if the program overall does not sound academically rigorous. The ability to do well in a challenging academic program indicates the ability to succeed in medical school. To the extent that a vocational major is not filled with top academic students, and the academic expectations are lower, then it hurts. However, things like business and management can be quite rigorous (can you say Wharton?), and fine for demonstrating the academic ability to do well in med school.</p>
<p>Yes, there are plenty of reasons a business major may come in handy once someone finishes medical school.</p>
<p>I mean I have two minors along with premed and my management degree so i think my schedule is pretty much rigorous. I also take like 18-20 credit hours every semester so far so....</p>
<p>Of course it is possible. Strong candidates are strong candidates regardless of what they major in. In my judgment and from what I've seen, this is a negative thing to do. It is not an automatic rejection or anything close to it. Like all weaknesses, there are some compelling explanations that can make it go away. I suspect this is part of the reason why Wharton's diploma is officially one in "Economics" -- in case their students want to continue their schooling.</p>
<p>I still recommend against it.</p>
<p>Well I want to major in cj because I truely am interested in it.I hope to one day be a forensic psychiatrist. Both my brothers are in law enforcement and one of my sisters is an ADA....I basically grew up around it (there is 16-30 years between me and my siblings) and my parents/grandparents are in healthcare. Thanks for the help. Im gonna think about it before I declare my major.</p>
<p>My best friend at Stanford who is now Professor of Medicine at Beth Israel/Harvard and chair of a NIH committee did his college major in prestidigitation at Berkeley. A major he "made". But he also got top grades in all of his premedical courses. Do your major in whatever you want and are interested in. Make A+s in your required premed classes and get your dance card punched in extracurricular, etc and you will make med school. </p>
<p>Do not get a major in what people tell you to do in order to get in.</p>