I want to major in political science while doing pre-med, and eventually get into med school. I was just thinking that since pre-med usually isn’t a major, I might as well major in political science while doing all the required classes for medical school. When colleges ask me what school I want to apply to, I usually just say the school with the political science major. My counselor said that I could do both. I’m very interested in both fields. What do you guys think?
Pre-med isn’t a major, it is a set of courses. You can major in whatever you want.
If you are applying to a university that has different undergraduate colleges (sometimes called schools), then you need to apply to whichever undergraduate college offers the political science major. Once you are there, you can take courses in the other colleges that offer science/math/etc.
Sometimes it is difficult to transfer from one college to another within the same university. For example if you start in Arts & Humanities (as a poli sci major), it might be hard to transfer to Science & Engineering (as a biology major) if you suddenly decide that you’d rather major in that. So find out about that too.
Pre-med is not a major. It is a path and a set of required courses. You can be pre-med and major in anything. Music, art, poly sci, etc. Literally anything. Being a political science major actually may increase your chances of med school acceptances.
You check “political science” for major, and when they ask (only then) if you’re interested in a preprofessional program, check “premed”. 
Political Science is an interesting choice, and can lead to a Master in Public Health which can be helpful if you can’t do a glide year. I agree it would likely increase your chances if you can manage both the premed core and the poli sci major together.
you can major in poly sci but you need to take certain bio and chem classes. things like biochem, organic chemistry ,classes like that. your academic adviser at whatever college could guide you and make sure you cover all the bio/chem classes you will need. and most schools have a pre-med adviser (they would be the super source of what bases you need to cover) but you can major in whatever you want. and some med schools claim they like that as long as you have certain science classes under your belt.
Yes, you can major in political science while taking the pre-med courses as your science general education courses and free electives.
For reference, the (new) premed core includes: 2 semesters each of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, plus 1 semester each of Calculus, Statistics, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, Sociology, Psychology, perhaps Neuroscience, and a language spoken by an immigrant group - could be Arabic, Hmong, Creole French, Ukrainian… plus of course Spanish (but taking up something else may be to your advantage).
To me it seems a little off? I mean you might be able to take political science and after which get your pre-med and go straight to med school. That’s just me though
@MYOS1634, are you winding the OP up?!
The core is still 2 semesters each of bio, chem, organic, physics and calculus. Many (but not all) also require a year of essay based English. There are some tweaks: there is a big emphasis on getting some biochem in, and stats has shown up. There is talk of Organic being switched out for Biochem, but it hasn’t happened yet, and calculus is not as universal a requirement as it used to be. But, psych / sociology, etc. not ‘core’. Yes, the idea of another language is attractive- but it’s not going to be the difference between getting in and not getting in.
While biochem isn’t yet a formal requirement at majority of medical schools, the MCAT now includes biochemistry in the biological sciences subsection. (In fact the test subsection is now title Biology and Biochemistry.) Statistics questions are included in all 4 MCAT subsections and the is a whole subtest devotes to topics covered in intro level psychology and sociology courses.
Because of the importance of MCAT score for admission, a student would be foolish not to take at least biochem, and stats before sitting for the MCAT.
Med school pre-reqs are changing/evolving to better match MCAT topics. About 1/3 of med schools currently list biochem as a pre-req. A significant number now also list stats as a pre-req. And a number of both private and state med schools have added social sciences either as pre-reqs or “strongly recommended”.
Currently no school requires a full year of calculus (Calc 1 & Calc 2) except Harvard’s HST program, though every med school requires a full year of “college level mathematics”.
Current pre-med core requirements:
2 semesters bio w/labs
2 semester gen chem w/ labs
2 semesters ochem 2w labs
2 semester physics w/ labs
1 semester biochem
2 semester “college level” mathematics which includes 1 semester of statistics or biostatistics
2 semesters English or “writing intensive” electives which fulfill one’s college’s writing requirements
Needed for the MCAT & required by some med schools:
1 semester intro psych
1 semester intro sociology
^“college-level mathematics” can be achieved with calc + stats, although precalc + calc also counts. 1 semester of calc is all that’s expected, but if the student can fit more than one stats class it’s better (intro to stats + biostatistics if offered.).
Not pulling anyone’s leg. Those are pretty standard for the new MCAT and the new med school admission process. Another class I didn’t cite but should be taken is a class that has a diversity-focus. Also, just like for college, if you apply to highly selective universities/programs, understand that “recommended” means “required unless you have a very very good reason not to have this AND something exceptional to offset this absence”.
First, all premed students should read this guide carefully, regardless of where they attend college:
https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/careers/act/gradstudy/health/guide/part1
Some med schools requirements from accross the country:
https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/requirements-admission
http://medschool.ucr.edu/admissions/ (click on “program pre-requisites”; 12 quarters = 2 semesters)
http://www.med.umn.edu/admissions/how-apply/prerequisites
http://www.medadmissions.pitt.edu/admissions-requirements/requirements.php
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/faq/mcat-faqs/
The AAMC also wants to see evidence of these characteristics through what you’ve done in class and out of class:
Integrity and Ethics, Reliability and Dependability, Service Orientation, Social and Interpersonal Skills, Capacity for Improvement, Resilience and Adaptability, Cultural Competence, Oral Communication,Teamwork.
https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/taking-mcat-exam/prepare-mcat-exam/
The problem with a poli sci major or any other non bio/chem major is there’s little/no crossover between poli sci major reqs and premed reqs and so you’ll have to work a little harder as you’ll have to find a way to fit premed reqs into your schedule and do well GPA wise in all courses, along with MCAT prep, ECs… that med schools will expect to see. You may also need to consider taking a gap year. So is taking poli sci/premed doable, yes. It’s a good idea to take a major that you’re interested in because hopefully you’ll do well (GPA wise) with material you like. And not to be Debbie Downer but since most premeds drop out along way, what’s your plan B with a poli sci degree? (I don’t need answer). I also wouldn’t put much, if any, hope on a poli sci major making any difference in your med school chances as much as competitive GPAs, MCAT, ECs will do for your chances.
Also as to English req: typical req freshman writing course/seminar usually fulfills premed req. If your college doesn’t have freshman writing course req then you may have to take some writing intensive UD English course. Also there might be some med schools, but neuroscience, foreign languages are not typical med school reqs. Certainly if you like neuro and/or foreign language and do well, go for it. Good luck
Neuroscience and FL’s are not “med school reqs” per se, in that they are supposed to complement the science and general premed core for a competitive student. Having them is better if you already have the rest but only if you have the rest. As for the FL, it needs not be learned in a classroom setting but it’s supposed to show adaptability and ability to relate to a variety of patients; basics can be acquired while interning at a clinic for example + using a local community education program. Haitian/French Creole is pretty useful along the East Coast, especially NYC and FL, Hmong and Somali in MN, etc. Spanish for the Health Professions is a class that actually exists at several large universities.
For English, Freshman English + a Writing Intensive class also work, or Freshman Seminar + Freshman English, etc.
Of course, the plan B career prospects with a bachelor’s degree in biology are not particularly great either, perhaps slightly worse on average than career prospects with a bachelor’s degree in political science in many career surveys.