Picking, of all things, a Major

<p>I'm going to go to medical school. This has been the plan since I was five. That being understood, what am I going to major in?</p>

<p>a) What is the difference between AL-ALP2 (Preprofessional pre-med and and health professions) and SC-SCPP (Science preprofessional premedical? Is there a larger acceptance rate to medical schools from one college or the other? What is the difference is coursework?</p>

<p>b) Some people say that medical schools aren't particularly interested in students who majored in pre-med. If this is the case, should I should major in Chemistry or Biology or even Math? Some science/math field? </p>

<p>c) How do admissions go for students applying to medical school from the college of arts and letters and majored in anthropology or psychology or some such? </p>

<p>d) What if I studied engineering?</p>

<p>Be an english major. It's neato.</p>

<p>Study Physics w/ medicine. It's a really cool major that will help you stand out against the chem/bio majors (dime a dozen) and the majors that won't give you the technical background you'll need. Sure, no matter what your major you'll take the classes needed to get into med school, but the minimum is not the best idea in the world. As a phymed, you'll also learn all the physical principles behind the various gizmos doctors use like MRI machines and whatnot. That's probably a little more useful and interesting than the various assembled writings of english people (ick). Of course, if you choose to do engineering, that always looks good on a transcript for med school since undergrad engineering has about the same workload as med school (so I hear) and how many engineers apply to med school?</p>

<p>I just noticed the anthro thing...if you majored in anthro, went to Africa or w/e and did some service there for several months as part of one of ND's many overseas programs (easy to do) and then wrote that you want to be a doctor to help people, you would totally own all the other apps b/c of the fact that your major and life experiences would absolutely demonstrate a commitment to do good in this world and sidestep the rather cliche connotation of "I want to help everyone else and that's why I want to enter a very high-paying profession."</p>

<p>I want to know whose plan it was...yours or your parents?</p>

<p>Mine. I tried to do surgeries on my sister's American girl dolls....this did not go so well with my parents....</p>

<p>But my thing is that I'm totally open to every option. I wouldn't mind studying anything from engineering to english. I mean that. And whatever I pick, I'll say, "This was a really good decision." So seeing as I will get very involved and interested in whatever it is I decide to major in, it really comes down to what will be best for medical school.</p>

<p>No.</p>

<p>It comes down to what you will enjoy the most.</p>

<p>If you like psychology and anthropology, you could pick up the premed core and be an interesting premed applicant, especially if you are interested in primary care. If you want something more specialized like surgery, then I think the advice you are getting to do physics or something more technical would be worth listening to.</p>

<p>My gut is always to say "don't go pre-(insert field), do what you love." Of course, I'd be in over my head with medicine, and I wouldn't knock an established major like pre-med. You're obviously dedicated to the idea, and I won't assume that will change...but it might. As you need not declare a major yet (unless you do engineering, then it might be time to worry), it might be best to feel around with requirements and electives that interest you. Take some science courses, for sure, and talk to people in different majors. They all have zillions of little brochures and the websites are very helpful. You may be interested in tons of things, but trust me, something will stand out.</p>

<p>I am SCPP, but I assure you medical school is guaranteed to NO ONE. That being said, the PP program is 11th in the nation. It boasts a thorough education and MCAT prep, but it's all about what you make of it. I suck at AL stuff so I chose SCPP, and wouldn't you know it, all of my grades in my non-major courses blow. Do what's best for your GPA and yourself.</p>