Potential Philosophy Major Seeking Career in Medicine

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I've decided to switch my career goals from law school to a more medical school-oriented one. I love philosophy, so I highly intend for that to become my major. However, I grew up in a family of doctors (yes alot of them), so I often glean medical topics from family discussions.</p>

<p>Assuming I take the prerequisite courses, and do well on the MCAT, is a philosophy major at an advantage (or lack of) in the selection process?</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>I also plan on going this route and I think its a really good combination. Philosophy will give you a different perspective to medicine, and in terms of adcoms, it will set you apart from all the bio and chem majors.</p>

3

<p>Humanities majors, on average, outscore biological science majors on all four sections of the MCAT. See the 2005 MCAT summary data at <a href="http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/examineedata/sum2005.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/examineedata/sum2005.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

4

<p>Major ist almost irrelevant to the admission's process, as long as you have your prerequisites for med. school.</p>

5

<p>Having an unusual "premed" major like philosophy will most certainly give you a bit of a leg up on other applicants as long as you are strong in the sciences as well. Some of the best Harvard med students and residents with whom I have worked were English majors, social work majors, and history majors
They are broader in perspective and life experience</p>

6

<p>Statistically speaking, your major does not matter - it neither helps nor hurts. There is a thread on this ("What should a pre-med major in?").</p>

<p>Again, the usual two caveats: this may not be true for all specific majors, it's just true for "blocks" of majors - i.e. social science vs. physical science. Second, specific schools may well have preferences, but med schools in the aggregate do not.</p>

7

<p>Now, statistically it doesn't help either? What if one were to double major, (in two absolutely unrelated areas (humanities, and sciences)) and do extremely well....couldn't he/she stand out among the huge number of other candidates who are equally qualified in terms of numbers, activities etc. etc. ?</p>