Pre-Med and Concentration Advice

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>As an incoming Pre-Med student, I have been spending the past few days looking through the Course Bulletin and trying to make a rough outline of an academic plan for the next four years. The problem is, I seem to be creating for myself more questions than answers. Any advice would be appreciated. Here is my dilemma:</p>

<p>I am planning to go Pre-Med in the fall, and I have worked out how I will fit all of the required classes into my four years at Brown. My problem is, as far as a concentration goes, I am really not interested in concentrating in one of the ‘hard’/natural sciences (bio, chem, etc.). I know that I will have to take many classes in these subjects in order to fulfill the Pre-Med requirements, and I am fully prepared to do so, but I don’t want one of these subjects to be my concentration. I am actually thinking about concentrating in one of the social sciences (namely Anthropology or Sociology), or perhaps even in English, History, or Comparative Lit. I know this seems strange, and I will probably get a lot of people asking me “if you want to go to med-school, why would you major in __________?”… and I guess I can’t even really explain it. My question is, how unusual is it at Brown to be Pre-Med, and NOT a science concentrator? Is it feasible to, for example, concentrate in English or Comparative lit, and focus one’s studies (or even just the Honor’s thesis) on Medicine in Literature? Or, to concentrate in Anthropolgy and focus on Culture and Health? Also, can a Anthro/Sociology/English/or History concentrator even get into Med-School? </p>

<p>Another alternative I am considering is the Science and Society concentration? Can anyone tell me more about this program of study? Is it a practical choice for a Pre-Med student who does not want to concentrate in one of the natural sciences, and do you happen to know of anyone who has chosen to pair Pre-Med with the Science and Society concentration?</p>

<p>I know that many of these sound like stupid questions, but I would appreciate any advice/info you can give me. I know you’re probably thinking, just chill and worry about this later… but I feel like I should have SOME kind of direction when I go to meet with my advisor next month. Thanks!</p>

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<p>well, i'm going to be attempting a theatre arts concentration while taking pre-med classes. and i know someone who concentrated in ethnic studies and was pre-med. i'm pretty sure it can be done, it just takes a lot more planning, and you won't be able to take many electives.</p>

<p>i can't really give that much advice though, considering i've only been at brown a year. you should probably talk with the actual pre-med advisor with these questions. (it's probably on the website somwhere.. i should probably talk with him too).</p>

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<p>allie_babwa06:</p>

<p>i'm pretty much in the same boat. I plan on concentrating in sociology while being premed. i don't think that it will be easy, at all, but it's all about the amount of work you put into it. </p>

<p>i think that med schools care more that you did well in all your classes and on the mcat than they do your concentration.</p>

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<p>get A's in science courses and a 30+ MCAT and you're good to go</p>

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<p>thanks for the replies. the feedback really helps</p>

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<p>Yup, lots of people do that. In fact, I've heard that some med schools like to see "non-traditional" pre-med concentrations, because they think it makes doctors more well-rounded.</p>

<p>Your advisors (freshman advisor and pre-med advisor and concentration advisor) will help you plan this out, but it's definitely a possible and reasonable, if challenging, path.</p>

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<p>Take a look at the list of required/recommeneded pre-med courses:
<a href="http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/hco/?id=185%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.brown.edu/Administration/Dean_of_the_College/hco/?id=185&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>