Pre-Med Major?

<p>Biochemistry
Biochemistry(Medicinal Chemistry)
Biological Sciences (Cells, Genetics, Development Biology)
Biomedical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Microbiology
Molecular Biosciences/Biotechnology
Physics
Chemistry</p>

<p>Which major would best prepare me for Medical School. Please don't answer saying, "Major doesn't matter when applying to Med. School". I enjoy anything science related, especially Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. I'm leaning towards Biochem (medicinal Chem). WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK???? Thanks. Plz no rude/unhelpful comments!</p>

<p>Son in med school now graduated from first uni as an econ major. Second school he was biochemistry and microbiology double major. Also completed a genetics minor. The classes that are helping him the most now were the micro, anatomy, physiology, stats for the coursework now. The econ is making a difference in understanding how to run a practice but even more so how to run a hospital system.</p>

<p>Hope this helps.</p>

<p>Kat</p>

<p>Can you please ask himif Biochemistry really helped on the Mcat (as a major)? Thank you very much!!!:)</p>

<p>BUMP
BUMP
BUMP!</p>

<p>D1 in med school was a physics & math major. It was challenging major, but she said once she’d passed quantum and grad quantum, things like OChem, PChem, biochem seemed trivially easy in comparison because she could discern the underlying physical laws governing chemical reactions. She didn’t have to memorize reaction pathways.</p>

<p>Thanks, I’ll look into Physics but I’m not completely sure about it. Seems a little difficult to keep a >3.75 GPA!</p>

<p>i’m too old to be trying to help- but I can tell you that Biochem will really come in handy during med school, that is for sure. Don’t think a big help for the MCAT. When I was in college there were fewer options and I ended up learning a lot of plant bio/ecology/zoology that though interesting was not very helpful in future career as a physician. I would try to find experiences in molecular biology or neuroscience as an undergrad. Keep it interesting for yourself!</p>

<p>Serenity11, Are you a physician? Unfortunately, the Univ. I want to attend does not have a Neuroscience program, I am now 50%-50% at Biochemistry (medicinal Chem) and Molecular Biology. I’ve been told that Biochem is really helpful and Bio is too but not as good as Biochem so I will keep researching! Thanks!</p>

<p>You are missing the point of your undergraduate education. If you are generally smart enough to get into medical school, you are smart enough to make it through the first two years of mostly book learning. The grades in the first two years of med school are important but less important than you think. Its how you think and reason as a person, how you communicate with others, how you work on a team, how you accept responsibility and accountability are the intangibles that matter most in the second two years of medical school and in the long run. Those are characteristics that are independent of any specific major and can be particularly well honed by studying liberal arts in general. I’d say you’ll get more out of a religious studies class or an ethics seminar as you will from the n+1 extra science class.</p>

<p>Now that I have that off my chest, the single best class to help one prepare for medical school (beyond the standard requirements) is probably animal physiology or maybe a genetics course. Medicine is basically the art of dealing with people and the science of abnormal physiology. genetics is the future of medicine. Anatomy is important too but what you get as an undergrad will not be that useful.</p>

<p>Well that was sort of helpful because I was talking about what would be helpful for MCAT (I think I worded it wrong) </p>

<p>BUMP! “Which Major will help me prepare for MCAT” I worded it wrong! THANKS</p>

<p>yes - I am a physician. I think the key is taking courses that really interest you and are not a slog. Psychology, sociology and anthropology courses are generally very captivating. I would get your premed requirements done, then major in something that doesn’t require too many courses, leaving you with room to take a variety of courses that appeal to you. Some LAC’s have great minors in medical humanities and global health. Wish they had those offerings a few decades ago! You can do MCAP prep on your won and all the premed requirements(chem/bio/physics/calculus) prepare you well enough. Hope that helps. good luck!</p>

<p>Thank Doc! May I ask what you are specialized in? Thanks once again:)</p>

<p>i am a pediatrician- primary care- and my husband is a pediatric specialist/researcher in academic medicine so I have seen many aspects of medicine.Medicine is a wonderful career- can be a launchpad for a clinical or research tract. You will learn along the way where your interests lie. Use your 4 years undergrad to experience collegiate life in its entireltywhile taking many interesting courses. You can delay your choice of major for several years.</p>

<p>Thats cool! Thanks! I might add your name to my CC contacts so if I have a question later on, I can ask you, if that’s fine with you?</p>

<p>of course- anytime. I often have medical students from my alma mater stay with me while they are interviewing for residencies. I very much enjoy advising when I can.</p>

<p>Are there any premed requirements that we should finish before the MCAT?</p>

<p>I am guessing that you are talking to serenity, but I have heard the taking biochemistry or genetics would really help. So basically any class that contains information that would be helpful on the MCAT would be great. You can even possibly take advanced courses of the pre-med reqs, such as Biophysical Chem or Organic Chem II.</p>

<p>unfortunately I am a little far out from those days, but my sense is that it is best to take all the premed requirements before taking the MCAT. Most important would be intro bio, chem and physics.</p>

<p>Well, anyone who can help is appreciated!
I just didn’t want to cram all my premed requirements and get poor grades, so I was wondering, if I wanted to spread them out, which ones I could take after the MCAT and which ones that are helpful for the MCAT.</p>