<p>hey, i'll be a senior this fall in high school. i'd aspire to be an anesthesiologist or surgeon and i'm having trouble with deciding what i should major in. i am applying to Benedictine, Loyola Chicago, UIC, and Depaul. Initially i was going to major in Biology, but i read that med schools like students that take biochemistry because it is a tougher course load. but i also heard that physics majors do better on the mcat because they are more analytical thinkers. i'd like to hear your opinion.</p>
<p>Well I have 2 Ds–one was a math & physics major. She’s a first year med student. I have a second who’s a math & neuroscience major and will probably go to med school. </p>
<p>D1 has a med school classmate who majored in music theory and performance (guitar) and never did a single day in any research lab. One of D1’s friend’s husband is now a pediatric oncology resident–his UG major was English Lit. I have a friend who’s a surgeon on faculty at the local med school–his major? Electrical engineering. The anesthesiologist who used to live next door–he was a chem major.</p>
<p>There are many different paths to medical school.</p>
<p>The truth is:</p>
<p>1) You should major in what you enjoy. Why? Because you’re more likely to do well in classes you actually like.</p>
<p>2) It doesn’t matter what your major is. Med schools don’t care as long as your fulfill all the pre-reqs. The primary considerations are your GPA, science GPA and MCAT score.</p>
<p>i had another question also. if i go to a smaller school thats not well known outside of illinois but i get all A’s, excellent mcat, volunteer experience etc… do i have a chance of going to top medical schools like harvard or yale?</p>
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<p>How do you already know what you want to be? Have you been exposed to any of these fields? I swear almost all of the high school kids who say they want to be an anesthesiologist just look up doctor’s salaries online, and since anesthesiology is one of the higher paid ones, they all jump the bandwagon and say that is what they aspire to become. YOU CAN’T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT TO BE, UNLESS YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE FIELD. </p>
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<p>“Getting all A’s, excellent mcat, volunteer experience, etc” is easier said than done. But yes, if you were able to do all that then, yes, you would have a “chance” at a top medical school.</p>
<p>A lot of med schools like students who aren’t simply math-y or science-y. Look into biochem and some other passion you have. I, for example, want to do biochem and Classical Studies.</p>