<p>I'm so lost in my search for a major at Tulane....</p>
<p>I had originally planned to do
Cell & Molecular Biology Major -- Chemistry Minor</p>
<p>Then I was told that I am not restricted to taking a Science for my major to be a competitive applicant for Medical School....</p>
<p>So now I'm left with three majors which all seem to appeal equally to me...</p>
<p>Philosophy
Asian Studies
and Psychology....</p>
<p>I figured it would be safest to at least minor in Cell & Molecular; but I wanted to figure out if anyone had any experience with those three majors, and how strong their departments are. Would any be particularly beneficial?</p>
<p>I can only tell you some information on Asian Studies, because it is one of my D’s two majors. It is a good department with numerous choices, and it is expanding. Tulane received a nice grant from the Dept. of Education to expand their China Studies area, and they are hiring new faculty and placing more emphasis on study in China, etc.</p>
<p>Philosophy and Psychology have always been two of the more popular majors at Tulane, so I would think they are very good departments, but I don’t have a lot of first hand info on those two.</p>
<p>You are correct that you can major in anything and still be pre-med. The most beneficial major is the one you like best. Take a course or two in each area your first 3 semesters, then decide what you like. That’s the whole idea.</p>
<p>Can you tell me your D’s experience with Asian Studies? What’s her second major?</p>
<p>English (Creative Writing). She is just a freshman so her experience is a bit limited, but she has very much enjoyed her Chinese language class, and the History of China class I know has been very good as well. She is also very pleased with the people running the department, and there are great opportunities for studying in China, with the Chinese government apparently paying the way for a few students. I don’t know the details on that last one, or if that will be available in the future.</p>
<p>I also know that Tulane has had a very strong Japanese studies program for quite some time and has long standing and close ties to some universities there. Again, I don’t know details beyond that. I have no information about their programs for Korea, Vietnam, India, or other Asian countries.</p>
<p>On visit to Tulane I met a jazz piano major, a dance major and a Jewish studies major all of whom were pre-med. Tulane seems to have some special program so you can be a non-traditional (read “biology”) major and take care of all your pre-med requirements. I LOVE this! I speak with some experience here. Med schools are awash in bio/chem majors. Stand out. Do something you love. Excel at your pre-med prerequisites, of course, but you will get more attention if you come from outside of bio AND have credentials in something you love. Suggestion- how about Asian Studies with junior semester doing research on the medical traditions of China? How cool would that be to a med school admissions officer?
-Mom, M.D., Ph.D. (and bio major in my day)</p>