Hi,
I am applying as a Humanities Major; specifically history. However, I am trying to go down the premed route. In regards to small LACs (I’m mostly applying here) and also smaller-sized research universities, would it be difficult to find Biology Research as a History major? I am willing to major in Bio as it geniunely interests me, but I like History a lot too and it would distinguish me in med school apps. However, I don’t want this major to limit my opportunities. I’m pretty sure I would be good considering these LACs have a lot of high level research, but few undergrad students. However, I would urgently like as much advice as I could get because I need to submit my Major choices and applications within a week!
Thank you.
Edit: I’m applying to higher ranked LACs (mostly top 20 ones) and the research universities are Brandeis and Boston College
Maybe you could double major in history and biology or minor in biology.
@Coloradomama I was considering double majoring. Should I apply as a Bio major on the Common App to ensure that I am not cut off from these research opportunities? And then, when I actually get into college, declare a History major.
Thanks for the speedy response.
I don’t think what you write as your major on the Common App maters for research you would get after you get to a college. You will have to interview with professors to get research work, and each professor may have criteria for his or her lab. Some may want computer programmers, others may want biology majors, others may want other lab skills, or equipment skills. (that you may gain in biology or chemistry labs in college, or high school if you concurrently enrolled, took AP labs etc )
At LACs you can change your major, so you can figure that out once you are there. If you are applying to larger state schools, that make it difficult to change majors, I would major in biology to start, I am sure you can still switch once you are there, and figure out the lay of the land as far as how to get a research project.
The other way to figure this out, is write directly to biology professors now, say at Brandeis, and ask them if
they would take a history major premed in their labs, or if they believe you need to be a biology major to work in their lab. Its going to vary project by project.
Also, medical schools are looking for more math and spastics majors, due to how much more quantitive things are getting for medicine. (imaging, testing, drug dosing are all quantitive. )
Pre-meds can have any major, but need to complete the pre-med courses, earn high grades in everything, earn a high MCAT score, and do the expected pre-med extracurriculars (shadowing, volunteering in health care and helping the poor/disadvantaged/unlucky, etc.) to have any possibility of getting into medical school.
About half of applicants to medical schools are biology majors, which means that the other half major in something else.
@Coloradomama About your comment pertaining to how medical schools are looking for math majors, is this prominent? Generally, the notion is that a non-stem major makes applicants stand out and this is the first time I’ve heard anyone say this
My son is actually doing this-double major in biology and history as a pre-med. He is also considering a minor in Computer Science as there is a possibility that he is going on a Computational Biology track.
Good computer skills are helpful for somebody working in a Biology lab, especially database and data mining.
A non-STEM pre-med doesn’t necessarily stand out one way or the other since the same classes (Biology, General and Organic Chemistry, Calculus, Physics, Biochemistry) need to be taken and the BCMP GPA needs to be high enough.
@Hamurtle Thanks for the reply. Wow, your son’s academic record is excellent. Is he going to still be able to graduate within four years, given the number of majors/minors he is doing? Additionally, just out of curiousity, does he go to a state school or a LAC or a private univ? I’m not sure if which one of these 3 would be more friendly towards doublemajoring
Generally, ease of having more than one major depends on how voluminous the requirements for each major are, and how voluminous the general education requirements that do not overlap with the majors are, not whether the college is public or private.
Are you actually interested in bio research, or is it because you think it’s important for med school admission? If it’s the latter, according to 2015 survey below, med schools only consider research of medium importance in evaluating applicants. You don’t have to have research experience to be a viable med school applicant.
https://www.aamc.org/download/462316/data/mcatguide.pdf
p14, Table 1
@Neurotic2027 he goes to WashU. Probably close to 2/3 of the students there are double majors or have a major/double minor. The majority of double majors are able to graduate in 4 years. Although typically those students will take at the minimum 18 semester units, which can be 5-6 classes.
In his case next semester, he has a killer class schedule (Physics E/M, 2 CompSci classes, 2 Biology classes, and a History class comparing the French and Haitian Revolutions).
It’s easier to double major at a private school or LAC, but it is difficult if it’s an odd combination like Biology and History. Although there was a freshman in his dorm last year who was a Computer Science/History double major.
For a pre-med, it’s probably better to focus on 1 major and take the prerequisites for medical school.
Med schools don’t tell people to pick easy, medium or hard majors. One’s choice of major, double major, demanding major (eg engineering), etc is solely on you. There’s nothing distinguishing about your major(s) selection if your grades suffer because you’ve bitten off more than you can chew. Med schools simply do not care what you in, or whether you double major, major/minor, etc. Med schools do however require a bachelor’s degree and completion of premed reqs. Most premeds choose bio, perhaps out of interest, but also because of course overlap…it satisfies bio and most premed reqs at same time.
As most premeds who start as premed change their minds and of those who actually get to point applying fail to get even one acceptance anywhere, consider a major that can be a Plan B should you change your mind.