Hi,
Does having a major unrelated to Biology or Chemistry (any major not in the college of sciences for a certain university) count as a disadvantage for a student in premed who will go on to do the MCAT (with the primary goal being Med school obviously)?
Thanks!
No.
Nope. Can’t cite the source but I remember reading 40% of med school students were not STEM majors. Study whatever you like.
Med schools do not care what your major is. Pick a major in an area you are interested in because if you like material you’re more likely to do well (GPAs) which is what med schools care, in part, a great deal about. Most premeds tend to choose bio as major, maybe because of interest, but also because bio major reqs and premed reqs tend to get satisfied at same time whereas if you’re say a psych major you’ll have to find a way to fit in premed reqs.
https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/
Table 18 reflects that most applicants/matriculants are bio or physical science majors but many are not.
Oh okay thanks! But doesn’t having a biology or chemistry major prepare you better for the MCAT? Or do the premed requirements give equal preparation to all students?
College profs don’t teach bio, chem, etc for MCAT pep. They just teach bio, chem, period. Although premed science courses provide background for MCAT, when time comes, you’ll either have to get prep materials and study on your own, or take formal prep course (Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc.).
MCAT prep, not pep. My bad.
While genetics and perhaps anatomy may be useful for the MCAT, most advanced bio classes have zero usefulness for the MCAT.
Many students do quite well on the MCAT with just the basic requirements.
Time to bring this article out again: http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2013/5/16/mcat-test-prep-premed/