<p>It seems logical to think that non-Science majors would be at a disadvantage when applying to medical school since they would have taken less science courses than those Science majors and less advanced science classes. But I have heard that it is actually beneficial to major in something non-science related? Can anyone clear this up?</p>
<p>Also, I will be a freshmen next year in college and am planning on majoring in Political Science with a possible minor in Economics. I will also be pre-med, as well. So obviously I will not have much room in my schedule to fit many science classes. I will fulfill all my pre-med requirements but I will probably only be taking intro-level science classes. Does it matter that I will not have taken advanced science classes and that I will not have as much science classes as a science major?</p>
<p>Yes it will, in two ways. Medschools don't care what you're major is( I think, although they might actually prefer non-science majors b/c they want to increase diversity). And its easier to get good grades in non-science than science.</p>
<p>Some med schools do care what your major is. At least one school has come out on record publicly stating their preference for science majors, so it seems likely that others privately hold such biases. However the data continues to show that the ratios of matriculants' majors are nearly identical to the ratios of applicants' suggesting that on the balance of things there are some schools which do value a diverse mix of majors and a great number of schools likely don't pay attention to the major.</p>
<p>what med school is that? </p>
<p>So basically taking only intro level science classes and not having any more science classes besides the pre-med requirements will not hurt me in any way?</p>
<p>seems kind of hard to believe</p>
<p>First, extra biology is usually recommended. Not a lot -- not enough to get a major in it by any means. But maybe an extra year, and going advanced in it at least a little bit.</p>
<p>Second, I'm sure BRM is right about that school. Case Western is on record as explicitly favoring non-science majors. (This is straight out of the mouth of their Dean of Admissions.) So while any given school might prefer science/non-science, the math shows that it's a wash.</p>
<p>Third, as S14 repeatedly seems to miss, the math shows that it's a wash without controlling for GPA and MCAT score. Admissions percentages are similar across the board despite some majors having mildly higher GPAs and some majors having noticeably higher MCAT scores. (You might be surprised to hear which is which, however.)</p>
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Third, as S14 repeatedly seems to miss, the math shows that it's a wash without controlling for GPA and MCAT score. Admissions percentages are similar across the board despite some majors having mildly higher GPAs and some majors having noticeably higher MCAT scores. (You might be surprised to hear which is which, however.)
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<p>I get what you are talking about. But the data doesn't indicate those that are weeded out in the process. For example, its is incredibly easy to fail freshman mechanics. So these physics and/or engineering majors would have to drop out of the premed track( really who would keep going on if their gpa is <3.0?). And yet for other majors(non science), its incredibly easy to get A's or at least a B. Its so easy that it seems that the only way to fail is to sign up for the class never go ( even for exams).</p>
<p>I would like to see your data. I suspect if what you say is true, then common sense tells us that the reason non science majors have mildly higher gpas, is that the major in question is easy. Now science majors that aren't weeded out are forced to work incredibly hard to obtain their mildly lower gpa. Those that put in the same effort as the humanities major probably got placed on academic probation let alone not applying to medschool. What this means is that despite the data, majoring in science still hurts the premed. </p>
<p>Of course, I suspect that its the science majors that have the higher MCAT scores you mentioned about. But this could be a natural consequence of 1) the higher average intelligence of science majors or 2) the amount of critical thinking the science majors demand of its students help prep for the MCAT. or 1)&2) But really I need to see the data before making this conclusion.</p>
<p>The assertion that science majors are intellectually superior is dubious, at best - though, as a bio major, I wish it were true (at least for myself). I personally have found that the critical thinking required in my humanities core classes (especially the year of philosophy) has equaled - if not surpassed - what is needed in most of the science classes I have taken in the past three years.</p>