<p>Just wondering if majoring in a liberal arts major would hinder one's chances at doing very well on the MCAT. I know that the MCAT tests just basic sciences and is more of a reasoning/critical thinking test, but do the sciences or liberal arts better prepare one for that kind of thinking and analysis and would the extra sciences you learn as a Bio/Biochem/Neurobio, etc. major help you on the MCAT (any sort of edge?)?</p>
<p>no it doesnt matter.</p>
<p>Anyone on this forum a liberal arts/humanities-type major that could provide some input too?</p>
<p>Of course it matters.</p>
<p>Spending several years studying the sciences at a level beyond the basics which are explicitly tested on the MCAT helps you with the PS/BS sections in two ways: first, you will develop your abilities to reason through complex scientific problems and apply tricky concepts in new ways. Secondly, you will see more material. There are only so many basic concepts out there, and if you’re exposed to enough of them, you’ll find that concepts which are “explained to you for the first time” in passages will be old news.</p>
<p>This isn’t to say that you can’t do exceptionally well without having extra science background, but it’d be silly to conclude that having extra exposure to the base of material the MCAT writers draw from for passages and the reasoning skills which are essential to success on the MCAT won’t help you.</p>
<p>Or you can look at the numbers:</p>
<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/download/161692/data/table18-facts2010mcatgpabymaj1-web.pdf.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/download/161692/data/table18-facts2010mcatgpabymaj1-web.pdf.pdf</a> (linked to from <a href=“https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/data/facts/applicantmatriculant/</a> )</p>
<p>Bottom line is that it isn’t going to hurt to take the extra courses, but it won’t necessarily help all that much either. So take it if you are interested and have the space.</p>
<p>exactly, look at the numbers. not really going to matter</p>
<p>I don’t think your numbers refute what I am saying as clearly as you think they do.</p>
<p>Looking at the 2010 matriculant data, the highest mean total MCAT score is for math and statistics students (32.8). Physical sciences students also scored high (32.2) compared to biological sciences students (30.8) and specialized health sciences students (29.5). I suspect this is because math, statistics, and physical sciences courses require far more scientific reasoning and actual critical thinking than biological sciences and health oriented courses.</p>
<p>Humanities and social sciences students didn’t do much worse than the math, statistics, and physical sciences students. But the biological sciences and specialized health sciences students overall didn’t do as well as others. Even on the BS section of the test, physical sciences students beat biological science students :D.</p>
<p>Plus, if you have the experience of taking a bunch of AAMC practice exams and the actual MCAT and finding that the majority of passages on the BS and PS section talk about stuff you’re already familiar with due to prior knowledge outside the official scope of the test, you’ll appreciate taking those extra courses.</p>
<p>im not saying upper level science classes wont help. im saying it wont matter what you major in for mcat purposes. OP should major in something he enjoys, not just to do well on the mcat. the data clearly show that it doesnt really matter.</p>
<p>Being a biochem major dropped my studying time by probably a third, but I don’t think it raised my score really. Not so much that I would have wanted to major in something that wasn’t my interest, risking my GPA.</p>
<p>where do you plan on going viggyram? just curious</p>
<p>I have no AP credit, so will I have the time to take many upper level sciences before the MCAT anyways (regardless of major)? </p>
<p>This is a rough idea of what I though my schedule (sciences only)would be like before the MCAT:
Semester 1 - Biology I, Chemistry I
Semester 2 - Biology II, Chemistry II, Calculus I
Semester 3 - Organic Chemistry I, Genetics, Calculus II
Semester 4 - Organic Chemistry II, (upper level science course that might help on MCAT), Physics I, Bio lab
Semester 5 - upper level science course(s) that might help on MCAT + get some easier Core Curriculum classes out of the way while prepping for MCAT, chem lab
Semester 6 - Physics II, upper level science courses, physics lab, organic chemistry lab</p>
<p>*As you can tell, I didn’t include Physics II as part of my schedule. I don’t have AP Physics credit, but I also heard that the physics on the MCAT doesn’t really require that much university-level physics. I also read that BDM says that Calculus can help for physics at the university-level, so that’s why I planned to have Calculus I and II out of the way before I take Physics I. However, I’m not sure if the way I planned physics and calculus are advisable or proper, so I’m looking for insight on that. </p>
<p>But, the main question is, since I <em>think</em> I only have time for 2 or 3 upper level science courses, would those help me significantly on the MCAT? Looking for input. And, I haven’t decided what I want to major in. I plan on experimenting a little my first year by taking courses I would like to take outside the sciences while fulfilling some Core requirements…just to clarify that I’m not choosing a major based on what will give me the best chance at a good MCAT score, but instead based on what I enjoy after my sciences + experimenting my first year.</p>
<p>EDIT: Also, I’m not sure how and where to fit in the labs.</p>
<p>I’m curious as to why you are taking Calc II as opposed to maybe Stats? IIRC, there are only 2 or 3 med schools that require a full year of Calculus. As far as the labs go, my D always had her labs in conjunction with the course.</p>
<p>@GA2012MOM, I thought 2 semester of Calculus was the norm for medical school requirements. I guess I was mistaken. Is there a website or resources that links us to/has every medical schools requirements that I can see so that I can better plan my schedule? </p>
<p>After what you said GA2012MOM, I guess I’d substitute Statistics for Calculus II. </p>
<p>Would epidemiology be an accepted substitute for statistics? I feel like epidemiology would be a better course to take because it could be used towards my degree (if i pursue a degree in the Biological Sciences) and it seems like more interesting statistics.</p>
<p>The MSAR has the requirements, although it’s not terribly specific. In general medical schools focus on department name, so epidemiology would only count if it were in the Statistics or the Math department.</p>
<p>Thanks BDM. I’d like to go back to the initial discussion now and the schedule I posted that highlights how much room I have for upper level sciences. Looking to carry on the discussion of Liberal Arts v. Sciences and would like to know how many upper level science courses I would even have time for if I come in without APs (generally speaking, I know it depends on how well I’m doing + how many semester hours I’m willing to take, etc.).</p>
<p>based on what I’ve read on s d n, the three most popular, non-required courses for the mcat are (in alpha order): biochem, genetics and physiology. But students report that it really depends on the test administration – some have more passages where biochem helps whereas others have a passage or two where extra genetics might have helped.</p>
<p>Since the mcat has made clear that changes-are-a-comin, and biochem may be required in 2015+ (possibly in lieu of second semester orgo), that appears to be the course that is becoming most important of the three. </p>
<p>If you will be an applicant in '15+, best to keep up with whatever changes maybe approved, which includes the addition of social science courses. And of course, be aware which med schools require what courses…a few require biochem, for example.</p>
<p>Otherwise, take what interests you most, or which course has a great teacher, or which fits better into your schedule.</p>