<p>Hi, I'm a senior and I'm currently deciding on a major. I know that I want to go to medical school, and I was thinking about doing biology. But, I understand that UVa is ridiculously rigorous and I don't want to destroy my GPA. I was thinking about doing kinesiology w/ a minor in bioethics or anthropology w/ a minor in spanish studies. It seems like everyone at UVa is a genius, but for someone who isn't (me) what would the best major be?</p>
<p>All pre-med students must take certain core classes: Gen Chem (2 semesters), Orgo (2 semesters), Bio (2 semesters), Physics (2 semesters), Calculus and/or Stat, English (2 semesters for most med schools), and biochem. Many med schools also require certain humanities-based classes. Med schools prefer you take core classes at your university rather than using AP credit to fulfill them. Furthermore, they frown on taking the science courses in the summer. Consequently, many applicants choose to major in bio or chem simply because it’s the easier path toward gaining their degree and fulfilling all requirements. You are correct in that GPA is critical when applying. Few who start off pre-med in college actually wind up applying to med school, and on top of that, of those who do apply, only 45% will gain an acceptance. With this in mind, my advice is to choose a major you find interesting and one that has some marketable job prospects in the event med school doesn’t pan out for you. One other bit of advice, if you are fearful of not being able to keep up with the “geniuses”, you might want to reconsider your pursuit of medicine. The only ones who get in to med school are those who work hard and are at the top of their class. You’ll go on to med school with these individuals, and it doesn’t get any easier but rather significantly more difficult.</p>
<p>^Couldn’t have said it better myself.</p>
<p>Honestly, just study something that you enjoy. I have met way too many people here who start out as “pre-med” and sacrifice their social life and college experience to keep up with the pre-med course load when they clearly are not cut out for it. And you know what? Most/all of them don’t end up enrolling into medical school. You can’t take these four years back and many regret having “wasted” their time in college trying to pursue something that they didn’t end up doing.</p>
<p>If you can handle the course load, that is great. But remember that while GPA is very important, so are your MCAT scores (and oftentimes the two go hand in hand). If you are just barely passing organic chemistry, chances are you will not score competitively on your MCAT.</p>
<p>So, I suggest fulfilling the pre-med reqs while not completely locking yourself into it. Study something that truly interests you. If you can handle the pre-med classes, that is great. If you can’t, then at least you are studying something that you are passionate about while hopefully joining clubs and getting the most of your four years here.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice!</p>
<p>FYI - I believe the 45% med school acceptance number mentioned above is a nationwide number, not a UVa number.</p>
<p>Also, beware of other colleges that say that “90% of med school applicants recommended by our college are admitted to med school.” Those other colleges have a committee that only recommends students who have the top credentials at that college, and tells you nothing about the acceptance rate of all med school applicants at that college.</p>
<p>I imagine med schools are sophisticated enough to know which universities have done a great job in recent years of preparing previous college students for their med school.</p>
<p>charlieschm…Yes, the 45% acceptance rate is a national average not a UVA average. I’m uncertain what UVA’s average is. From a purely anecdotal point of view, D is applying this cycle and has been accepted to numerous schools thus far. Similarly, the three other UVA students she knows who are applying have also secured at least one acceptance which for med school, is what everyone shoots for…if you get more great, but most consider themselves lucky to have at least one. She knows several UVA students who have elected to take a gap year(s). I believe around 50% of students elect to take a gap year now. Trying to study for the MCAT and apply to schools (complete numerous secondary essays, etc.) while attending class is quite challenging. Furthermore, many choose to wait so that they can enhance their application with additional research, shadowing, etc.</p>
<p>JC not to put you on the spot but a very helpful post for some on this site, (Not me my S is not a premed 
) would be if you could give the GPA range of the students your speaking of say from low to high. It would give prospective pre meds a sense of the strength of the UVA name in med school admissions. Most posts I see regarding med school seem to always put down anyone without a 3.9 or 4.0 for med school and encourage people to go to the less competitive school to max out their GPA. I find it hard to believe that some consideration isn’t given to the competitiveness of a given applicants school is considered. Just a suggestion. :)</p>
<p>Mamalumper, I really don’t know for certain what the GPA/MCAT scores are of D’s friends. I do know, though, that they all have high GPAs. I feel the reputation of the UG does carry some weight, albeit very little, in the med school admissions game. Adcoms recognize med school is exorbitantly expensive; oftentimes, top hs candidates will elect to attend their state public or a private with merit over other choices in effort to save money for med school. GPA + MCATs get applicants past that initial screening at many schools. After that, ECs, including research, volunteering, shadowing, etc. are scrutinized. From there, candidates are extended interviews. USNWR Compass and the MSAR can provide info for each school as to the percentage of applicants invited for interviews, average GPAs and MCATs, etc. It’s critical that applicants apply to numerous schools (~15+) and apply to several with averages below their own. Unlike UG, there simply is no “safety” in this process. Again, most feel fortunate to gain one acceptance. Applicants can plot their GPA/MCAT and gauge their chances on the following chart:
<a href=“http://edge.studentdoctor.net/wamc/All_Applicants.png[/url]”>http://edge.studentdoctor.net/wamc/All_Applicants.png</a>
As with the UG process, this varies if you are an URM.</p>
![http://edge.studentdoctor.net/wamc/All_Applicants.png[/url]](http://edge.studentdoctor.net/wamc/All_Applicants.png%5B/url%5D){kind=link}
