Hello!
I am a high school senior getting ready to fill out college applications. My dream is to go to medical school and become an ophthalmologist. For now, I need to find out what my undergrad major should be!
My dream school is Texas A&M, which is known for their biology program. I like bio, although I’m not crazy for the chemistry parts of it (3 on AP exam 
) . I also have a knack for English grammar (32 on English component of ACT), and I’m in my 4th year of French (AP). I know med schools don’t necessarily require a science related undergrad, although it is helpful to show that you can challenge yourself. What do y’all think I should do for a major? 
You pick a major because it interests you and hopefully because if you like material you’ll do well GPA wise which in part is something med schools care a great deal about. Med schools don’t care what you major is. Most kids pick bio, maybe because of interest, but also because major reqs and most premed reqs get satisfied at same time whereas if you major in say Art History, you’ll somehow have to fit premed reqs in. So you need to decide what you are interested in.
I’m interested in health related sciences (really anything I can tie in with ophthalmology), but I’m also interested in possibly doing French.
I wouldn’t let chemistry scare you aware from being a biology major. The chemistry requirements for a biology major are usually the same as the chemistry requirements for medical school (general and organic chemistry), so you’ll be taking chemistry regardless.
Thanks! Anyone else?
What kind of work would you be happy doing if you don’t get accepted into med school?
Not sure! Likely stay in the eye field, like an optometrist tech. If not, maybe a French translator/teacher.
I encourage you to major in biology, because of your interest in it and the large number of expanding medical professions that can be pursued (with a post-baccalaureate degree) in which biology is relevant: Physician, Optometrist (“Employment projected to grow 24 percent from 2012 to 2022…coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, English, and math needed to enter a program”), Dentist (“projected to grow 16 percent from 2012 to 2022…majoring in a science, such as biology, might increase the chances of being accepted, but no specific major is required to enter most dental programs”), Chiropractor (“projected to grow 15 percent from 2012 to 2022”), Podiatrist (“projected to grow 23 percent from 2012 to 2022”…but it’s a small field relative to the others I’m listing), Physician Assistant (“projected to grow 38 percent from 2012 to 2022”), Physical Therapist (“projected to grow 36 percent from 2012 to 2022…most programs require a bachelor’s degree for admission as well as specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, and physics”), Occupational Therapist (“projected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022…bachelor’s degree and specific coursework, including biology and physiology,” generally needed to enter a program), Speech-Language Therapist (“projected to grow 19 percent from 2012 to 2022”), etc. The average of all occupations’ expected job growth is about 10%. Becoming a Physician Assistant “usually takes at least 2 years of full-time postgraduate study.” Most of the others take 3-4 years. My source is the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To find their website for a given occupation google the job title followed by “job outlook.” Their table of job prospects of all occupations is at http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm .
Majoring in biology will enable you to feel “on course” to your objective of working with the eye.
You really could major in anything. I don’t think it’s helpful to show that you can challenge yourself; what’s helpful is satisfying the prerequisites with the highest possible GPA and MCAT scores.
Also, if you don’t get into med school, you don’t have to drop to optometry tech (by which I think you mean an optician)…you could become an actual optometrist, you know 
As you probably know, optometrists provide primary eye care - performing eye exams, prescribing glasses and contacts, and in some cases treating eye diseases. Ophthalmologists can do all of that but also perform eye surgery and handle more complex cases. Opticians fit and dispense glasses and other appliances for the eyes. There are also ophthalmic technicians, who make the glasses in labs.
If you like biology, then major in biology; you could minor in French or English. Or you could major in English or French and complete the prerequisites for med and optometry school at the same time (I think they’re pretty similar.)
I’ve been thinking about biomedical science. Would that be a smart decision? Could I find a job with that major if I don’t get in to medical school? I may do a double major/minor with French.