<p>I would love to major in something sciencey...but I also know that medical schools would like something unique. Any ideas?</p>
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<li><p>Use the Search function (“Search this Forum” button on the upper right of the page) for “major”, you will get many hits for this FAQ.</p></li>
<li><p>Major in what you like.</p></li>
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<p>Whatever you’ll do well in.</p>
<p>something useful if you dont get into med school. A science major is worthless if you dont get into med school. No one wants to be a research…</p>
<p>So what about all the people with PhDs …</p>
<p>according to JIN they’re “no one”</p>
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If this is true, is it somewhat ironic to you that while >80-90% premeds who plan to apply to top medical schools have some research experiences under their belts and then say no one wants to be a researcher? (You may even say how enthusiastic you are about research during your interview.)</p>
<p>Also, when you are doing research as a premed, isn’t your mentor likely either a PhD candidate or a post-docs? You had better not show this kind of attitude when you expect to learn something from him/her! These students on the PhD/tenure track very likely know much more about their specialized science-y field than you.</p>
<p>I’ll have my D mention to her post-doc where she is doing her research internship that he is a “no one!” I’ll get back to you on how that went over.</p>
<p>ouch, JIN got slammed on that comment… CC being harsh today, sheesh </p>
<p>@ OP - follow a combination of what other’s have said: Major in something that interests you AND that you can excel in. I wouldn’t choose my major solely on the basis of it being “useful” in case you don’t get into med school, for a variety of reasons. Mainly because of the increasing # of students entering grad school (so their undergrad degree is less valued) and also because of the inherently non-optimistic outlook on your ability to get into med school.</p>
<p>I just reread what I just posted, it did sound harsh (somewhat “thou holier than thee” tone), for which I apologize here.</p>
<p>But it is sometimes disturbing to me that many premeds seem to “leach” from these research groups, but subconciously think they are better than the full-time researcher who put their blood and sweats on the research. Most PIs actually rely more on these PhD-track students than most of the premeds who have a stint in “their” research labs.</p>
<p>GA2012MOM, MCAT2, and all science students</p>
<p>Even though I agree with your suggestions, I doubt that Jason (if in pre-med) has the guts to say it to his science TA’s or professors. Nonetheless, I think that Jason’s point reflects a belief or truth that medical schools are in favor of non-science students because </p>
<p>1) The more difficult MCAT VR favors them
2) Their relatively weak science background is masked by a relatively easier PS & BS in MCAT
3) They tend to have more exciting personal experiences and EC’s (not just in the lab.)
4) They tend to be better story tellers</p>
<p>As a pre-med science student, one will have to recognize these current trends and adapt to the requirements. It is indeed possible that sciences are boring majors in the eyes of medical school admcom. If one can sing in a night club, he/she stands a better chance of getting into some medical schools simply because he/she is not so boring. This is what I was told on this forum. </p>
<p>I am an engineer in the aerospace sector. Many of my colleagues were majoring in science. Some of them got advanced degrees in engineering. It is a rewarding career with pretty reasonable pay and work hours. Believe or not, today’s engineers/scientists need to be like a manager, a salesman, or a lawyer because many engineers/scientists will be working with suppliers, customers, and domestic/foreign partners. So, as a science/engineering student, you may want to sharpen your ability in these areas. It will also help you in your pursuit of the MD. Good luck to all!</p>
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I do… among many other things. R&D is fascinating.</p>
<p>Alright new question. What would I be able to be with a science major if I don’t get into medical school?</p>
<p>PZB,</p>
<p>You could try Pharmacy. Otherwise, I think that it is a good idea to get an advanced degree in science or engineering. If you stay in science, you can get into drug and biotech companies. If you would like to get into engineering, the following are some examples:</p>
<p>1) Chemistry - good for Chemical engineering, Materials Engineering, etc.
2) Biology - good for Biomedical engineering
3) Physics - good for Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Civil Engineering </p>
<p>The following link has the salary comparison:</p>
<p>[Best</a> Undergrad College Degrees By Salary](<a href=“http://www.payscale.com/best-colleges/degrees.asp]Best”>Common Jobs for Majors - College Salary Report)</p>
<p>Others may have better info on this. Good Luck!</p>
<p>Lets be honest, if you get trying to get med school, your fallback plan is not going to be engineering. Most likely it will be Research. If you were shooting for Med school, chances are you pictured your self saving lives and doing biology when you were little, not building interstates and bridges. Your safety career most likely wasnt engineering.</p>
<p>So if you dont get into med school, you are stuck going to grad school for your Ph.D and academic research. Most researchers are NOT American post-docs. Take a stroll around any top 20 University research labs. The majority of researchers are immigrants from Russia, Japan, Taiwan, China, and India. This suggests that Research is very unappealing to smart American Ph.D’s from top schools.</p>
<p>Lets be honest, if you dont get into med school with a biology degree, you are sincerely screwed.</p>
<p>jason, why can’t it be engineering? Why can’t engineering be research? Rhetorical question.</p>
<p>
Please don’t feed this ■■■■■…</p>
<p>Please, do explain.^^^</p>
<p>IF you were truly interested in engineering, why in the world would u be wasting your time on Premed requirements and prepping the MCAT? You would be studying for GRE for grad school or getting internships at Intel/Siemens/ GE. </p>
<p>What would YOU do with a BS in Bio? If you dont get into med school to become a doctor , you are stuck with research. Your earning power goes from 250k to 60k a year. How happy would you be?</p>
<p>"Lets be honest, if you get trying to get med school, your fallback plan is not going to be engineering. " - Why not? Lots are going to BM engineering and one Adcom rep. in one of info sessions has mentioned that Med. Schools adcoms actually favor BM engineers. The most researchers are immigrants because their k-12 education is much stronger with much stronger backgound in math and sciences which allow anybody (not just selected best few) to pursue any science/engineering degree in college, while lots of american college kids fall short in their background in these areas and fall out of science/ engineering majors.</p>
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</p>
<p>[The</a> Real Science Gap | Miller-McCune Online](<a href=“miller-mccune.com”>miller-mccune.com)</p>
<p>This is an interesting article about a career in science.</p>
<p>I don’t think a Phd is the best alternative if you get a bio degree and don’t make it to med school. I would first look into other health professions like PA, nursing, pharmacy, etc. Then if that doesn’t work out then go into business and get an MBA. You don’t want to spend 7 years getting that PhD only to be stuck in endless post-docs until you are like 40 praying for an opportunity for tenure position. </p>
<p>Even tho a bio degree is useless it is still better than many other liberal art majors. A bio degree can qualify for a majority of jobs the LA majors have but it is not the same the other way around. LA majors can’t apply for research labs, forensic, and science-oriented types jobs.</p>