I will be a freshman at Penn State this fall. I’ve currently narrowed myself down to four options: Biochemistry, Biochemistry w/ Molecular and Cellular Biology, General Biology, and Premedicine. I plan on going to med school after college, so I am looking for a major that I will be able to maintain a high GPA in as well as one that will adequately prepare me for the MCAT. I feel that a general Biology major would be the easiest option, however, I wonder if Premedicine would be the best option? I have also heard that a Biochemistry major prepares you well for the MCAT. I appreciate any help I can get on this matter!
Biochemistry is a good choice for someone interested in Medical School. Probably better than Biology. I cannot say what the premedicine degree is but my instinct says that having a degree in a specific topic gives you the best options should you not decide to follow up with Medical School. Generally the pre-med studies are not a degree, they are simply a collection of courses that are required for Medical School and your major can be anything else.
Biochem a good course to take ahead of MCAT. But besides a bachelor degree, premed courses required for admission to most med schools and that serve as background material for MCAT are just basic science courses taught at most colleges. They are not intended to prep people for MCAT as they tend to be open to pretty much any student with an interest, premed or not. When it comes down to actually prepping for MCAT, you’ll probably either have to get a hold of MCAT study materials and study on your own, or take a formalized MCAT review course (eg Kaplan, Princeton Review, etc). A better question may be to investigate which major is a better Plan B as most people who start as premed will never see the inside of a med school as a student. Good luck.