So I’ve heard that med schools don’t really care about triple majors, even the high ranking ones? If I’m wrong then correct me here and topic finished.
I was wondering why that was the case as in most schools taking more majors means more credits/classes taken which would translate to harder semesters. If I maintain a 4.0 (or theoretical gpa) regardless of the more majors, why would med schools give the same weight to another applicant with only one major? If it’s because different schools have different rules for major then I guess topic also finished here. It is just frustrating that more work done is not reflected by the med school applicant reviewers…
Btw I’m a now finished freshman so thanks for the help.
They really truly don’t care what your major is at all. What matters is your GPA, your MCAT, that you got through the pre-med coursework, and that you fulfilled the volunteer/job shadow requirements.
It is not a matter of quantity, as you seem to think, but rather quality. Med schools may feel that a triple major is someone who is unable to decide on an academic focus.
I was more thinking along the lines of the time spent on the extra major could better be used doing some meaningful community service that exposes you to health challenges people face as well as cultural approaches to health.
Yes, a triple major can prevent you from doing other things like taking a wider variety of courses and spending time on other pursuits. Even if you have interests in three academic subjects, you don’t need to major in all of them.
Medical schools are not looking for academic automatons–those are a dime a dozen. Medical schools are looking for people who are not only intellectually/academically capable of the work, but also people who have demonstrated the qualities that make a successful clinical practitioner–including altruism, service to others, leadership and “people skills”.
For the list of competencies expected in entering med students, go here: [AMCAS: Competencies for Entering Medical Students](Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students | AAMC)
A triple major won’t impress med school admission committees–adcomms really don’t consider what your major is.
What about your triple major makes you think you will be a better physician than someone with a single major? Or to put it another way: Why does a 4.0 where the classes fit neatly into 3 relatively arbitrary categories decided upon by the institution sound more impressive to you than a 4.0 where the courses fit nearly into 3 categories as decided upon by the student but not endorsed by the institution?
Medical school admissions is not about selecting the best or smartest students. It’s about selecting the best potential physicians.