Written by: Megan Wang
Introduction
Before attending medical school, many prospective doctors will go on what is commonly known as the pre-med track. Contrary to popular belief, there is no such thing as a “pre-med major”; students are free to pick any major they like as long as they fulfill the prerequisites to apply for medical school. That being said, how should students choose a pre-med major, and is there a specific major that increases one’s chance of being accepted into medical school?
What are the prerequisite courses for medical school?
Before we discuss specific majors that a student might want to pursue in preparation for medical school, it is important to shine a light on the typical courses all prospective medical students must take. While specific prerequisites vary by school, the following prerequisites are the most common:
Biology (with an emphasis on cellular and molecular biology); lab experience required
Chemistry; there are many subsections of chemistry (eg. organic, inorganic, biochemistry), please check the requirements for various medical schools as prerequisites for chemistry vary; lab experience required
Physics; lab experience required or highly encouraged
Mathematics; once again, specific requirements vary by school (some will ask for calculus, others will require statistics)
Social sciences (psychology and sociology)
English (with writing)
How should students pick a pre-med major that is right for them?
Ultimately, students should pick a pre-med major that they are extremely passionate about, instead of picking a major that they believe will give them the highest chance of medical school admission. Most students do pick STEM majors as many of the required courses for their major do overlap with that of medical school prerequisites; however, there are increasing numbers of medical students who majored in the humanities. For students who plan to major in the humanities but would like to enroll in medical school, please take into account that you will probably have a heavier workload due to fulfilling both your major and medical school prerequisites. That being said, medicine does require the overlapping of STEM and humanities so you will have an advantage there.
How should I show my breadth in the humanities if I am a STEM major?
If you are majoring/planning to major in STEM, it would be beneficial to double major in a STEM field and humanities or take a minor in humanities. This will show that you are academically capable in a variety of subjects and can show your passion in a non-STEM subject, which can distinguish you from other applicants. Additionally, you can take courses that are medicine-related that also overlap with humanities, such as History of Medicine and Medical Terminology. Students are also encouraged to take foreign language courses so they can potentially communicate with patients in a variety of languages and better understand medical terminology.
What are the most popular pre-med majors?
Biological Sciences
Physical Sciences
Math and Statistics
Social Sciences
Humanities
Conclusion
While declaring a major may seem like an extremely important decision, please keep in mind that your major will NOT be the deciding factor between a medical school acceptance or rejection. Admissions committees will pay far more attention to your GPA, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. As long as you put in hard work and dedication into your studies, you will be sure to succeed in medicine regardless of your major!
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