What should I major in to get acceptance into med school if the college I attend does not have a pre-med track?
I want to ensure that my college credits are used wisely. #medicine #biology #pre-med #chemistry
4 answers
Richard’s Answer
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses. I chose to major in biochemistry because there was overlap with the premed requirements and I wanted to complete my degree in 3 years.
Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
James’s Answer
hi katie,
i'm quite a bit older than the dermatology resident who submitted an answer. but i couldn't agree more with that answer. my college didn't have a Pre-med minor. i sought out the college's Health Professions Advisor to find out which courses were prerequisites for Texas medical schools. i also learned that your choice of major was irrelevent. so i majored in Business. however, i'll readily admit that the majority of my medical school classmates had degrees in science, such as Biology or Chemistry. although i enjoyed my business school days, the drawback of any non-science major is that the medical school prerequisite courses are not part of those degree plans. so it took me 5 years to graduate from college.
once you start medical school all of those college credits vanish. everyone is back to square one.
good luck!
Farha’s Answer
Take biology and other science courses
Naiara’s Answer
Hi Katie,
You can have any major, as long as you take all the classes that are required for medical school admission. These requirements may vary based on the school, but usually include biology, physics, organic chemistry, calculus, etc. You can find these online. My college didn't have a pre-med program either. I majored in biology and had a minor in chemistry and Spanish. In addition, medical schools like students who are open-minded, have broad experiences, volunteer, and participate in diverse activities, so make sure to not just focus on your "classes". If you know which medical schools you would like to attend, I recommend that you start to read their websites for specific requirements.
This is a very useful website: https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/applying-medical-school-process
Good luck!