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What should I major in for Pre-Med

I want to be a doctor, but I am getting mixed answers to what I should major in. First I heard Biology, but then I heard that this is too generic and I should major in a humanity. If I majored in a humanity what would look best to medical schools? I am interested in Philosophy, but am worried that medical schools will not like that or if I later decide I do not want to be a doctor, I will not be able to get a job.

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Linda’s Answer

Biology. This is a great basis for what you will need to understand human cellular function, anatomy, physiology and the normal homeostasis of the different organ systems. You can always minor in another subject that interests you to round out your other interests. Good luck.
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Richard’s Answer


Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
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
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Yi’s Answer

I think Biology is a good choice, it includes many premed courses. It is realistic if you want to be a MD. Of course if you really like Philosophy, you can find some elective courses about it.
I think Medicine is a complicated career. Your interest in Philosophy will absolutely be helpful. Remember no matter what your choice is, you need to work hard on it.
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Mark’s Answer

I would follow your interests and find a way to make it work. You will do better studying something that you like and enjoy, rather than something you feel you should do. There are plenty of people studying biology going into medical school. You will actually likely stand out and be remembered if you study something different. I was a sociology major. There were only about 100 sociology majors in the whole country that went on to medical school the year I entered. Many of the people interviewing me for medical school where interested to talk about what I had studied, since they had not seen many sociology majors. I do not think the 'nontraditional' major is a barrier to admission.

You should, however, understand that you will have to work hard in college and include the basic 'premed' courses as electives -which may have automatically been included in your studies if you majored in Biology. Also, you will need to work harder your first year in medical school if you have not been studying some of the information as much as someone who majored in it. You will not have a deep a background in some of the courses taught the first 2 years. I think that after the first 1-2 years this difference becomes less apparent (as you enter clinical rotations in years 3 and 4).
Good luck!
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