If I want to become a doctor, what is the best major for me?
A lot of the colleges I'm considering don't have a "pre med" major, so I'm looking into majors such as biochemistry, biology, and chemistry. Do medical schools have a preference? #medicine #major #college #college-major #healthcare #hospital-and-health-care #biology #chemistry #academic-advising
4 answers
Ria’s Answer
Hi Sabrina! You are right, many colleges do not have a "pre-med" major because that is considered a track. By that I mean that you can pick any major as long as you complete the pre-med track requirements. While taking a science is a great option, many med schools appreciate the diversity of majors as it shows you are skilled in a field outside of the typical STEM majors that pre-med students take. I don't have a great level of experience in this area as I was not pre-med myself, but consulting with your school's pre-med advisory team would be a great idea.
Selima’s Answer
The best major would be Biology because it allows you take the science you need for medical school.
Richard’s Answer
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses.
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
I chose biochemistry because there was overlap with the premed requirements and I wanted to complete my degree in 3 years.