Is It Time To Rethink Your Pre-Med Major?
Many students who dream of going to medical school often choose to major in the sciences: Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, or any other related field of study. After all, you will be better prepared for medical school, right?
Not necessarily.
Actually, medical school admission committees are now looking to fill their classes with well-rounded students.
Even as breakthroughs in science and advances in technology make the practice of medicine increasingly complex, medical educators are looking beyond biology and chemistry majors in the search for more well-rounded students who can be molded into caring and analytic doctors.
This is great news, particularly for students who don’t exactly enjoy the sciences to the degree that they do other fields of study. It reinforces the fact that you can major in anything and still get into medical school. The odds are actually in your favor now.
The number of science majors applying to medical school has been steady for the past decade—about 65 percent of applicants major in biology or another physical science. What’s changing is who gets in.
Medical educators are favoring students who major in the arts, humanities, or related areas. In principle, this makes sense. The science that you learned as an undergraduate student is rarely used in medical school at best. Does it make practical sense, though?
Reinforcing The Generalist
You don’t necessarily have to be good at anything, as long as you are average in everything. This is the basic premise of the well-rounded student — as they adcoms would have us believe, anyway. It’s never this cut and dry, but the argument holds true.
In other words, students who are mediocre scientists but have great social skills should make better physicians than those with excellent science skills and mediocre social skills. This can’t be further from the truth, but is the basis for the change in admission preferences.
During my medical school experience, I saw students both with excellent grades and superb social skills. These were likely the same students who majored in chemistry and studied night and day during college. Along the same lines, I saw students in the top 3% of my class who absolutely sucked with patients. You cannot make generalizations, but that is exactly what the adcoms are doing.
Medicine is an age of specialists. The best physicians are extremely specialized while the general family practice physicians are considered a “jack of all trades, master of none.” This is not to say that generalists are bad physicians, but who would you want treating your hyperthyroidism — your family physician or an endocrinologist?
Consider the pediatric cardiac surgeon who specializes in congenital heart defects. Is this person well-rounded? Maybe in the social realm, but as a medical professional he is about as specialized as you can get.
Whether or not your child’s cardiac surgeon plays the oboe in the city symphony orchestra matters very little to you. What does matter is the fact that he has a firm grasp on the pathophysiology of congenital heart defects and knows how to diagnose, treat and cure them.
Good social skills are required for successful physicians. But, they should not be a substitute for excellence in one particular field.
What I Think
1. If you enjoy it, do it.
If you truly enjoy the sciences and can’t see yourself majoring in anything else, go for it. Being a science major doesn’t automatically make you poor applicant choice.
2. English majors perform better on the verbal reasoning section of the MCAT.
It’s been known for awhile that students who practice verbal reasoning and deduction throughout college outperform other students on the verbal reasoning section of the MCAT — often the most difficult section for students.
3. If you enjoy a wide variety of activities, you are not automatically well-rounded.
Likewise, if you study every waking minute, this does not mean you’re socially inept.
4. Students will adapt.
If changes to the selection process of medical schools change, so will the students applying. Just like many students shadow physicians or do some volunteer hospital work to pad their application, they’ll start to adapt and make themselves more “well-rounded” on paper.
5. It’s just a game.
Any changes to the admissions process is just another new rule in the ever-changing game of gaining a spot in medical school. Play the game well and you will be rewarded. This is your first set of hoops that you’ll jump through over the next four years. Put your shoes on because there will be many, many more.
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Brad S said
September 16 2007 @ 6:09 am
Couldn’t agree more that the application process for medicine is more about “jumping hoops” than it is about proving you’re the best person to fill the spot. I approve of how the application spotlight is turning to undergrads majoring in social science (and such) from those of the sciences. I wouldn’t like to see those of the sciences undervalued though, not just because I am one myself, but because having an interest centred on science doesn’t mean that you can’t appreciate other things. In fact, I believe science students are more likely to be broad-minded (or an “all-rounded” if you like), than someone who has majored in the humanities. I say this because the natural curiosity of most science grads causes them to look deeper into everyday things.
My experiences with the breadth of applicants with varying majors applying for medicine is that those of the physical sciences and mathematics are better “suited” and generally more successful. There is something about the student who gains good marks in physics and calculus that makes him appealing to the world of medicine. A bit of an oddity? Disagree? I’m an Australian (where the application process has the same spine as that of the American) and statistics have proven that physical science grads are more successful than the, generally thought of to be better suited, biological grads. As for the humanities grads, their success seems to be a roll of the dice. Which probably proves that the success of an applicant centres on the individual himself rather than what he majors in!
dr. know said
September 16 2007 @ 3:48 pm
You should major what you are interested in, but medicine IS science. If you do not like science, I would reevaluate your interests in medicine. This is not to say that as a physician, you don’t have to be a people person or enjoy liking people- you do. However as a physician you are going to have to continue to read medical journals that are science oriented for the rest of your life. You will have to be a people person AND understand and enjoy science. A science major is more useful/practical for medical school than say an English or Humanity major where you learned how write stories or you learned all of Shakespeare’s plays. In the end though, it does come down to the person.
Alyssa said
September 18 2007 @ 11:24 am
This is a pretty old story, there was a study done in the 90s that said that a great majority of pre-meds accepted to med school were Music majors. My thing is, they want you to be “well rounded” and possibly not a science major, but then I’m sure when all schools do their hallowed method of “evaluating if you made the best of the resources available to you” they’ll wonder why you didn’t get the more intense ‘pre-professional’ science classes now frequently only available to science majors. College is getting more compartmentalized these days, and the emphasis is on being more of a pre-med or nurse or humanities factory churning out its little job-ready citizens rather than a time of learning about yourself and the world around you. I’ve looked at some MCAT books and at my school, if you’re not a science major they probably wouldn’t go so in depth with what I need to know. I’m just saying: don’t be surprised as we approach the world of double standards here.
well rounded student said
September 22 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Bad advice.
The top schools improve their rankings through research funding and a significant portion of faculty is usually phDs or MDs that do research. Present a focused app that appeals to these people. If you have other scholarly interests, pursue them because you want to! (you will never have the time to do so again) and not because of some pathetic attempt to be well-rounded bc some article said it would improve your chances. My medschool is anything but well-rounded…
Best Medical Blogs - Week Ending September 28, 2007 | The Rejected | Where Real Life Meets Medicine said
September 28 2007 @ 1:58 am
[…] Is It Time to Rethink Your Pre-Med Major? Med School Hell […]
KCD said
September 28 2007 @ 7:36 pm
As usual, I love how you write. Your latest makes me think of “The Incredibles.” The family had been downplaying their abilities while trying to be mediocre and in the end, their strengths saved the world.
Our bodies are physical– medical schools should be looking for majors with science backgrounds. Medicines are chemicals that interact with out bodies and therefor chemistry and biology are great choices. Our bodies move in ways that are best described with physics. A degree in literature may be a nice thing to have– but it doesn’t make a great surgeon or even a good one. How many science majors are going to get MFA’s as a second degree? Advanced art degree colleges are not looking for someone who is well rounded and don’t give a damn if you can do calc or understand the difference between DNA and RNA. Scientists often make great artists but artists don’t usually make great scientists.
Crank! said
October 3 2007 @ 11:19 pm
Artists are stupid in a scientific sense. However, they make laugh much more enjoyable and that in and of itself can justify any career.
Brad Smith said
October 4 2007 @ 6:46 pm
KCD, it’s not so much what you know as a medical school applicant but how you think. Undergraduates with a humanities major often consider things in breadth, being able to understand different angles. This is proven evidence of an ability to think laterally and comprehensively. I’m not saying that a science major doesn’t have this ability, but pure knowledge on the difference between DNA and RNA or the regulation of translation doesn’t demonstrate these things, only rote learning!
(BTW, I’m a science student).
MD_M.D. said
October 5 2007 @ 2:50 am
I was surprised entering medical school this year at how many of my classmates are from very diverse educational backgrounds. Of course, many have been involved in basic sciences. But, plenty of others have been fine arts majors. Of a suite of 4 girls, we have a neuroscience/biochem major, a biology/philosophy major, a math major, and a painting major.
The only real uniting factor is that the people around me are ridiculously interesting, insightful, and involved. They are constantly on the lookout for ways to improve the world around them and to learn more about medicine or health in general. The words “well rounded” can seem trite and trivial, but I think it is absolutely a real-world phenomenon that is hard to pin down. It isn’t necessarily encapsulated by a long resume. Nor is it something that is demonstrated by volunteer hours or various hobbies. It’s more of a spirit, a sense of being, that makes a person interesting. While this may all sound like a bunch of touchy-feely nonsense, it’s out there. And schools are somehow able to readily cultivate it.
The best advice I can give someone is to truly know yourself before you apply to medical school. If your primary focus and aim in life is to get into medical school, you may be missing out on the bigger picture. Your primary focus and aim in life needs to be finding a way to use your talents to the utmost to serve those around you. If you aren’t comfortable with yourself, your talents, your goals, and your full being, take some time off to explore service work or research. You will not be upset that you did. Growing up a bit and presenting a fully mature (emotionally, spiritually, and intellectually) human being will get you far in your medical school application and will help you get the most out of your schooling and career.
dr. know said
October 6 2007 @ 1:52 pm
what happened to this blog??? no new posts in forever
Hoover said
October 7 2007 @ 2:28 am
Nothing has happened to it — New shit coming up. Hell, I’ve got a business to run.
=D
Med School Hell » The Best of Med School Hell 2007 said
December 31 2007 @ 12:28 am
[…] Is It Time To Rethink Your Pre-Med Major? […]
john said
July 25 2008 @ 8:56 pm
I graduated medical school in 1984, residency in 1987 and have practiced internal medicine in a small group practice for 21 years. I love my job and have no regrets. My advice to my children was to choose a major that one was passionate about, followed by real life work experience.Having sat on the board of admissions I was always more impressed with an applicant that brought more to the profession than a 4 year degree in bio or chem. Academically there was no deference in the standings between a science and nonscience major. The well rounded applicant seemed to better in private practice where in the end is what really matters. md
sampson boham said
August 23 2008 @ 9:20 am
i am a nursing major student and will like to complete my BACHILOR OF SCIENCE IN NURSING .but i will like to go to medical school after graduating as a bachilor of science in nursing .can i do that.
r.a. said
August 26 2008 @ 10:24 pm
To be brief, being well-rounded is very important. Aside from a career, what about having many perspectives of life? People must realize that there is much more to themselves and others than just a job. What about life itself? You can’t narrow it down to just one thing, not even your one career or passion, no matter how hard you try. We don’t realize that there is so much in this world that influences us. Those who think that “pure science” is the only thing in science, I’m sorry to say that you are completely misinformed. Those who think artists are a lazy bunch of freeloaders, please enlighten yourself. Just as a great doctor or scientist must work long hours and test their patience and drive, so must a great artist in order to hone their skill and their thought process. Neither of these are easy in the slightest, but both require the same skills. Analysis, logic, confidence, precision, and an endless amount of thought and creativity. Notice that I say “great”. There are many people in both of these professions, but the few who are truly successful embody all of these qualities.
P.S. I’m a double major.
P.P.S. Guess them.
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