i want to go into medical school in the future, what should i major in in college?

Question

i want to go to UC davis for both college and med school, but they don't have a pre-med major, so what do i major in??

Answer 1

Most universities do not offer a major in "pre-med" because it's not a major, its an advising track.

That means that at good colleges and universities, there are "pre-med" or "pre-health" advisors who help students take all the courses that medical schools require for admission, like calculus, a couple of years of chemistry (including organic), a couple of years of bio, etc. "Pre-med" advisors also help students get volunteer positions in local hospitals, or summer internships shadowing local physicians. Usually, med school aspirants end up majoring in biology or chemistry.

However, in the past decade, I have seen a trend in medical school admissions toward favoring candidates who demonstrate their "well-roundedness" as human beings by double majoring in a science (like bio or chem) AND something very different (like art history, or religious studies, or economics, or engineering). Med schools seem to love this.

My advice would be to major in a subject for which you have passion. And make sure you take all the necessary science courses as well. You may end up fulfilling all of the requisites for a double major by both "following your bliss" and covering your requirements.

Answer 2

Major in whatever the hell you want, and just be sure to take all the classes that are required for med school admission (there aren't that many), and beyond that, take classes you're interested in.

Virtually all med schools require:
One year of biology (probably a general intro class is best)
One year of general chemistry
One year of organic chemistry
One year of physics (general/intro is best)

About half of US med schools require:
English (specifically, a course that teaches you to write)

About a quarter of US med schools require:
Calculus
Humanities
Psychology or social science

Also, most medical schools require some amount of experience (volunteer or payed) in a hospital or other medical setting.

You can check the specific requirements for Davis, but you should still try to fill all the requirements listed, just in case you don't get into Davis.

I don't think there are any schools that have just "pre-med" as a major, because then what, you'd graduate with "a BA in pre-medicine?" That just doesn't make sense. The general deal is that you are a pre-med [something] major. The most common thing is a pre-med biology major, but I know people are are pre-med history majors. If you major in something other than biology, you'll avoid most of the classes that are full of brutally competative pre-med kids, so you'll probably end up with a higher GPA that way.

Answer 3

Generally chemistry, biochemisty, or biology...
You technically don't need a science major to get into med school... but even so, most have course requirements which include 1 yr. of biology, 2 yrs of chemistry (1 organic and 1 inorganic) 1 yr physics and usually like 1 yr. of english.
So if you could fit all of that in in addition to, say a bachelor's in french studies, then go for it.
Check the website of the med school. They should have the detailed entrance requirements.
Good Luck!

Answer 4

I'd say biology and chemistry. Yes, try these as a double major and you'll be as well prepared as any student coming from a university with a pre-med school.

Answer 5

You can major in just about anything....as long as you have those pre-reqs, meaning those required science and math courses that you have to stress yourself to pass with flying colors. Some people try to major in something like Biology or Chemistry, I've seen some major in Psychology with Pre-Medicine as their concentration. I would suggest to talk with a counselor or advisor to further assist you in pursuing medical school. But you can definitely do it, with a little discipline, motivation, and time management, you will be a doctor.

Answer 6

Biology

Answer 7

hi you should major in what you want!!

Med schools are looking for well rounded people

UC DAVIS MED

Answer 8

Major in whatever is interesting to you. If you major in something like History (like my brother, who is now a doctor), you'll stand out from the gazillions of other chem and bio pre-med students.

Answer 9

My best advice to you is to major what you're interested in, because you'll never have another chance in your life to study those subjects in such depth. It will make your college education so much more fun and fulfilling for yourself. Your medical school education will not be compromised if you do not happen to major in a science.

Answer 10

Biology, Bio-chemsistry, etc. will give you a little bit of a jump start on what you will study in med school.....