Can you major in English and minor in Biology and still get into Medical School?

Question

I'm currently a freshman in college and I have recently decided to become a physician. I haven't declared a major yet but I'm thinking about choosing English as my major and Biology as my minor. Do you think I could still get into medical school even thought my major isn't Biology, Chemistry or Pre-med?

Answer 1

I don't necessarily agree with it crippling your chances just because you can't get As. A- aren't bad grades either. I was a bio and music major and all I got were questions why I wasn't going into music to make sure I was 100% into medicine. This was every single interview too. So, you're going to have to content with that issue.

I think you have to figure out what's interesting and important to you and supplement your application in the areas it's lacking. You of course needs the general chem, orgo, bio, physics, english, and prolly some psych but if english is what you really like then I think you should go for it.

In addition to doing well with your classes, don't forget to volunteer or work in a lab etc. Being a bio minor might make that more difficult, but it never stopped anyone with a lot of ambition and drive. You need that clinical experience so that when you go to an interview you can say that you want to be come a doctor from what you've seen and experiences. Call up a family doctor or pediatrician and perhaps see about shadowing them. Those experiences will really show that you want ot be come a physician and you really do know what it's about. That way when you do get the question about the english major you'll have a great answer!

Answer 2

It's not a bad thing that you are considering so many things but you should sit yourself down and ask yourself what you really want to do. I am an English major with a minor in Education. Which will help you more? Chances are, you will be able to do more with Marketing. Why? Simply because more jobs would prefer it. Don't get me wrong, though. People underestimate the value of an English degree. You learn critical thinking, and you learn how to write. These are valuable things. However, many jobs will overlook these things and simply see you as someone who can quote Shakespeare. This is just a reality. My goals? I'm going into education obviously. I know I will have a job. It's what I want. So this fits for me. However, it seems like you're very unsure of what you want. Do you want to go to medical school? Then why not just do biology/chemistry as your degree? If it's because you don't like science then maybe going to medical school is simply not the best idea. Don't do something because you think you'll be making money because the fact is, you lose so many years in school, you make a lot of sacrifices and you acquire an enormous amount of debt. Do it for the love of it. Which degree will help you more? In what sense? Getting a job? Or getting into medical school? If it's the second one then what counts is your GPA and MCAT score. Just think of what you truly want. Best of luck to you. If you need anything else, feel free to contact me.

Answer 3

You can do ANY major and be eligible for medical school as long as you complete the medical prequisite coursework.

Baccalaureate coursework must include:
1 year general chem (with lab)
1 year organic chem (with lab)
1 year general biology (with lab)
1 year intro. physics (with lab)
1 year English
1 year calculus
Suggested coursework includes: psychology, statistics, biochemistry, humanities

The trick is to NOT major in biology. Biology major pre-meds are a dime a dozen, and they will be your stiffest competition for A's. You want A's. To get them, become a HUMANITIES major, ace the easy fluffy stuff, then focus your power on the prereqs. You'll graduate with a higher GPA, and not suffer from much of the stress the rest of us feel when we're up against 400 bio majors with the same goal of topping the curve. I was a molecular biology major, and it singlehandedly ruined my chances of getting into medical school.

So no, don't go "pre-med," bio or chem as a major unless you absolutely want to. It's not necessary, and may cripple your chances.

Answer 4

Get a catalog from a couple of med schools you're thinking about going to, and check out the admission requirements. Make sure you take all those requirements -- there will probably be unit requirements or "years of" for specific subjects.

Answer 5

A computer scientist (me) can get into med school. You just have to have taken the requirement courses in addition to your major. Certainly a bio minor will have those courses in them.

Answer 6

Let us hope so. It would be a very pleasant advance on the present situation to have literate physicians, wouldn't you say?