Journalism Major -- Able to go to Med School?

[KBryant]

Is it possible for me to major in journalism while meeting the pre-med requisites? I've heard most pre-med students usually major in biology and other scientific fields. Would majoring in journalism put me at a disadvantage when applying for med school?


By the way, I'm new here and I'm sorry if I posted in the wrong section of the forums.

[Sree Cheruku]

Don't think your major matters much. But, do well in your pre-med courses - and maybe take an extra course or two in the sciences if you have elective credits left over. And, obviously, rock your MCAT.

[stateofequilibrium]

You can take the pre-reqs while being a basketweaving major for all they care. Just do WELL.

A lot of US med students are not science majors (probably because they can also pull off a lot better GPAs) these days.

[AUCMD2006]

DON'T BE A SCIENCE MAJOR! you will absolutely wreck your GPA and ruin your competitive chances vs everyone else. many, if not most of the US med students are not science majors and actually were economics, music, history etc majors and only did the pre reqs to get in medschool. i have rotated with people fgrom UM, Michigan state, LSU, wayne state, KMC and only ran into one 'hard major' she was an engineering major and it took her multiple attempts to get in med school because she was borderline. all the others were music, history, philosophy majors...the only schmucks who were science majors were the other idiots like me who listened to their pre med advisors and majored in biology/chemistry/physics.

do an easy major, get A's in the science pre reqs, take an MCAT review course and go to the US for med school

[Blade07]

I'm not sure about this one. Most people, including pre-med advisors, advised me to major in biology or chemistry. Most students that I know who are going to medical school majored in biology, chemistry or biochemistry. Of course, one problem with all these majors is that they tend to be harder than the non-science majors and it may affect your GPA. However, they will give you better understanding of some important subject matter and most likely will prepare you better for medical school. I'm sure that most med school admissions committees would take into account the fact that biochemistry is a harder major than say, history.

Personally, I think I would have done pretty lousy on the MCAT if I had only the pre-reqs and a few science classes. Majoring in something like biochemistry/biology will provide you with an in depth knowledge of many of the important concepts required to do well on the MCAT. Biology 101 should theoretically be sufficient to prepare you for the bio section of the MCAT. But a student who has taken Bio 101, Genetics, Biochemistry, Ecology, Cell Biology, Anatomy Microbiology etc. will probably have a far superior understanding of the material tested in the biological sciences section of the MCAT.

Basically, by majoring in the sciences that make up the foundation of modern medicine, you will have important concepts repeatedly drilled into your head.

[stateofequilibrium]

Most med school admissions is a number game. If you make the cut to be competitive, then they might take classes, etc, into consideration. There is a significant percentage (in some places a majority) where med students do not come from a science background.

The MCAT only tests certain material. If you've taken like AP Bio in high school, you can do well in the biology section of the MCAT.

[KBryant]

Oh, okay. So there's controversy here? ;) Sorry to cause that. I just want to hear more opinions on this because I really think journalism will help me get a higher GPA but what I'm seeing is that some colleges WILL take into consideration what you're majoring in.

[stephew]

there is no controversy. pick whatever major you like. take your premed courses. do well in all. youre not smarter than the med schools; they know a sci major with a high gpa is more challenging than many other majors and high gpas. do what you like. dont overthink this.

I suggest if youre still in the early stages (picking a college major) you check out studentdoctor.net this forum really is for folks who didnt get into school in the us.

[stateofequilibrium]

Oh, okay. So there's controversy here? ;) Sorry to cause that. I just want to hear more opinions on this because I really think journalism will help me get a higher GPA but what I'm seeing is that some colleges WILL take into consideration what you're majoring in.

Whatever you do, just make sure your pre-requisites are A's and no less than a B. Since you won't be taking upper division science courses or anything, it's very important to shine in those.

[stateofequilibrium]

there is no controversy. pick whatever major you like. take your premed courses. do well in all. youre not smarter than the med schools; they know a sci major with a high gpa is more challenging than many other majors and high gpas. do what you like. dont overthink this.

I suggest if youre still in the early stages (picking a college major) you check out studentdoctor.net this forum really is for folks who didnt get into school in the us.

Bottom line = make sure your GPA is hard. If you choose a hard major, there may be some leeway in your GPA. But if you're not competitive, then you're just not competitive.

[KBryant]

there is no controversy. pick whatever major you like. take your premed courses. do well in all. youre not smarter than the med schools; they know a sci major with a high gpa is more challenging than many other majors and high gpas. do what you like. dont overthink this.

I suggest if youre still in the early stages (picking a college major) you check out studentdoctor.net this forum really is for folks who didnt get into school in the us.

Naw...I'm going to a US college...but I just wanted to pick an easier route. :)

[stephew]

i didnt mean us college; i meant us medical school. since you are soliciting advice, here is some free advice you wont like. you may not yet be ready for medical school. this is the rest of your life and for that matter, the lives of others. looking for the easier route is typically a sign of not being ready yet for that committment. a lot of people who had to go offshore had thoese problems too. so its not that things can't change. but you really may not be ready for what you would be in for to be a medical student and docotor.

[jameslynton]

Naw...I'm going to a US college...but I just wanted to pick an easier route. :)I have a friend who is a journalism major and has had a great career as an OB/gyn. He waited until after graduation to take his pre-req's. Had a good high GPA and did very well on the MCAT. You will find there are no easy routes in medicine. Best wishes.

[atlanticvioxx]

Major in what ever you like. make sure you take freshman chem, organic chem (not easy at all), freshman bio, mammalian phys and you shall be OK.