As we’ve written about previously, choosing a major while planning for medical school isn’t an exact science, and students and their families should consider a broader focus en route to medical school. 

Debunking 2 Pre-Med Myths for Students and Families

1. If I want to be a doctor, I need to be a pre-med major. 

Pre-Med in and of itself is not a college major. It is a preparation program that almost every college in the country offers in order to ensure that students have taken requisite courses prior to applying to medical school. Students can be on the pre-med track regardless of their choice in major. 

2. If I want to be a doctor, I must major in biology.  

While majoring in biology may seem like the most straightforward path to medical school, it certainly isn’t the only option. In fact, data of students who applied and matriculated into medical school in the 2021 admissions cycle shows that a greater percentage of students who majored in the humanities as successful medical school applicants. While a major in biology can certainly be valuable, it’s not always the most effective way to stand out or differentiate yourself. 

Potential College Major Options for Premed Students

These days, medical schools, like their undergraduate institutional peers, are shifting toward a holistic admissions perspective. While medical school applicants need to have a strong foundation in the physical sciences, admissions officers are also looking to uncover each applicant’s values, purpose, and ability to care for others. Because medical school trains its students to be competent clinicians, admissions officers are also looking for evidence that applicants can effectively and compassionately provide care to patients.

1. Liberal Arts: majors within the liberal arts, like English, Psychology, and Economics, are positioned to provide medical school applicants with a broad education with skills in communicating, reading and writing critically, and synthesizing complex information, all of which will come in handy as an MD.   
2. Public Health: a degree in Public Health will prepare students to foster and champion individual and community health and safety practices. Students will study broadly in areas like biology and statistics while focusing on topics of personal interest, like disease transmission, substance abuse mitigation, and community health promotion. 
3.  Engineering/Biomedical Engineering: students interested in the field of medical technology might consider pursuing a degree in biomedical engineering. Though rigorous, high-achieving students hoping to leave their mark on the medical landscape can combine their study of human systems with state-of-the-art technological systems.