HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST PR-EMED MAJOR
When you’re interested in pursuing a career in medicine, a time will come that you would have to decide what you should major in, as this is one thing you must put into consideration, in your preparation for medical school.
Research shows that a lot of premeds have myths, regarding their medical career. Some of these myths include:
1. You do not need a major from humanities
One of the classes that can help students develop their communication skills, critical thinking, and cultural competences, is the Humanities classes. Be cast in your choice of majors. Do not just restrict yourself to what you think medical schools would likely ask, think outside the box.
2. Having a nursing degree is an added advantage when you’re applying to medical school
Nursing and medicine even though misconcepted to be similar, are very different. Nursing will not help you prepare for medical school as it has a different prerequisite.
3. There’s a particular major that will prepare you for the Medical College Admission Test
MCATs usually consist of introductory biology, physics, psychology, sociology, and first-semester biochemistry as well as general and organic chemistry. This is to say, there is no particular major that will prepare you adequately. What you need to do is try your best to be familiar with the contents usually tested.
4. There are best undergraduate majors for premeds.
This is a great misconception. Truth is, medical schools are not looking for any preferred major. It is therefore advisable that premeds major in whatever interests them and what exactly you want, because medical schools look out for authenticity. Your major concerning is fulfilling the prerequisite courses works needed by the school you’d like to apply to.
PRE-MED MAJORS MEDICAL STUDENTS SHOULD CONSIDER
- PHYSICS
Physics doesn’t only apply to objects, but also to medicine. It helps us understand how theory transforms to practical. There exists a journal known as Physics in Medicine.
- PHILOSOPHY
Premeds must be good in critical thinking, and that is what Philosophy programs aim achieve. It can also assist you in understanding the ethics of the medical profession.
- ECONOMICS
Even as a health care worker, you are your business manager, so you must be able to at least build a background in business a business discipline. This can make it easy for you to understand the health insurance landscape.
- BIOLOGY
This course forms the foundation of medical practice. Although focusing on this discipline alone does not in any way give you an advantage over other applicants, you need it to complete the requirements of medical schools.
- BIOCHEMISTRY
This is the chemistry of living organisms. Students who take this course are able to understand metabolism, which is usually seen as a complex process. This can be useful for your medical school prerequisites.
- SOCIOLOGY
Sociology enables you understand the fundamentals of social structures and collective human behavior.
- PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology mainly deals with human behavior. Taking psychology will help students understand other people better.
HOW TO CHOOSE A PREMED MAJOR
The designation “pre-med” comes with opportunities as well as constraints. On the one hand, it isn’t a major in its own right—so you get to choose any subject that you love to study as a major, while still pursuing your dream of becoming a doctor. On the other hand, a pre-med track does require you to complete a certain set of core classes so that you’ll qualify to apply to medical school—and those classes can leave little time for other pursuits. To make the best possible decision, you’ll need to understand your options and be ready to overcome any related obstacles.
- Knowing Your Pre-Med Major Options
It is important that you know and choose the right combinations as your premed major. All of the options for major fields of study at your school are available to you, and with the help of advisors from the pre-professional office, you can make the right selection.
- Understanding Your Pre-Med Requirements
There are certain courses that are a core for all premeds. These courses include; biology, chemistry, biochemistry, and physics, and often include math/statistics, psychology, and sociology.
Do well to meet with your premed advisors, so as to ensure you’re on course. Talking to your seniors is not so much of a bad idea too, so that you will not make unnecessary errors along the way.
- Thinking like a Medical School Admissions Committee
Weather your major courses are difficult or tough; you must know that the admissions committee will not put that into consideration, when looking at your GPA. As much as there are compulsory majors, make sure your majors are a combination of courses that are as well easy, so as to boost your GPA.
- Deciding on the Pre-Med Track
One thing you should know is that, before you apply to a medical school, you must plan in advance. If however you’re unsure as to whether you want to be a medical doctor or not, it is advisable that you start the journey anyways, because it is better to decide to quit than it is to join late. Start by selecting majors that will give you an insight on what the medical profession is all about. This will give you some time to figure out what you truly want to do, and it’ll ensure you’re on track with your pre-med coursework should you decide to continue with it.