For high school seniors and college students, choosing one’s major might be the most daunting task when entering higher education. One’s choice of major is correlated with the possible career they’ll pursue as specific programs funnel their students into internships that could grant them a job right out of college.
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So, what is the best major for medical school?
Fun fact: there is none.
Allow me to explain, yes, being a biology, chemistry, or biochemistry major will allow your medical school prereqs to also fulfill your major requirements by lessening the load of courses one needs to take. Being a science major might seem “easier” in this regard, but the courses one needs to take for medical school are primarily intro-level sciences, with a few exceptions. Sacrificing your sGPA taking advanced upper-division science courses for the sake of convenience may not be such a convenience when your o-chem lab is graded on percent yield instead of the presence of the product. Unless chemistry is your forte, there is no need to be a STEM major in college to pursue medicine. Furthermore, no one cares if you are a STEM major applying to medical school. It is you, along with the other nearly 75% of applicants.
When medical schools review secondaries to determine who gets an interview invite or not, it helps to be unique. Having a non-STEM major makes you unique and sets up softball questions for your interviews. For example: Who is your favorite philosopher? René Descartes because his formulation of the mind-body problem is essential for understanding Dualism.
What college major should I pursue then?
The answer is whatever you’re interested in! Higher education is not a race but a marathon and pursuing a major which does not feel like work is indispensable for not experiencing undergraduate burnout. Sometimes it is nice to step away from the equations and biochem pathways to write a paper on whether your housemate is blameworthy for eating the cookies you accidentally left on the kitchen table.
Why I chose philosophy
I chose to study philosophy nearly off a whim, but I can thank The Little Book of Bathroom Philosophy for influencing my decision. I was always fascinated by understanding alternative perspectives, ethics and debating with friends about the right solution for the trolley problem.
Studying philosophy was the best decision I made to prepare myself for medical school interviews, as I took two classes studying biomedical ethics. The topics we discussed in biomedical ethics appeared in nearly every interview I had. With the background knowledge I already had on complex topics like healthcare inequalities or patient autonomy, I was able to have thoughtful and productive conversations with my interviewers. To quote Socrates, “I know that I know nothing,” but what I do know is that you do not need to be a STEM major to get into medical school.
Stats
AAMC table A-17 MCAT and GPA for matriculants by Primary Undergraduate Major 2021-2022
| Major | MCAT | GPA (total) | Applicants | Matriculants |
| Biological Sciences | 511.7 | 3.74 | 36,520 | 13,158 |
| Humanities | 513 | 3.71 | 1,927 | 849 |
| Math & Stats | 514.9 | 3.72 | 399 | 161 |
| Physical Sciences | 513.5 | 3.74 | 5,201 | 2,208 |
| Social Sciences | 511.7 | 3.69 | 5,652 | 1,974 |
| Health Sciences | 510.7 | 3.75 | 2,674 | 942 |
| Other | 511.3 | 3.75 | 10,070 | 3,374 |
| All applicants | 511.9 | 3.74 | 62,443 | 22,666 |
Breakdown of the majors and stats:
Biological Sciences:
The biological sciences consist of majors like biology, genetics, biochemistry, cell bio, and physiology. The average Bio Sci major matriculant into medical school achieved a 511 – 512 on their MCAT and a 3.74 GPA. To answer the age-old question, why is everyone and their best friend a bio major applying to medical school? For starters, biology is, well, important. A strong foundation in the fundamental biological principles is imperative for translating dense conceptual material into patient care. If research is your forte, being a bio major puts you in contact with numerous professors who are usually willing to take on an extra premed undergrad lab assistant so they can get research experience.
Humanities:
Examples of humanities majors are English, philosophy, and history. Those who matriculate in aggregate have a 513 MCAT and a 3.71 GPA. Despite the typical response of confusion from the masses when humanities majors proudly proclaim their field of study and intent on pursuing medical school, the ‘soft’ skills one learns are arguably just as essential as the ‘hard’ skills learned from the sciences. Humanities majors traditionally have excellent bedside manners helping their patients feel more comfortable while fostering meaningful patient-provider relationships. The ability to tactfully communicate will take humanities majors far during rotations. Lastly, remember that physicians treat people with a disease, not just a disease.
Math and Statistics:
The true brainiacs of the Premed world, examples of math and stats majors are Biostats and applied mathematics. Those who get into medical school as a math or stats major average a 514.9 on the MCAT and have a 3.72 GPA. As a math or stats major, the skills you will learn will allow you to be a sought-after asset in medical research labs. Furthermore, the ability to confidently understand statistical methods and trends in research papers will put these majors scores ahead when studying for the MCAT.
Physical Sciences:
Physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, and astronomy fall under the umbrella of the physical sciences. As common knowledge dictates, physics is applied math; chemistry is applied physics, and biology is applied chemistry. Physical science majors have the second-highest average MCAT scores with a 513.5 and average a 3.74 GPA. Biological concepts will inevitably be tougher to comprehend without a strong foundation in the physical sciences. Those who major in the physical sciences typically excel in the dreaded ‘filter’ courses like general chem and organic chemistry. They can seamlessly integrate their knowledge into biochemistry in undergrad and medical school.
Social Sciences:
Examples of the social sciences are psychology, sociology, political science, and economics. Social science majors who get into medical school have between a 511 and a 512 MCAT with a 3.69 GPA. The social sciences give future physicians the upper hand when identifying social determinants of health and finding innovative ways to bring about equitable healthcare for all. Additionally, studying psychology allows many undergraduates to enter paid healthcare related jobs during college as caregivers with a pathway to becoming a med tech in assisted living and memory care facilities.
Health Sciences:
Although not exhaustive, the health sciences consist of public health, nutrition, and kinesiology majors. These majors can give future physicians additional skills they may not have had the opportunity to learn about in medical school, like nutrition. Health science majors typically earn between a 510 and a 511 on the MCAT and have a 3.75 GPA. Furthermore, many undergraduate institutions which offer health sciences majors have partnerships with local healthcare providers allowing ample internship opportunities and a chance to get a glimpse of the inner workings of healthcare prior to medical school and embarking on a career as a physician.
Others:
Those whose majors fall under ‘other’ would be our engineers, computer science, and business majors. The ‘other’ matriculants average a 511.3 MCAT and a 3.75 GPA. They are the true pariahs of the Premed world and offer a wealth of knowledge and new perspectives. Medicine is a perpetually evolving field; with the introduction of nanomedicine, robotics, and artificial intelligence in the operating room, we have much to learn from our peers in the ‘other’ majors. Furthermore, irrespective of politics, medicine is also a business. Many physicians will enter partnerships or open their own offices. A background in business will help keep your office afloat so you can continue to treat patients and make healthcare more equitable.
If you would like to see our other article on prereqs for med school that may help you pick a major for your undergraduate career.
Recap
All majors have an opportunity to share their unique skillsets with the field of medicine to help it grow and evolve. Ultimately, your college major does not matter; what matters is what you learn from your studies and what you do with it.
Best of luck, friends!
By Kevin Gines