Choosing a Major
“A student's choice of major should reflect a genuine intellectual curiosity and a passion for the discipline rather than a desire to please a medical school admissions committee. … Students at interviews need to explain their choice of major as something that they found intellectually exciting rather than a means to an end.” – M. McGrath, The Advisor
Students can major in any area of interest. Students should select majors and concentrations based on their abilities, interests and a major which will provide an academic base necessary for pursuing a variety of career options. An undergraduate course of study should not be focused exclusively on a future career in medicine but a springboard to examine a variety of careers related to medicine or outside of the medical arena. Students interested in medicine do not need to major in biology or chemistry. The table below reflects the variety and competitiveness of majors in the 2005 medical school class. A Biomedical Studies Concentration may be useful in developing a range of career options.
Major |
Mean MCAT Scores (A = Applicants, M = Matriculants) |
GPA |
Total Applied |
Total Accepted |
% Accepted |
|||
VR |
PS |
BS |
WS |
|||||
Biological Sciences |
A = 8.8 M = 9.6 |
A = 8.9 M = 9.9 |
A = 9.6 M = 10.5 |
A = O M = P |
A = 3.48 M = 3.64 |
21,263 |
9,545 |
44.9 |
Physical Sciences |
A = 9.2 M = 9.9 |
A = 10.1 M = 10.9 |
A = 9.8 M = 10.6 |
A = O M =P |
A = 3.49 M = 3.62 |
4,564 |
2,300 |
50.4 |
Math and Statistics |
A = 9.5 M = 9.9 |
A = 10.2 M = 10.8 |
A = 9.9 M = 10.5 |
A = P M = P |
A = 3.51 M = 3.61 |
250 |
133 |
53.2 |
Social Sciences |
A = 9.2 M = 10.0 |
A = 9.0 M = 10.0 |
A = 9.3 M = 10.2 |
A = P M = Q |
A = 3.44 M = 3.57 |
4,291 |
2,078 |
48.4 |
Humanities |
A = 9.9 M = 10.4 |
A = 9.3 M = 10.1 |
A = 9.6 M = 10.4 |
A = Q M = Q |
A = 3.49 M = 3.61 |
1,526 |
797 |
52.2 |
Specialized Health Sciences |
A = 8.2 M = 9.4 |
A = 8.2 M = 9.4 |
A = 8.7 M = 9.8 |
A = O M = O |
A = 3.45 M = 3.63 |
1,255 |
445 |
35.5 |
Total |
A = 8.9 M = 9.7 |
A = 9.1 M = 10.1 |
A = 9.5 M = 10.4 |
A = P M = P |
A = 3.48 M = 3.63 |
37,364 |
17,004 |
45.5 |
Source: AAMC, Applicant Matriculant File, as of 10/20/2005.
Back to Table of Contents
<<Previous: Course of Study
>>Next: Course Requirements for Medical School