Hey folks, I'm hoping to sit for the MCAT eventually and wanting to pick a major that sets me up well for it. Does anyone have any ideas on which majors might be the best fit?
It's great that you're planning ahead for your future MCAT and considering how your major might impact your preparation. The most common major for pre-med students is Biology or a field related to Biological Sciences. This is because many of the MCAT sections, such as Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems, and Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems, coincide with the curriculum of a biology major.
However, other majors can also work well for MCAT preparation. Chemistry or Biochemistry majors, for example, tend to perform well on the MCAT too. Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry are significant components of the MCAT, so having a strong foundation in these areas can be beneficial.
If you're interested in the humanities or social sciences, you could also consider Psychology, Sociology, or Anthropology. These fields align with the Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior section of the MCAT.
It's important to note that your major does not necessarily determine your MCAT performance or your chances of getting into medical school. Many successful applicants come from non-science majors. The key is to ensure that regardless of your major, you take and do well in your pre-med prerequisites, like biology, chemistry, physics, and calculus, as well as the additional courses most med schools like to see, like biochemistry and sociology.
Another option is to consider a double major or minor in complementary fields. For example, you could major in a hard science, like Biology, but also minor in Psychology or Ethics if you find these subjects compelling.
Ultimately, the best major is one you're passionate about and one in which you can maintain a high GPA, as both personal interest and academic performance factor into med school admissions decisions.
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