hithink

Is being a biology major enough for premed? because I don't want to apply to PLME coz I want to double major in Economics also. Non-PLME students who take Bio or BioChem major are also considered premed students, right?

I just wanted to know coz I don't know much about premed system in the US.

justbreathe

Most important point of my post: Premed DOES NOT EQUAL Bio Major. Likewise, Bio Major DOES NOT equal Premed. You can major in bio and still fail to fulfill the premed requirements.

Premeds don't have to be biology majors. Premeds can major in whatever they want. PLME's can major in whatever they want--even art. If you're premed, PLME is a very very good idea---it's nonbinding, it guarantees you a seat, and lets you major in whatever.

Being premed in the US just means you have to take these classes:
1 year of Gen Chem w/lab
1 year of Organic Chem w/lab
1 year of Math
1 year of Bio w/lab
1 year of Physics w/lab
1 year of English

in your time in college. Some people choose to major in bio because they happen to love it and it overlaps with the premed reqs, but there are plenty of ppl who major in completely random things who do just as well. Medical schools have officially stated again and again and again that they do not favor bio majors.

hithink

These classes:1 year of Gen Chem w/lab
1 year of Organic Chem w/lab
1 year of Math
1 year of Bio w/lab
1 year of Physics w/lab
1 year of English

-How will I study them or take the above classes if I major in eco or philosophy or art or whatever else I major in?
How will I fulfill the above requirements of classes for med school if I major in something completely random?
I know Brown's open curriculum allows you to take whatever class you may want but what about other colleges- how will I take the above required classes if I don't get into Brown?
I'm so confused...

alfredeneuman

Hithink - Almost anywhere you go, you can be pre-med because every college offers those courses. At most other schools, there are distribution requirements (eg, a few humanities classes, a few language classes, a few science classes, etc, but you get to choose which ones from the entire department). Even colleges with strong cores like UChicago and Columbia, the cores only constitute 1/3 of your entire curriculum. So no matter where you go, there's plenty of wiggle room if you major in something non science.

Hope this helps!

justbreathe

How will I study them or take the above classes if I major in eco or philosophy or art or whatever else I major in?
How will I fulfill the above requirements of classes for med school if I major in something completely random?

You'll have plenty of room. Majors don't take up as large a chunk as you seem to think. It just means you won't get to take as many totally random electives as other people.

fireandrain

And many of those premed requirements would fulfill distribution requirements at other schools. One year of English, a year of math, a year of science, for example.

You should look at the academic department websites at Brown and other colleges to see what each department requires for majors. If you want to get a BS in biology, then doing a double major in economics might be very difficult (if not impossible). However, you could easily be premed and major in biology.