Question about non-Science majors

student14x
Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:41:35 +0000

Third, as S14 repeatedly seems to miss, the math shows that it’s a wash without controlling for GPA and MCAT score. Admissions percentages are similar across the board despite some majors having mildly higher GPAs and some majors having noticeably higher MCAT scores. (You might be surprised to hear which is which, however.)



I get what you are talking about. But the data doesn’t indicate those that are weeded out in the process. For example, its is incredibly easy to fail freshman mechanics. So these physics and/or engineering majors would have to drop out of the premed track( really who would keep going on if their gpa is <3.0?). And yet for other majors(non science), its incredibly easy to get A’s or at least a B. Its so easy that it seems that the only way to fail is to sign up for the class never go ( even for exams).

I would like to see your data. I suspect if what you say is true, then common sense tells us that the reason non science majors have mildly higher gpas, is that the major in question is easy. Now science majors that aren’t weeded out are forced to work incredibly hard to obtain their mildly lower gpa. Those that put in the same effort as the humanities major probably got placed on academic probation let alone not applying to medschool. What this means is that despite the data, majoring in science still hurts the premed.

Of course, I suspect that its the science majors that have the higher MCAT scores you mentioned about. But this could be a natural consequence of 1) the higher average intelligence of science majors or 2) the amount of critical thinking the science majors demand of its students help prep for the MCAT. or 1)&2) But really I need to see the data before making this conclusion.