Take a science class EVERY semester?

apumic
Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:40:11 +0000

apumic, what did you mean by “these are the least successful pre-meds” in post 11?



First to clarify, I did not say “these are the least successful pre-meds.” I said “if anything, these are the least successful pre-meds.” In other words, they are certainly not more successful than other majors and may, in fact, have a disadvantage in the admissions process. I was pointing out a flaw in many pre-meds’ thinking when considering a major.

By comparison to all other majors (except vocational majors, such as nursing) bio majors have the weakest chance of admission – both in terms of admissions rates (~45% vs 50-55% will gain admission to at least one school for most other majors except vocational, which have a ~28% admissions rate) and average GPA needed for matriculation. The difference is small but when we are talking about sample sizes in the n=1000-5000 range, it is likely those differences may be significant. (These cannot simply be explained away by weaker bio majors applying based on GPA as students in other majors, such as the humanities, are actually applying with similar GPAs and getting in with lower ones.) A bio major has the advantage of reducing the premed load (i.e., most prereqs are part of the major) but the disadvantage of a less well-rounded education (which is something med schools have been pushing for for quite a few years now). It is also of note that medical schools want socially strong individuals (i.e., for bedside manner, etc.) and sometimes these individuals are more difficult to find in a bio dept than in some of the softer sciences.