Hi! S25 is registering for his classes on Tuesday, and he’s been leaning toward majoring in Biochem. But he just learned about his college’s new Integrated Health Studies major (B.S.), and he’s intrigued. He likes the thought of getting a multifaceted understanding of medicine in a broader context, while still getting to take the hard science courses that he also enjoys.
The major has a clinical track that ensures he completes the prerequisites for medical school. (He’d likely go above the minimum in that track, taking Gen Chem I/II + Labs, Organic Chem I/II + Labs, Physics I/II + Labs, and Biochem I + Lab.)
I always hear that “It doesn’t matter what you major in” for med school. But I’m wondering if this is any different. Like, do med schools prefer that students have a major that goes deep in one area (say, Biology or Poli Sci or Philosophy) instead of one that goes broad?
@WayOutWestMom Any thoughts? I know that you have a wealth of knowledge in this area! I’d love to hear everyone else’s thoughts, too!
I looked at the curriculum and the Clinical Pathway track seems like a reasonable pathway for someone interested in medical school.
I would recommend he choose his health science electives carefully to reflect a deeper dive into human/medicine-related biology (Biological Anthropology, Analyzing the US healthcare System. Intro to epidemiology, Intro to Virology, Neuroscience and Pathopharmocology. Neurochemistry. etc) rather than some that are more closely identified with other healthcare professions or healthcare administration. (Organization psychology, Fermentation science, Folk Healting, Sports Nutrition, Intro to clinical audiology)
If the major appeals to your child, I see no reason why he shouldn’t choose it as major. Looks like there’s lots of flexibility in the major should he decide to pivot to something other than med school.
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Thank you so much for the insights—I will share them with my son. Really appreciate it! 
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Just curious if he isn’t accepted to medical school what can he do with this major would be my concern and does that appeal to him? But it does look interesting.
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I’ve thought about that too. He is adamant he’s not going to change his mind, but I know there is a good chance he will.
I would think that he would still have medical-adjacent opportunities. Or, hopefully, he would be able to change majors if he figure things out soon enough. I don’t know. 
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Life is never a straight forward path.
He’ll figure it out.
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