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Is it difficult to go to Med school with an anthropology major?

I really like my major, but I've heard its career prospects are not promising. #pre-med #anthropology

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Ashutosh’s Answer

You always need biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and math to go to a US medical school. So as an anthro major, you'd need to take these classes as electives... which would actually probably make it very difficult.


Another option is to finish your not-so-useful major, whatever it is, and then enroll in a postbaccalaureate program designed to give you the pre-med courses you need.

Thank you comment icon thanks sahu B
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Rachel’s Answer

Absolutely not. Any 4 year university should be able to provide you with all of the premed requirements (1 year biology, 1 year inorganic chemistry, 1 year organic chemistry + labs, physics, calculus, and biochemistry). I majored in Spanish Lit and had no problem in the med school application process. Major in what interests you.
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Estelle’s Answer

That sounds like a great major and will make you a well rounded candidate. Just make sure you have time in your schedule to get the rep-requisites for med school applications.
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Richard’s Answer

Any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses.

Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
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Yasemin’s Answer

Hi Armine! So you can be any major and apply to medical school; you need to take certain prerequisites such as chemistry, biology, physics, and English, and labs along with it. You should definitely have a premed adviser to guide you on this path and make sure you are taking the correct courses. As an undergraduate I was a psychology major because I really loved it. Sometimes some may say you will need to be a traditional major like biology or chemistry but if you are interested in anthropology definitely pursue it. Medical schools actually like diversity in their class pool, and as long as you show genuine interest and do well overall as a student it shouldn't matter. Just make sure to keep a stellar GPA like 3.7+ , do well on your MCAT, and get experience in both clinical/shadowing and volunteering as well. Be sure to talk with your premed adviser about volunteer work as this is an important part of your application; however quality matters more than quantity so I would advise to do work in the non-clinical areas that you like. If you do one or two activities that really spark an interest for four years even if it's once a week it will show commitment and dedication than doing a variety of activities. For clinical volunteering you can volunteer in a hospital or a local clinic, you can simply call or go online to a hospital's website and do some research. I would also check out AAMC.org there are many certified individuals who have given advice in a variety of topics for the premed path and students who want to pursue it. Just stay focused, work hard, keep up with premed work and do what you love!

Best of luck!

Yasemin recommends the following next steps:

Speak with your premed adviser about your major and premed work
Check out volunteering
Visit AAMC.org
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