Omar
What should I pursue in the medical field?
I am interested in the medical field but I am unsure of what major to pursue in. I am interested in neurology and brain anatomy
Any suggestions appreciated! #medicine #neurology #anatomy
3 answers
Maddie M.
Maddie’s Answer
Hi Omar,
That's great that you are looking to go into the medical field! I would say that there is actually a lot of leeway when choosing an undergraduate major, even if you are looking to go to medical school. I actually found a very interesting article on this exact topic:
https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/medical-school-admissions-doctor/2013/09/11/choose-the-right-undergraduate-major-for-medical-school
As stated in the article, there really is no "right" major for medical school. It really depends on your own strengths and interests. If you are curious about neurology and brain anatomy, you may want to look into colleges and universities with programs in those fields. Psychology, or some variant of it, may be a good jumping off point, but there are a lot of options out there for you to explore. I believe it is all about finding a major that will continue to challenge and inspire you as you move through your undergraduate education and beyond.
I hope this helps! Have a great day and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!
Sincerely,
Madeline
Maria Hubbard, MD, FAAN
Maria’s Answer
Great career choice.
I concur with above answer. I must ad that although there is no "right" major to get into medical school, one must be practical in choosing the major, giving particular attention to such subjects/major that can increase and improve scores on entrance examinations. Many subjects can be studied as electives giving us the opportunity to explore arts and sports while focusing on the career of our choice.
In my case I chose a chemistry major with biology minor since neuroscience was not an option in my university at the time. I added electives in psychology, arts and sports for a well rounded background. This combination also got me accepted for a chemistry masters degree and I had an alternative, should I had not been accepted in medical school.
Best wishes, aim high!
Richard A.
Richard’s Answer
In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance. You can major in neuroscience.
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
Try to find opportunities to pursue research.