Choosing a premed major is a daunting task for many students. As an undergraduate student, it is one of the most important decisions especially for those who are interested in pursuing a rewarding career in medicine. Choosing the right set of core courses will help you become a competitive medical school applicant and fulfill your dream of becoming a doctor.
These core classes will also help students to pursue rewarding careers in the field of medicine. In order to satisfy the medical school admission requirements, students are required to complete one year of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, general physics, and English. Some medical schools expect students to complete at least a semester of biochemistry.
Building a strong foundation on these subjects is important as they have tested on MCAT, which is another important medical school admission requirement. If you are wondering which option will be a suitable choice, understanding your options will help you make the best possible decision.
Let’s discover options for medical school
Explore All Options
Since there are too many choices available for premed students, choosing the right college major will become difficult for students. The majority of pre-meds choose biology as a major who want to get into medical school. However, choosing non-biological courses, such as English, or humanities can also help you fulfill the dream of becoming a qualified doctor. Medical schools always look for multi-talented and intelligent applicants, choosing non-medical majors can also prepare you for the medical school admission process.
Here is a list of some major fields of study that you can choose during your premedical journey.
Biological Sciences
Several studies have shown that more than half of medical school applicants choose biological sciences as a premed major option. It is because developing a strong knowledge of biology will increase your chances of acceptance in a top Caribbean medical school. In medical school, you will take different courses, including hematology, pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, neurology, and more. Having an in-depth knowledge of basic science courses will greatly help you understand the advanced concepts and become a successful medical student.
Physical Sciences
A large number of medical school hopefuls choose physical sciences as a college major. Completing the coursework in physics, chemistry or other related subjects helps premed students to fulfill the basic medical school requirements. In addition, it will make you a better candidate as medical school admissions committees look for students with broad knowledge and diverse skills.
Non-Science Majors
You can also choose a major other than biological sciences. A non-science-based curriculum will give you training in different disciplinary modes. Choosing a non-science major can make your medical school application stand out by giving you the opportunity to focus on the areas that are important to succeed in medical school. Humanities, English, fine arts, statistics, and sociology are some great non-science majors that you can choose as a premed major.
Furthermore, these subjects can be a great way to gain diverse experience while broadening your studies besides biological sciences. Remember, if you take a non-science course and want to apply to medical school, you have to complete medical school prerequisites to become a successful applicant. It is advised to check the specific requirements of each medical school you are applying to. Check the websites of medical schools as they usually provide a list of general prerequisites.
Discover Your Interests
Selecting a major that matches your personal interests and career goals is a worthwhile option. Medical school admissions committees prefer to hire candidates with unique interests and diverse knowledge. If you are interested in fine arts, and still want to be a physician, pursue that to the fullest. Similarly, if you want to become a pathologist, pediatrician, obstetrics, and gynecologist, or neurologist, it is advised to find your interests and then choose your major.
Biology, chemistry, and biochemistry are the most common premed majors for students who want to pursue a career in medicine. While literature, math, physics, and social students are some non-traditional college majors that prepare premed students for different lucrative careers while preparing them for the MCAT.
Check the Difficulty Level
Having an impressive academic record and good GPA is one of the most important medical school admission requirements. Therefore, as a premed student, you need to maintain a high GPA throughout your college years to become a strong medical school candidate. Building a genuine interest in premedical majors and consider the difficulty level of the major before choosing it. When you are passionate about the subject, it makes it easier to score the highest marks, and maintain an impressive GPA. It allows you to show the medical school admission officers that you are competitive enough and the right choice for their school.
Consider Your Future Career Options
Choosing college majors actually matters and widens your chances of pursuing your future career possibilities. Choosing an economics major helps you work in a health administration department. Similarly, choosing a biological sciences major will open up many opportunities and prepare you to become a primary care physician, gynecologist, and dermatologist – just to name a few.
Final Words
All in all, whatever premed major you choose, make sure it perfectly aligns with your interests and helps you pursue your passion. These tips will help premed students make the right decision about their major and make themselves eligible for a top Caribbean medical school.