Myth-Busting Majors

Making the decision to go to medical school is hard enough. Navigating college is hard enough as well. Figuring out what it is you have to do in college in order to get into medical school is a whole other beast. Now add all that to the stress of picking a major and it's enough to make you scream. Continue reading below as I bust some of the myths you've heard about picking your major in college as a premedical student.

Myth: I have to major in biology.
Fact: You should major in biology if you want to major in biology.
Biology is an incredibly popular major among premed students. Part of this is due to interest in the subject, part of it is due to the convenience of completing prerequisites with this major, and part of it is because for some reason, we all think we need to study biology to look "good" to medical schools. There is no reason to major in biology unless you truly want to. I personally was a neuroscience major who ended up double majoring in biology because I accidentally fulfilled the biology major requirements (a previously unmentioned fourth reason we may end up with biology majors). But the truth is, no medical school cares if you majored in biology so please, don't feel like you have to have a biology major.

Myth: I have to be a premed major.
Fact: Many schools don't have a premed major.  
Most colleges and universities will have something like a premed track. Even if they have a premed major, you will probably be encouraged to also have an additional major or the major may not be required at all. The truth is, there are prerequisites that are required or recommended and otherwise, there's not actually any major or track required at all by medical schools. For the list of required and recommended prerequisites, see my post titled "So you think you want to be a doctor."

Myth: If I don't major in a science, I won't be able to take the prerequisites.
Fact: You can sign up for the prerequisites without having a science major.
As mentioned above, there are prerequisite classes you will have to complete. However, you won't be required to have a science or premed major to enroll in the classes. Most of them are low level science and math courses so there won't be extensive prerequisites to complete prior to the classes either.

Myth: It will look bad if I don't major in the sciences.
Fact: It will look good if you major in something you're passionate about.
If you study something completely random and unrelated to the sciences, this is likely something that will make you stand out, and you will be asked about it in your interviews. It will make you interesting. If you're passionate about theater, majoring in theater while also being sure to complete your prerequisite classes is completely reasonable! You're also more likely to spend your interview talking about your interest in theater rather than the random research project you did in organic chemistry that you hated but wanted to put on your application. ;)

Myth: I won't have time to study abroad.
Fact: If you meet with your advisor, plan early, and are flexible, you can probably make time to study abroad.
Plenty of premed students are able to study abroad, especially if you decide to take a gap year between college and medical school. If you'd like to go straight through college to medical school, I recommend meeting with an advisor early to make a plan that can accommodate your interest in studying abroad. If a full semester abroad doesn't end up working with your schedule, many schools also have summer programs or shorter study abroad options that may work better for you.

 Myth: It will look like I'm not committed to medicine if I explore other majors and career options.
Fact: If you explore other options and still go into medicine, it will show just how committed you are because you came back to it.
It is completely normal to explore other potential careers that have nothing to do with medicine. Many people have entire careers before they decide they want to go back to school to become a physician. If you explore a major in creative writing and are the editor of the school paper with internships at publishing companies and then you change your trajectory and decide to go into medicine, if anything, this will make you interesting. It will show that you're committed to medicine because you had to make a major change and stick to it. _______________________________________________________________________

The truth is, other than having  prerequisite courses and recommending research and clinical experience, medical schools want you to be yourself and show them your personality. There is no need to major in biology and spend all your free time volunteering in a hospital and working in a lab. If that is what you enjoy, then that's fantastic, it's what you should do; but if you have other passions outside of medicine, you should participate in those and let it show. It contributes to who you are as a person. At the end of the day, medical schools want diverse students. If everyone had exactly the same interests, we would all be very boring.

What are some of your favorite things to do? Do you live in the lab, on the stage, in international field work learning about other cultures? Share with me below!