Public Health major for Pre-Med?

[Anonymous]

We have medical students majored in education, music and even arts (often minor in some sciences). It’s certainly not easy to meet all the requirements and other criteria, but they really blossom as physicians.

[Anonymous]

My daughter majored in Medicine, Health, and Society and felt it was great preparation. I'd do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have medical students majored in education, music and even arts (often minor in some sciences). It’s certainly not easy to meet all the requirements and other criteria, but they really blossom as physicians.

OK. 5% but rare. Most major in hard sciences. Most take the MCATs and do well based upon their experience in hard sciences. Public health isn't going to cut it at a great medical school

[Anonymous]

The "MCATs"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have medical students majored in education, music and even arts (often minor in some sciences). It’s certainly not easy to meet all the requirements and other criteria, but they really blossom as physicians.

OK. 5% but rare. Most major in hard sciences. Most take the MCATs and do well based upon their experience in hard sciences. Public health isn't going to cut it at a great medical school

It's the % of hard science majors notably greater at say Harvard compared to a lower ranked med school? Interested in what the data says.

[Anonymous]

OP here. A lot of different points of view that offer great perspective - thank you all!

[Anonymous]

My DC is majoring in public health and is pre-med. Many friends are doing the same thing at his school.

[Anonymous]

I majored in English and got into a top med school so it doesn’t matter at all. The MCAT is the deciding factor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Med schools do not care about majors. Unless it's something really challenging. Like say Biomedical Engineering/Chemical Engineering. Do that and you will get a leg up simply because maintaining a high GPA with that major is challenging versus say Biology or Psychology major.

I'd recommend majoring in something you like but also think about what is a good major in case you decide not to attend medical school. If you go that route, you want to still be able to find a job after your undergrad.

False. The med schools want to see success in the sciences.

no they want to see success in the sciences that are Prerequisite courses. You can major in Art History and take the 10-12 med school prerequisites and do well and go to medical school. You do NOT need to major in Biology or Chemistry to go to med school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD is majoring in Medical Humanities for pre-med. Would that be okay? Also is it common to take a year off to study for the MCATS? That’s my DD’s plan.

No one studies all day for an entire year. Note that you wait a year after graduating for the mcat, you’re taking 2-3 years before entering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Would there be any concerns with majoring in Public Health in terms of med school admission assuming a student completes all prerequisites? Is it safer or preferred to major in something like Biology, Neuroscience or Chemistry?

Public health is interesting but quite easy compared to hard sciences. Just make sure the science GPA is over 3.8.

[Anonymous]

Is a Public Health degree an option for dental school?

[Anonymous]

What careers / opportunities are there for somebody graduating with a public health degree? Let’s say the student is not accepted to med school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What careers / opportunities are there for somebody graduating with a public health degree? Let’s say the student is not accepted to med school?

Most likely you will want to go on and get your MPH to do the really interesting work. Even then, you will be working in someone's Lab/research area. If you want to lead the team, you need your PHD

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is a Public Health degree an option for dental school?

Do dental school admissions differ from med school? And when referencing undergraduate GPA, is it their overall GPA or just in pre-req courses?