What Are the BEST Premed Majors? A Data-Informed Answer

With medical school acceptance rates just above 40%, it's easy to understand why premeds are so eager to find a way to gain an edge on the competition. 

You already know that in order to be a competitive applicant you have to earn a strong GPA, get a high MCAT score, and acquire relevant research experience. 

But how will your premed major selection affect your chances of getting into medical school?

If you ask around, you might hear some answers based on misconceptions and rumors. Maybe you’ve been told you have to be a biology major, or that English majors have the highest medical school acceptance rates. What should you believe?

In this week's video, we take a look at the data and uncover which majors have disproportionate success with med school admissions.

TIMESTAMPS:
[00:00] - Introduction
[01:08] - Which majors have the best success applying to medical school?
[04:36] - So what is the best premed major?
[06:15] - But why isn't biology the best premed major?
[07:37] - What should you consider when choosing your premed major?
[10:06] - Which premed major will improve your admissions odds?
[11:17] - Final thoughts

Shemmassian Academic Consulting (SAC)
For over 15 years, our team of admissions experts has helped thousands of students get into top medical schools including Hopkins, Mayo, and UCSF. SAC has been featured on The Washington Post, US News and World Report, and NBC.

We'd love to hear from you! Drop a question down below in the comment section. We respond daily!

#premed #medschooladmissions #premedadvice #medschooladmissions #premedmajor

[Sali]

With my daughter, we are in search for best possible pre-med options for her, I confirm your video is THE BEST short material I came across so far, amazing consolidated info that is vey helpful especially in highlighting the misconception we have that majoring in Biology branch is best Pre-Med option
Can’t thank you enough
Cheers

[barneycasting]

I majored in Theology and going to becoming a MD very soon! God help me!!!

[Shemmassian]

What majors are you considering? Let us know in the Comments!

[laurenwilliams]

I was having the same issue in choosing a major but then since I chose to be a Pediatrician I founded out that Developmental Psychology was the right major for me because I am going to be working with children of all ages up to 21. :D I believe it's best to find a major that's easy interesting and right for your career so you dont have to waste time and graduate on time. :D

[jasikagrover]

What you think about BS in Biotechnology as pre-med?

[sharonlove]

Humanities major often have to take extra steps taking pre-requests that were not required by their degree program. Therefore, people who apply with a Humanities major will be more committed than others, which can reduce the standard deviation of the population representing the quality of applicants who majored in Humanities.

[nickortiz]

Not everyone can be an engineer... If you have plans to go to med school why become an engineer?...Engineering is a career not a major, you actually have to be good at what you do to work in that field, plus its hard to keep a GPA of 3.5 with an engineering major...and those who do are the cream of the crop- that is the reason why they have easier time to get into med school.

[chelsea]

Can I major in nursing ? I still want to take the mcat and want to get into medical school but if I don’t I would work for a year and study. I wanted to major I biology but it might not get me a job

[sabirahm]

Hi so I’m in BSN program but my advisors and people I talk to r saying I won’t get into med school. however all the pre reqs expect for physics are in this program and I’ll be learning and working on the med field. So why is it people are being so negative towards nursing majors going into medical school then stem majors whose classes don’t revolve around workin with patients being at a hospital unless they do volunteer or clinic work?

[jaylenyc]

What about public health science majors?

[PaolaGarcia-fsej]

Is there any major group where engineering is included?

[Boardgamegyrl]

Crazy question but do med schools view pre med athletes favorably?

[sunitaagarwala]

Hi! I’m a biomedical engineering major with mechanical engineering specialties. None of these videos say anything about engineering though. How are they grouped in data analysis?

[bharatdesam]

Is environmental science anywhere part of pre-med requirement? my daughter is junior in high school and plans to be on pre med in college . she plans to take AP environmental science but i was suggesting her take AP chemistry or regular physiology class. Please suggest physiology to AP environmental science. She has already taken, AP physics 1, AP biology, at school and psychology, sociology, human development as dual enrollment at community college

[leonidakhoury]

I don’t believe what you sed ( I am the mom of a student who try to med school) My child did BME gpa 3:47 and pre med 4 years volunteering in a hospital 4 Dr shadowing 3 years resource with publishing Vice President for a club all in 4 years but the mcat was 500 I understand it taking holistic bu I think only gpa and mcat For this we begin not to have good dr because you don’t see who is dedicated for to be a dr who love the profession not the money (soryfor my writing I learn English toking not by school I was to busy to make money for survival then to go to school)

[bhavyanair]

Sir I am currently doing bsc cardiac perfusion...is it beneficial?

[ItzMe]

I am planning to take Kinesiology major as premed. Whats your view on this?

[chrisbark]

I am currently pursuing a BA in Linguistics and would like to get some research experience. How is non-medical/hard science research viewed by admissions committees? I can only assume not all research is the same and I don’t want to be shooting myself in the foot by not focusing my efforts.

[arnoldstephen]

I had done bachelors of pharmacy in India...now i am moving to Canada on PR...so would my degree be considered as a pre-med in Canada...as i plan to attend medical school there.

[dunnbrandon]

What about BSN to MD? is it frown upon?