Is neuroscience a good major for medical school
Is neuroscience a good major for medical school
by Cody Couperus, studied at Medical SchoolThe best undergrad degree for medical school is the one that you feel passionate about. Nothing quite like sitting through classes that don’t interest you just so you can go learn how to be a doctor. Try to study something you like for your bachelors and then go from there.
In a perfect world your bachelors would fit into the big picture of your future goals. It can be tough to know for sure what you want or will do in 10, 20, or even 30 years - that’s fine, goals change, but try to think about these things in the context of the present moment.
If you like neuroscience then go for it! Learning about the nervous system, neurons, dendrites, axons, synapses, neurotransmitters, ion channels and the such can be very interesting. Don’t underestimate how challenging understanding voltage potentials and voltage propagation can be! I assure you this degree will be a wonderful challenge.
I’d say the perfect person to do a neuroscience undergrad would be somebody who wants has interest in medical disorders of a neurologic basis. This doesn’t mean you’d have to train as a neurologist - though that may end up being what you want to do! I have classmates who trained in neuroscience for undergrad, did research in neuroscience, and are hard set on doing neurology residencies. I also have classmates who studied neuroscience and are going to be infectious disease docs.
Your choice now doesn’t set your career path in stone. That said, do your best to line it up with your passions and interests as this is most likely to serve you in your future.
One alternative idea is to study something not scientific at all! I have classmates who studied Russian literature or an era of history for their bachelors! If you do this, keep in mind that you’ll still have to take the med school pre-reqs like biology and organic chemistry.
Whatever you choose, remember to pursue your passion, keep an open mind, and always have fun!
by Geoffrey Guttmann, former College of Medicine Faculty at University of Saskatchewan (1996-2002)
Yes, neuroscience can be a good undergraduate major that will later provide a good basis for medical school admission and doing the curriculum.
I suggest you do a major that you want to do and enjoy in the undergraduate curriculum and not worry which major will get you into medical school. If you love neuroscience than by all means do a neuroscience major but if you like Spanish language and literature, then do Spanish language and literature or any other major. You just need to make sure you get the requisite courses expected of a prospective medical student and be prepared for the MCAT.
The most important aspect of a major is that you enjoy doing the major and get very good grades showing you have a grasp of the field. Also, keep in mind to do a major that will allow you to enter the job market or graduate school should you not get into medical school.
Bottom line: Enjoy your undergraduate education. Do very well in your major. Do very well in the requisite courses for medical school. Lastly, make sure the undergraduate program helps you get a job or enter graduate school should you not get into medical school.
Neuroscience is a major that will help you succeed in medical school but may or may not necessarily help you get in. Statistically, non-science majors have an easier time getting accepted into medical school because they are more diverse people. I believe humanities majors have the highest acceptance rate by percentage. One survey a few years ago showed up to 80% are accepted. The more recent numbers I saw were closer to 50%. Life science has the highest acceptance rate by volume but only about 40% of applicants are accepted.
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