What is the hardest pre-med major?

Asked by: Calista Lang III  |  Last update: March 18, 2022
Score: 4.4/5 (38 votes)

Organic Chemistry:
It shouldn't surprise you that organic chemistry takes the No. 1 spot as the hardest college course. This course is often referred to as the “pre-med killer” because it actually has caused many pre-med majors to switch their major.

What is the best major for pre-med?

The top five popular science majors for pre-med are: Biology ( general and other) Biochemistry. Neurobiology.
...
Health-related studied are a natural stepping stone to medical school, with the top five pre-med health majors being:
  • Medicine.
  • Other medical specialties.
  • Nursing.
  • Public Health.
  • Health administration.

What is the easiest major for pre-med?

So, if you're interested in the physical sciences, this may be the easiest pre-med major for you.
...
BCPM GPA
  • Biology.
  • Cell Biology.
  • Neurobiology.
  • Neuroscience.
  • Immunology.
  • Biophysics.
  • Chemistry.
  • Biochemistry.

Is premed major difficult?

In an absolute sense, SUCCEEDING as a premed by getting into medical school will be difficult for most college students. But to some individuals who succeed, it may not be hard at all. It may in fact be easy.

What majors do best on MCAT?

Matriculants with math and statistics, physical science and humanities majors scored the highest on the MCAT, with scores of 514.8, 513.1 and 512.9 respectively. The average accepted GPA between majors is close across the board with math and statistics and physical sciences majors tied with a 3.61.

The BEST PRE-MED MAJOR | Proven By Med School Acceptance Data

39 related questions found

What major should I choose to be a doctor?

Pre-med. As far as college majors for doctors go, this one is a no-brainer, and there's a reason why it's a popular choice. Choosing a pre-med track means that all of the guesswork as to which classes are best to prep for medical school and the MCAT® (the Medical College Admission Test) is done.

Is med school harder than premed?

Medical School is more difficult than being pre-med. Pre-med is not a major; it is a set of required courses taken as electives or as part of a major. My undergrad major was chemistry since many of the pre-med requirements are chemistry courses.

What is the average MCAT score?

Your MCAT total score will be in the range of 472-528 with an average score of 500. Each of the four MCAT sections is scored between 118-132 with an average score of 125. Applicants accepted to allopathic (MD-granting) medical schools for the 2021-2022 year had an average MCAT score of 511.9.

What percentage of medical students drop out?

Those entering medical schools who are committed to completing the program are 81.6 percent to 84.3 percent. So, what is the dropout rate for medical school? In a standard, single four-year program, that would put the medical school dropout rate at between 15.7 percent and 18.4 percent, confirms the AAMC.

What major has the highest acceptance rate to medical school?

It turns out that students in humanities, math and statistics, and physical sciences—the groups with the highest admissions rates—tend to achieve the highest total MCAT scores.

Is biology a hard major?

Biology is certainly a hard major but not quite as difficult as other STEM majors such as physics or chemistry. Most students find a biology degree difficult to pursue because it has an extensive syllabus, lots of lab work, several challenging concepts, unfamiliar vocabulary, and lots of things to memorize.

Is neuroscience a good major for pre-med?

You just need to make sure you get the requisite courses expected of a prospective medical student and be prepared for the MCAT. Yes, neuroscience can be a good undergraduate major that will later provide a good basis for medical school admission and doing the curriculum.

What is the best major?

Top 10 College Majors
  1. Computer Science. ...
  2. Communications. ...
  3. Government/Political Science. ...
  4. Business. ...
  5. Economics. ...
  6. English Language and Literature. ...
  7. Psychology. ...
  8. Nursing.

Should I retake a 509 MCAT?

So, a 509 MCAT score will put you a good place to get accepted in one of those schools. Retaking the MCAT likely wouldn't benefit you in this situation. The same goes for other medical school-heavy states, such as California or Texas.

Should I retake a 512 MCAT?

If you were averaging 510-512s on your practice AAMC exam but scored much lower on test day, this is a good reason to retake the MCAT. The lower score is more likely due to nerves, pressure, lack of sleep, or sickness than lack of knowledge and ability.

Should I retake a 514 MCAT?

If you've scored a 514 or above you should probably not retest. If your score is in the middle of these two extremes, your GPA may be the deciding factor. As the table shows, a score below 498 corresponds to an 18% chance of acceptance, even with a fantastic GPA of 3.79 or higher.

What year of med school is the hardest?

According to NRMP and other online sources, the hardest year of medical school is first year. Year one of medical school is the most difficult for many reasons.

Is there a lot of chemistry in med school?

There isn't much in the way of direct study of chemistry during medical school. However, much of what you will study will require a basic understanding of chemistry and you will be responsible for quite a bit of biochemistry.

How hard is it really to become a doctor?

It can take 11 or more years of education and training to become a medical doctor. If you want to be a specialist, you may spend 13 or more years in practice and study. The time and money invested in medical school and training is substantial, but job satisfaction and quality of life is high in this profession.

Is premed a major?

A pre-med program is designed to cover all the science and laboratory requirements needed for continued education in medicine or healthcare. Pre-med is not a major itself but rather a program that ensures students take all the required classes needed to apply for medical school.

Is a BA or BS better for med school?

Ultimately, a BA student is still a strong competitor against a BS student when applying to med school. While students pursuing a BA lack the medical specialization that comes with a BS degree, this can be countered with the additional electives, majors, or minors BA students can pursue during undergrad.

Is psychology a good pre-med major?

Psychology is a popular major among premed students, as well as those interested in other health-related professions. National statistics show that students who major in psychology are as likely to be admitted to medical school as those who major in biology or chemistry.

Is the MCAT hard?

The MCAT is a hard test, but it's manageable if you approach it diligently and efficiently. In other words, you'll need to work hard and smart. Let's look at what makes the exam more challenging than other tests you might have taken or heard of.