The Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) statistics show that roughly 70% of medical school applicants choose to study science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) majors in college. Though STEM majors represent the vast majority of majors chosen by pre-medical students, it is by no means a requirement that premeds study your typical premed majors to gain admission into medical school. In fact, for many medical school-bound undergraduates, a non-STEM major is likely the better option for you to ensure that you maximize your time and educational resources in college.
WHY CONSIDER A NON-TRADITIONAL PREMED MAJOR?
BENEFITS OF A NON-TRADITION PREMED MAJOR
Admission to medical school does not require that you complete a STEM major. However, medical schools require pre-medical students to take specific science classes in order to gain admission. These courses cover the following subjects:
- Biology
- Organic and inorganic chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Physics, and
- English
Though many STEM majors allow pre-meds to simultaneously fulfill the premed requirements in addition to their college’s graduation requirements, these STEM majors often leave little room for in-depth study in other disciplines. This is where non-traditional premed majors become key.
When I say “non-traditional premed major” I’m mostly talking about anything that falls outside of the STEM categorization. In the chart above, humanities and “other” represent non-traditional premed majors. Approximately 30% of medical school applicants pursue non-traditional premed majors. I’m not advocating that all premed ditch the typical STEM premed majors. Rather, if you’re a premed with strong or broad non-science interests, I want to encourage you to pursue those interests in addition to completing the premed requirements.
NON-TRADITIONAL PREMED MAJORS TO CONSIDER
You might be wondering, “What non-traditional premed major is best for me?” Well, lucky for you, there are ample options for you to consider if you’re a premed with non-STEM interests. Below I’ve broken down some of the potential non-traditional premed majors into the following categories: business, humanities and social sciences, and other. These lists are not comprehensive but should help you to think about some of the options that exist.
NON-TRADITIONAL PREMED MAJORS: BUSINESS
- Accounting
- Business Administration and Management
- Business Communications
- Economics
- Finance
- Human Resources Management
- International Business
- Marketing
- Real Estate Development
NON-TRADITIONAL PREMED MAJORS: HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
- Anthropology
- Area, Ethnic, and Multidisciplinary Studies
- Criminal Justice
- History of Science and Medicine
- Journalism
- Law, History, and Culture
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Sociology
- Urban Studies and Planning
- World Languages
NON-TRADITIONAL PREMED MAJORS: OTHER
- Architecture
- Visual and Performing Arts
Any of the above majors can allow you to pursue your non-STEM interests while allowing you to pursue your pre-med dreams.
Now that you know some examples of non-traditional premed majors, you might be curious as to how you can tackle these majors and premed curricula at the same time. Thankfully, there are a few options.
- You can major in a non-STEM field while taking premed requirements as electives.
- You can double major in premed and non-STEM majors.
- Another option is that you major in a STEM field while doing a minor in non-traditional premed coursework. (This is the option that I chose.)
SUMMARY
As a premed, your undergraduate major helps you to hone your intellectual prowess and critical thinking rather than directly prepare you for the field of medicine. More likely than not, a medical school will look positively on you as an applicant who chose your major based on true interest and who performed well in that major.
When choosing a major, step outside of your comfort zone, explore your interests outside of medicine, and don’t be afraid to blaze your own trail. While medicine may be your first love, there’s no need to stifle your other interests along the way. College provides you the opportunity to learn about such a diverse range of subjects. Take advantage! Gaining business acumen in college will only help to make you a more informed medical student and future physician!
Peace and blessings,
Atasha Jordan, MD (to be)
P.S. Make sure to check out the rest of the Premed Corner series here!
