Pre-med majors play a crucial role in securing medical school admission for aspiring students. This is an opportunity to study any subject you love while still pursuing your dream of becoming a doctor. However, completing certain core requirements during your undergraduate degree is a mandatory criterion for admission in most medical schools.
Caribbean medical schools welcome students from diverse educational backgrounds, considering the importance of every subject area in preparing a student. However, you must complete pre-requisite coursework in basic science subjects and English to apply for the MD program.
If you are an aspiring medical student confused about your undergraduate degree choice, here’s what you need to know.
What are the pre-med major options for students?
Choosing the right pre-med major is a challenging task for aspiring students as there are plenty of options out there. While most students choose any of the basic science subjects such as biology and chemistry, you can also opt for humanities, psychiatry, or social sciences if you love these subjects.
When choosing an undergraduate degree, there is no right choice. You can choose to pursue any subject you love while focusing on completing the pre-med coursework required for the admission process.
As per Association of American Medical Colleges, most medical school aspirants opt for biology and related sciences for their undergraduate degrees. Having a science major gives you a preference over other candidates with non-science backgrounds. If admitted to an MD program, you will find navigating the basic science semesters easier than the rest of the students due to your knowledge in the subject area.
Biological science is a broad area where you can choose to major in a variety of subjects such as microbiology, zoology, biotechnology, neuroscience, physiology, and many more.
Some other common undergraduate study options for students are mathematics and statistics, social sciences such as political science, anthropology, and sociology, and humanities subjects like literature and philosophy.
What are the pre-med requirements for admission?
Once you choose an undergraduate degree, it is important that you understand the significance of completing certain core science classes. Regardless of what you opt for in your undergraduate degree, you must complete the core requirements listed by medical schools to be eligible for admission to MD programs.
Here are some of the pre-requisite coursework you must complete:
- One year of zoology or general biology
- One year of organic chemistry
- One year of inorganic chemistry
- One year of English
The chemistry coursework must include laboratory components to ensure practical experience.
While science courses can demonstrate your passion for medicine and act more like a preparation for the MD program, a broad background in arts or humanities can also become favorable for you in the long run. An art major along with pre-med coursework can show the admissions committee that you are an all-rounder.
So, choose an undergraduate program that best suits your interest and does not tire you out, while focusing on the core science subjects.
Review What Kinds Of Undergraduate Degrees Are Accepted By Medical Schools?.