The Best Majors for the Medical Field

The medical field? You got it. In this blog post we will be covering the best majors for the medical field along with their areas of specialization. We will also cover some reasons as to why some choose to go into medicine, and some don’t! Our niche healthcare job board Healthcare Consultant has top quality healthcare jobs for those of any level of healthcare experience. Give us a look if you’re looking for that next necessary step in your medical career!

Why should you go into medicine?

1. Helping people with their health.
2. Looking for leadership opportunity in a healthcare team.
3. Clinical and non-clinical career options.
4. Do you like learning in a challenging career?
5. Being able to give surgery to those who need it.

Why shouldn’t you go into medicine?

1. Don’t go for the fat stacks of cash, although it is nice.
2. Don’t go to tell everyone 'I'm a doctor'.
3. Don’t go because you think it will be like Grey's Anatomy.
4. Don’t go because other people are pushing you to be a doctor.
5. The work-life balance is only in certain careers in the field, but the majority won’t give you it.

List of Areas for the Medical Field

Allergology

Anesthesiology

Cardiology

Dermatology

Emergency Medicine

Family and General Practice

Gastroenterology

Internal Medicine

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Orthopedics

Pathology

Pediatrics

Psychiatry

Radiology

Surgery

Research

Public Health

List of Employers for the Medical Field

Hospitals

Clinics

Private or group practice

Health networks

Nursing homes

Rehabilitation centers

Mental health institutions

Federal, state, and local health departments

Government agencies

Armed services

Correctional facilities

Colleges or universities

Medical schools

Startups

Large corporations

What majors do medical schools prefer?

The answer to this question is based on commonality. You see, there is a trend here from this survey of 21,622 students who were accepted into Medical School:

Biological Sciences - 11,843

Physical Sciences - 2,214

Social Sciences - 2,107

Humanities - 797

Specialized Health Sciences - 650

Math and Statistics - 168

Other - 3,843

What kind of undergraduate degree for medical school do you need? Do any medical majors have an advantage?

The data points to no. In 2018-2019, 29,443 students with majors in biological sciences applied to medical schools. The acceptance rate for that group was approximately 40 percent.

Some students did however find that a science-focused major gives them the foundation to succeed on the MCAT and hit the ground running once they enter medical school. Meaning that their background and premed requirements were easier to fulfill. There’s no denying that science degrees make up the majority of the most popular degrees to study before medical school. Specific popular degrees within the sciences mentioned previously that people study before medical school are: physiology and human biology, organic chemistry, microbiology, general science, computer and information sciences, ecology, zoology, botany, and mathematics.

Most Popular Pre-Med Arts Majors

Arts is a broader category of study, but the top four popular arts majors for pre-med are:

1. Humanities
2. Social Sciences
3. Art and design
4. Liberal arts

Most Popular Pre-Med Health Majors

1. Medicine
2. Other medical specialties
3. Nursing
4. Public Health
5. Health Administration

Competitive GPAs for Med School

In the class of 2016, successful applicants from the biological sciences had a mean MCAT of 31 and GPA of 3.69, whereas those from the humanities had a mean MCAT of 31.8 and a GPA of 3.66. That means there is competition if you want to succeed in this field.

What is the best undergraduate degree for medical school in Canada?

By focusing on your undergraduate degree in a science-based field in Canada, you'll be faring well, similar to that of the United States. There are a few requirements. The first is that you need to register for a baccalaureate degree program and get your degree finished before admission or you have already finished your degree. Admissions doesn't have a preference to which college you went to and which degree program you completed. You should however pursue you own interests while fulfilling the requirements of your degree program. For this to work you'll need a GPA (grade point average) or 3.2 on a four point scale if you are from Canada. If you aren't from Canada you'll need a staggering 3.8.

The GPA is only one piece of this puzzle, however. You’ll also need to complete the MCAT and achieve a good score along with meeting several other requirements that vary institution to institution.

Closing Thoughts

To get into medical school, students will need to maintain a high GPA especially in prerequisite courses and study for the MCAT exam. Your path is open and limitless from there.

Regarding selection of a major, students are more likely to thrive and get to where they want to be when they’ve chosen subjects that they’re naturally drawn to and in which they have an aptitude or interest. Don’t select a major based on what’s easy or difficult. This may be a major related to biology, or something else. In this case, if you have a change of heart down the road, you’re more likely to have amazing alternatives that fit your career interests. Two birds with one stone, as medical school will still be within reach. If you're looking for your medical career afterward, don't forget to check out Healthcare Consultant.