Chem vs bio major premed
Context:
I’m a rising premed sophomore still deciding between a chem major vs bio major.
I plan to minor in public health with either.
I know your major doesn’t matter for medical school, but I’ve been going back between the two and need to make a decision.
Hoping for advice, which do you think would be most beneficial for medical school 🤔
I would like to go straight into medical school so I plan to take the mcat junior year spring.
Pros and cons list:
Chem major:
Pros:
- really interested in drug development research
- challenging but very interesting
- like the skill set
- open to all specialties but Derm is my favorite currently, I feel like chem connects with Derm very well.
- lots of career options postgrad if I take a gap year.
Cons:
- sort of behind because I didn’t take calc my freshman year so physics is pushed to junior year, and pchem senior year
-heavy semesters but doable, gpa risk.
-struggling to fit classes like genetics, anatomy, microbio, which I’ve heard are really beneficial for medical school. (can try to make it work though)
-can’t really use summers bc of internships + classes very expensive.
Bio major
Pros:
-will have all premed reqs done by junior fall ( I can take algebra based physics instead of calc based sophomore year then study mcat over summer and winter break)
-very interesting + labs are fun.
-cleaner schedule, hard classes are spread out so more gpa protection.
-includes all the recommended courses ( genetics, microbio, etc.)
Cons:
-chem major fomo. 🫤
-feels like every premed majors in bio, doesn’t help stand out
My school doesn’t have a biochem major 💔