Choosing a Major

Going into undergrad, I thought I had it all planned out. I would major in Biology, take the recommended pre-med courses to satisfy the requirements necessary for medical school, and prep for the MCAT knowing my science foundation would give me a leg up in performing well. Fast track a year and I quickly found my interests changing and this ultimately lead me to pursue my undergrad studies with a more interdisciplinary focus.

It all began with taking an introductory anthropology class to satisfy the liberal arts requirements that all students needed to complete at my undergrad school. We learned about the experience of illness, medicine as practiced by different cultures around the world, and how healthcare varies even within Western medical systems. This got me thinking - healthcare encompasses more than just biomedicine and is embedded within a network of social, cultural, political, and economic factors that affect its delivery and access. To continue learning about the interaction between these factors, I chose to pursue my education in International Studies with a focus in Global Health and Medical Anthropology. Along the way, I completed my pre-med requirements/recommended courses and felt I had a unique perspective coming into medical school to share with faculty and peers based on coursework and related extracurricular involvement.

If you're in the process of choosing an undergrad major, I encourage you to think about what interests you. Take an introductory class or two to explore new fields. Talk to upperclassmen or your professors to gain insight from their experience. Ask healthcare professionals you shadow why they chose their major and how they applied their interests and education in medicine. Keep in mind how you can structure your pre-med requirements within your undergrad schedule to satisfy the courses necessary to prep for the MCAT and professional school. Also, if you have a pre-health adviser at your institution, they can serve as a great resource to help you with this process too.