If you’re planning to attend medical school, you might assume there’s a specific undergraduate major you need to choose. There isn’t. Medical schools accept students from a range of academic backgrounds, and you can pursue a bachelor’s degree in biology, economics, English, or many other fields and still become a physician.
What matters most is completing the prerequisite coursework required by the medical schools you plan to apply to while gaining meaningful clinical, research, service, and other experiences. Your major should also be one that genuinely interests you and allows you to perform well academically.
While science majors like biology, biomedical sciences, and chemistry are popular choices because they often overlap with medical school prerequisites, they aren't your only options.
In this guide, we'll cover the most popular pre-med majors, explore nontraditional majors that can still prepare you for medical school, and share tips for choosing the right major for your goals.
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Popular Majors for Pre-Med Students
Science majors are popular choices for pre-med students because their coursework often overlaps with medical school prerequisites and provides a strong foundation for future training. While there is no “degree for pre-med” or required major, they can make it easier to complete pre-medical courses while developing the background you’ll need as a future physician.
Below are some of the most common majors chosen by pre-med students and what to consider when deciding whether each one is right for you.
Biology
Biology, or biological sciences, is one of the most common majors for pre-med students because it provides a broad foundation in the life sciences. Depending on the program, coursework may cover areas like cellular biology, molecular biology, genetics, microbiology, and physiology.
As a biology major, you’ll gain lab experience that can help prepare you for the hands-on nature of medical training. Depending on the university, you may also have opportunities to participate in research or pursue internships at hospitals or public health organizations. These experiences can help you explore different areas of healthcare and strengthen your med school application.
Biochemistry
Biochemistry focuses on the chemical processes that occur in living organisms, making it a natural choice for students interested in the intersection of biology and chemistry. Coursework may cover topics such as molecular biology, genetics, and immunology. Since biochemistry overlaps with both biology and chemistry, it can provide a strong foundation for the MCAT.
Depending on the program, biochemistry majors may have opportunities to participate in research projects or internships at biotech companies or research labs. The valuable hands-on experience and potential mentorships could be great resources for letters of recommendation and your personal statement.
Biomedical Sciences
Biomedical sciences focus on the biological processes behind human health and disease. Depending on the university, students may study subjects such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and genetics, along with other health-related topics.
Because the curriculum varies by school, students should review the specific courses offered and how well they align with their medical school prerequisites. This major may be a good fit for students who are particularly interested in human health and want to explore those topics in more depth during college.
Neuroscience
Neuroscience combines concepts from fields such as biology, chemistry, psychology, and physics to explore the structure and function of the nervous system. For students interested in understanding the brain and human behavior, it can provide a strong interdisciplinary foundation.
Depending on the program, neuroscience majors may take courses in areas such as cellular neuroscience, neurobiology, psychology, anatomy, and physiology. Many programs also offer opportunities to participate in research.
Neuroscience can be an appealing choice if you're interested in the brain and nervous system. Still, you don't need to major in it to pursue a career in a neurological or psychiatric specialty.
Chemistry
Chemistry is another popular major among pre-med students, with coursework focused on chemical reactions, molecular structure, and the properties of matter. Depending on the program, students may take courses in physical sciences, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry, and biochemistry.
Chemistry can also provide opportunities to participate in research, including work in academic laboratories, pharmaceutical research, or other scientific fields. This is a demanding major, so it makes the most sense for students who genuinely enjoy the field.
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Alternative and Non-Traditional Majors
You don’t have to major in a science to attend medical school. Medical schools generally don’t require applicants to have a specific undergraduate major, as long as you complete the relevant prerequisite courses. If you choose a non-science major, you’ll most likely need to plan your coursework more carefully to meet prerequisites alongside your major requirements.
Some alternative majors for pre-med students include:
- Psychology: A psychology major provides insight into human behavior, mental health, and the social factors that influence health and well-being.
- Humanities and social sciences: Subjects like sociology, anthropology, or philosophy can help you develop skills in critical thinking and communication.
- English and literature: An English major strengthens writing, reading, and analytical skills that can be valuable throughout medical training and a career in medicine.
- Foreign languages: A foreign language major, such as Spanish, can strengthen communication skills and prep students to work with patients from diverse backgrounds.
- Public health: A public health major explores health at a population level, including topics like epidemiology, health policy, and health disparities.
- Mathematics: A mathematics major develops quantitative reasoning, problem-solving, and analytical skills that can be valuable in medical research and clinical practice.
Virtually any field can be compatible with a pre-med path as long as you complete the required prerequisites, whether you pursue the health sciences or the humanities. If you're considering other healthcare careers, such as becoming a physician assistant, your undergraduate major and prerequisite requirements will look different.
Learn More: Pre-Med vs. BS/MD Quiz – Which Path Is Right for You?
Benefits and Considerations
Choosing a non-traditional major can allow you to pursue an area of study that genuinely interests you while bringing a different perspective to your med school application. A background in the humanities, social sciences, public health, or another field can also complement your scientific training and help you approach patient care in a unique way.
There are some practical considerations to keep in mind. Many courses required for a non-science major may not overlap with the science prerequisites required by medical schools, so you may need to fit additional biology, chemistry, or physics courses into your schedule.
You may also need to be more intentional about building clinical, research, and other extracurricular experiences alongside your major requirements. If you realize later in college that you’re missing prerequisites, you may need to take extra coursework after graduation, like through a post-baccalaureate program, before applying.
For students who enjoy a subject outside the traditional pre-med sciences, however, this kind of path may be worthwhile. The goal isn’t to choose the “right” major for medical school, but to choose a major that interests you while making sure you fulfill the requirements needed to be a competitive applicant.
Choosing the Right Pre-Med Major
There is no single “best” major for pre-med students. The right choice depends on your academic strengths, personal interests, career goals, and ability to complete the prerequisites required by the medical schools you’re considering.
Consider Your Academic Strengths
When choosing a pre-med major, consider your academic strengths and how well the coursework aligns with the subjects you enjoy and perform well in. Maintaining a strong GPA is important for medical school admissions, so choosing a major that you can thrive in academically can look just as good to committees as choosing a major because it is considered “pre-med.”
You should also understand how your science coursework contributes to your BCPM GPA. Your science and overall GPAs are reported separately, so consider how your major requirements and additional prerequisite courses may affect both.
Your academic planning should also leave room to prepare for the MCAT and complete the prerequisite courses required by the medical schools you plan to apply to. Ultimately, the best major is one that allows you to excel academically while providing you enough flexibility to complete the coursework required for medical school.
Think About Personal Interests and Passions
Your undergraduate major is an opportunity to study something you genuinely enjoy, whether that is biology, music, or another field. Choosing a subject that interests you can make your college experience more rewarding and help you develop knowledge and skills that you can carry into your future career.
You should also consider how your major aligns with your long-term career goals. For example, students interested in sports medicine may enjoy kinesiology, while those interested in physical therapy may want to explore health sciences or exercise-related fields. Students interested in medical technology may be drawn to biomedical engineering.
Your major does not have to determine your eventual specialty, but choosing a field that complements your interests can give you opportunities to explore potential career paths.
Factor in the Required Prerequisites
Before declaring a major, review the prerequisites for the medical schools you may want to attend. Science majors often include some of these courses as part of their degree requirements, while students in other majors may need to complete additional science courses alongside their major coursework.
Planning ahead can help you avoid discovering late in your undergraduate career that you’re missing required courses.
Beyond Your Major: What Else Matters?
Your undergraduate major is only one part of your medical school application. Admissions committees consider your academic performance, MCAT score, clinical experiences, research, and other activities when evaluating whether you’re ready for a career in medicine.
Note: If you’re a parent helping your child navigate the pre-med process, you may also find our guide on how you can help your child get into med school useful.
As you plan your undergraduate years, make sure you’re building a well-rounded application rather than focusing exclusively on your choice of major.
- GPA: Your overall and science GPAs are important indicators of your academic performance. You don’t need to choose the easiest major to earn a strong GPA, but you shouldn’t choose a demanding major simply because you think medical schools will view it more favorably if your grades suffer.
- MCAT: Your MCAT score assesses the knowledge and skills you’ve developed across the sciences, as well as your critical reasoning abilities. Plan your coursework and study schedule with the exam in mind.
- Clinical experience: Gaining experience in a healthcare setting can help you understand what it’s like to work with patients and determine whether medicine is right for you. Pre-med jobs such as medical assistants, EMTs, or medical scribes can provide hands-on exposure to healthcare while helping you build relevant experience.
- Shadowing: Shadowing physicians allows you to observe the day-to-day responsibilities of doctors and learn about different specialties and practice settings. Look for meaningful experiences that expose you to different aspects of medicine. At least 40 hours is a good benchmark to make your application competitive.
- Research: Research experience can help you develop skills in scientific inquiry, critical thinking, and analyzing evidence, especially if you’re interested in academic medicine. Students targeting more selective, research-focused schools often have 400+ research hours listed on their applications.
- Community service and volunteering: Service experiences demonstrate your commitment to helping others and can help you develop core competencies like service orientation, empathy, and compassion. Look for opportunities that allow you to contribute consistently over time.
- Leadership and extracurricular activities: Leadership roles, student organizations, employment, and other activities can demonstrate initiative, responsibility, and the ability to balance multiple commitments. Not all of your activities need to be directly related to medicine.
FAQs
There is no specific undergraduate major that gives you an admissions advantage in medical school applications. Medical schools accept students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, and applicants are evaluated based on factors like their GPA, MCAT score, prerequisite coursework, clinical experience, research, and other experiences.
Your choice of major matters less than your ability to perform well academically and build a strong overall application.
If you’re researching the best majors for pre-med, there is no single major that is right for every student. Science majors like biology and chemistry can make it easier to complete many medical school prerequisites, but non-science majors can allow you to pursue other academic interests and develop a different perspective.
The best major is one that interests you, aligns with your strengths and goals, and allows you to complete the prerequisites required by the medical schools you plan to apply to.
A competitive GPA for medical school is generally around 3.6 or higher, although that may vary depending on the schools you’re targeting and the strength of the rest of your application.
For the 2025-2026 application cycle, MD matriculants had an average overall GPA of 3.81 and an average BCPM GPA of 3.75. DO matriculants had an average overall GPA of 3.60 and a BCPM GPA of 3.52.
There is no minimum GPA that guarantees admission, and a lower GPA does not automatically rule you out. A strong MCAT score, upward academic trend, clinical experience, research, service, and other components of your application can all improve your chances for admission.
There is no single university that is the best choice for every pre-med student. When comparing schools, consider factors such as the strength of their academic programs, the availability of research and clinical opportunities, pre-medicine advising, cost, and how well the university aligns with your goals.
A university also does not need to have a formal pre-med college major for you to successfully prepare for medical school. For a closer look at schools to consider, check out our guides to the best pre-med schools and best non-Ivy League schools for pre-med.
Don’t Navigate the Pre-Med Track Alone
Choosing a pre-med major is an important decision, but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. A pre-med advisor can help you evaluate your academic strengths and interests, understand medical school prerequisites, and develop a plan that keeps you on track for your application.
Getting guidance early can also help you avoid common mistakes, like missing prerequisite courses or discovering late in college that you need additional coursework. Whether you already have a major in mind or are still exploring your options, personalized guidance can help you make informed decisions about your path to medical school.
Kachiu Lee, MD
Dr. Lee specializes in BS/MD admissions. She was accepted into seven combined bachelor-medical degree programs. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University and proceeded to Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL. After completing a dermatology residency at Brown University, Dr. Lee pursued a fellowship in Photomedicine, Lasers, and Cosmetics at Massachusetts General Hospital and was a Clinical Fellow at Harvard Medical School. Academically, she has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and lectures internationally.
