As you are probably already aware, there is no required undergraduate major for students who plan to attend medical school. Many stick to the hard sciences, of course — though there are also many exceptions to this.  (For instance, MedSoc faculty member Dr. Ricardo Nuila, an attending physician at Ben Taub, majored in English as an undergraduate.) 

So when students ask, “What should I major in if I want to get into medical school?” our standard response is based on what medical schools tell us: that you should study the subjects you are most passionate about and from there apply yourself to get the most thorough, well-rounded undergraduate education possible, one that you feel will ready you to embark on the distinct, individual medical career that best suits you.

However, there are numerous courses that — regardless of your major — medical schools will still expect you to have taken in order to enter medical school. One of the best resources for this is the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS) website, which gives a very thorough overview of courses needed; though do note that these are the MINIMAL requirements for admission, and additional upper-level coursework is recommended.

We also highly recommend devoting time to exploring the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), which is another great resource full of tips, tutorials, webinars and more that can give you a full understanding of the expectations and rigor involved in becoming a successful candidate for medical school.