Pre-Med Ambiguity: Major or Pathway?

So, I'm interested in going to med school, but I'm a little confused about the whole pre-med thing. Is pre-med considered a major itself, or is it more like an academic track? Can I pair it with other majors? Anyone have the lowdown on this?

Pre-med is not a major per se; instead, it is an educational track designed for students who intend to attend medical school post undergraduate. It's more of a directive that guides your course selection to prepare you for medical school prerequisites, focusing on classes in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics.

However, being a pre-med student doesn't restrict you to a specific major. You could major in Biology, Chemistry, or any area of study, really – even those not related to science. For instance, you can major in English, Sociology, or Economics and still be a pre-med student as long as you complete the necessary science-based prerequisite classes for medical school.

The advantage of this is that you can pursue your interests outside of science during your undergraduate years, which will diversify your knowledge base and potentially make you a more well-rounded candidate for med school.

As an example, a student with a Sociology major and a pre-med focus could contribute a distinct perspective to the field, especially in terms of understanding societal perspectives on healthcare. Just remember that no matter your major, maintaining a high GPA and meeting med school prerequisite courses are important.

So, in simple terms, think of "Pre-Med" as a guideline to picking your courses more than it is a major. Happy studying!