While it’s true that biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, and chemistry still top the list of the most popular majors for students who are pre-med, it’s also entirely possible to graduate with an undergraduate degree in the humanities, take the MCAT, and then attend medical school. Another option is to study STEM at a liberal arts school, and then follow the same path. We’ve found that most people think that pre-med students are better off at large research universities. This blog post will detail the pros and cons of attending a liberal arts college if medical school is your ultimate goal.
PROS:
Well-rounded education:
The traditional liberal arts curriculum can equip aspiring doctors with strong writing and communication skills. Political science, history, and philosophy classes can also lead to a more informed view of the world and a heightened understanding of ethics and morality.
More time to explore your interests:
Students who are on the fence about a career in medicine could do well at a liberal arts college with more flexibility in the curriculum. Bigger research universities with high medical school matriculation rates often weed weaker students out of science programs with complex introductory courses. If you’re weighing your options, it’s smart to consider attending a liberal arts college that will allow you take STEM courses in addition to classes in your other areas of interest.
Smaller classes with better interactions with professors:
Not all liberal arts schools are small, but generally speaking the class sizes are capped at a much smaller size than at big universities. If you thrive in more tight-knit settings, a liberal arts environment could be beneficial. It’s easier to attend office hours, get extra help, and you’ll likely already have a relationship with your professor when it becomes time to ask for medical school recommendation letters.
CONS:
Lack of Pre-Med Advising Programs:
We wrote a blog post on the ten best colleges for pre-med students, and the common thread throughout all of them was a stellar pre-med advising program. This is not to say there is not any advising at a liberal arts college (!!,) but most research universities offer a robust network of advisors who aim to help pre-med students find jobs, connect with professionals working in the field, and look for outside opportunities.
Course offerings:
As we said earlier, many liberal arts schools do offer STEM-based majors. But generally speaking, the course and program offerings at long-standing research universities are stronger. And if you major in English but plan to apply to medical school, you’ll need to prepare for the MCAT on your own.
Lack of access to hospitals:
A lot of research universities that are well known for their medical programs either have a hospital close to (or on) campus, or are affiliated with a teaching hospital. Jobs and opportunities are typically reserved for students already in med school, but it’s not unheard of for undergraduates to apply for shadowing, research, and work opportunities at the hospitals. If you attend a liberal arts college, you’ll need to find these opportunities without the existing network of possibilities.
Fewer research opportunities:
There will likely be fewer research opportunities at a liberal arts school, simply because usually there are fewer professors teaching the sciences there. In order to find research, you’ll need to get comfortable with the idea of pitching yourself—not just to your professors, but also to professionals working in the field. It’s worth noting that location becomes a factor here, as you will need to be able to get to and from your research internship. This means that there might be additional challenges if you attend a liberal arts college in a rural setting.
Deciding where to go to college is a personal choice and one that requires you realizing your own strengths and weaknesses. We encourage all of our readers to look into program specifics rather than create a school list based on status or rankings. If you want to be a doctor, there are plenty of different paths for you to take. You just have to figure out which one makes the most sense for you.
Need help figuring out where you’ll get what you need? Contact us here.