Anaya Nolan
Pre-med and pre-law are not college majors, but rather pre-professional advising tracks that prepare students for a specific professional graduate degree. Students on these tracks can major in any subject they choose, as long as they also fulfil the pre-med or pre-law requirements. Both tracks are challenging and competitive, with demanding schedules and challenging coursework. Pre-med is generally regarded as more difficult than pre-law, as it is more time-consuming, competitive, and stressful, with higher dropout rates. However, some people may find pre-law more challenging depending on their academic strengths and learning preferences.
Can you be pre-med and pre-law?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Pre-requisites | Pre-med has specific pre-requisites, including science courses, MCAT, and extracurriculars like clinical experience and research. Pre-law does not have an official curriculum but may include extracurriculars like joining student government, volunteering, or research. |
| College major | Pre-med and pre-law are not typically considered college majors but rather pre-professional advising tracks. Students can major in any subject they choose as long as they fulfill the pre-professional requirements. |
| Academic rigor | Pre-med typically requires a rigorous undergraduate science curriculum. Pre-law considers the rigor of the college curriculum but does not have specific pre-requisite courses. |
| Admissions | Pre-med admissions focus on prerequisite courses, GPA, and a solid resume with clinical experience and medical shadowing. Pre-law admissions consider applicants' grades, LSAT scores, and the rigor of their college curriculum. A pre-med background can be a unique asset for law school applications. |
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What You'll Learn
Pre-med and pre-law are not college majors
For pre-med, specific pre-requisite courses are required for admission to medical school, including math and science classes. Additionally, pre-med students often engage in extracurricular activities such as clinical experience, volunteering, shadowing, and research to strengthen their applications.
On the other hand, pre-law does not have an official curriculum or prerequisite courses. However, pre-law students typically focus on extracurricular activities such as joining student government, conducting research, or pursuing an honours thesis. Law schools consider applicants' grades and LSAT scores, as well as the rigor of their undergraduate curriculum. While certain majors are considered traditional pre-law paths, such as political science or criminal justice, law schools value diverse backgrounds. A student with an undergraduate degree in an unrelated field, such as information security or environmental science, may be viewed favourably for their potential to specialize in areas like data privacy or environmental law.
The distinction between pre-med and pre-law as advising tracks rather than college majors is important because it allows students the flexibility to explore different academic interests while also preparing for their intended professional path. This combination of a chosen major and a pre-professional track ensures that students develop a well-rounded educational foundation and enhances their competitiveness for admission to graduate programs.
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Pre-med students must complete specific prerequisites
Pre-med is not a college major, but rather a pre-professional advising track that prepares students for a specific professional graduate degree. Pre-med students must complete specific prerequisites to be accepted into medical school. These prerequisites include general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics. While not always required, these courses are recommended to build a strong foundation for the MCAT exam and medical school: English, psychology, sociology, and ethics. In addition to these courses, pre-med students are encouraged to gain clinical experience, volunteer in clinical and non-clinical settings, shadow healthcare professionals, and participate in research. These extracurricular activities demonstrate a commitment to medicine and enhance a student's application to medical school.
Colleges typically provide designated advisors for pre-med students to ensure they are on track with their requirements. It is important to note that medical schools do not accept IB or AP credit from high school to meet these requirements. The MCAT, a standardized exam, is a crucial component of the medical school application process and requires a strong background in the sciences.
While pre-law, similar to pre-med, is not an official college major, it is a path that prepares students for law school. Unlike medical school, law schools do not have specific prerequisite courses. Instead, they focus on applicants' grades and LSAT scores. However, pre-law students often engage in extracurricular activities such as joining student government, conducting research, or pursuing an honours thesis to strengthen their law school applications.
Although pre-med and pre-law are distinct paths, it is possible for a pre-med student to apply to law school. In such cases, their unique background can become an asset, showcasing their interdisciplinary strengths and diverse perspectives. Law school interviews provide an opportunity for pre-med students to highlight how their experiences will enrich their legal education. While pre-med students may have lower GPAs due to the rigorous grading of STEM courses, admissions officers consider more than just grades and test scores. Contextual evidence can be provided through a law school addendum to explain any transcript weaknesses.
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Pre-law students have no official curriculum
Pre-law students should seek educational, extracurricular, and life experiences that will assist them in developing the attributes required for a career in law. This includes developing critical reading, writing, and thinking skills, as well as gaining familiarity with the legal system and its institutions, concepts, and vocabulary. Students can gain this knowledge through courses in history, political science, language, business, anthropology, and philosophy.
Additionally, pre-law students should take advantage of opportunities to shadow, network with, or be mentored by practicing lawyers. They can also seek credit-bearing or paid internships in law-related settings during breaks and summers. While these experiences are not required for admission to law school, they can help students make informed decisions about their future careers.
The lack of an official curriculum for pre-law students allows for diversity in the classroom, as students from various educational backgrounds and walks of life bring their unique insights and perspectives to the study of law. This exchange of ideas and different points of view is valued in legal education and can enhance the learning experience for all students.
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Pre-med students can major in anything
Pre-med is not a major in itself, but rather a set of core classes that students complete as part of their application to medical school. This means that pre-med students are free to choose any subject they like as their major, while still pursuing their dream of becoming a doctor.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to what the best pre-med major is, and students can get into medical school with any bachelor's degree, as long as they meet the requirements for prerequisite courses. Biology is the closest to a traditional pre-med major, as it covers a broad spectrum of topics that provide a strong foundation for understanding human health and disease. It also provides valuable laboratory experience and allows students to take courses in anatomy and physiology, which can be helpful for future medical study. For these reasons, biology and other sciences are popular choices for pre-med students.
However, there is nothing wrong with selecting something further afield, such as a humanities subject. Modern or classical languages, literature, or philosophy, for example, can set students apart from other medical school applicants. If students opt for a humanities major, they should plan their coursework strategically to ensure they fulfill all their major and pre-med requirements. They should also take some higher-level science courses, as medical school admissions committees will look for these on their transcript.
Ultimately, pre-med students should choose a major that they like and that aligns with their interests, strengths, and future career plans. Medical schools want students who are authentic with genuine interests, so it is best to major in what you want, not what you think they want.
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Applying to law school with a pre-med background
That being said, there are some key differences between the two paths that you should be aware of when applying to law school. Firstly, pre-med tracks typically involve a rigorous undergraduate science curriculum, including prerequisites such as general chemistry, biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics, calculus, and statistics. These courses are designed to prepare students for the academic rigour of medical school. On the other hand, pre-law does not have an official curriculum, and there are no specific prerequisite courses required for admission into law school. However, most law schools will require you to have earned a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, take the LSAT, and submit documents such as a personal statement, resume, and letters of recommendation.
When applying to law school with a pre-med background, it's important to highlight your interdisciplinary strengths, problem-solving abilities, and diverse perspective. Admissions officers understand that successful candidates come from diverse academic backgrounds, and they are looking for more than just your grades, test scores, and undergraduate major. Your experiences as a pre-med student can bring value to your law school education, so be sure to communicate this in your application and interviews. For example, you may have gained clinical experience, medical shadowing, research skills, and analysis skills from lab work, which can all be valuable assets for a future law student.
Additionally, it's important to be confident in your decision to pursue a law degree and to focus on your future goals. While you may want to explain your change in career goals in your personal statement, avoid over-explaining your career shift. Instead, take pride in what you have learned and accomplished along the way, and highlight how your skills and experiences as a pre-med student will prepare you for the challenges of law school. Remember, admissions officers are aware that GPAs are not the only measure of a successful candidate, and they will take into account the rigorous grading of STEM courses when evaluating your application.
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Frequently asked questions
Pre-med and pre-law are not usually actual college majors but pre-professional advising tracks. Pre-med students need to complete specific prerequisite courses and develop a solid resume filled with clinical experience, medical shadowing, and other instances that demonstrate their commitment to medicine. Pre-law, on the other hand, has no official curriculum or specific prerequisite courses, however, students will need to gain extracurricular experience and achieve good grades and LSAT scores.
Yes, it is possible to be on both the pre-med and pre-law tracks. However, it will require a lot of work as you will need to complete the prerequisites for both paths, as well as gain the necessary experience and meet the requirements for each.
Being on the pre-med and pre-law tracks can help to optimise your chances of admittance into graduate programs. It can also help to provide a sense of direction and clarity in your academic and professional career.
To become pre-med and pre-law, you will need to meet the requirements for each. For pre-med, you will need to complete specific prerequisite courses and gain clinical experience. For pre-law, there are no specific prerequisite courses, however, you will need to gain relevant extracurricular experience and achieve good grades and LSAT scores. It is recommended to speak to a designated advisor for guidance on how to become pre-med and pre-law.
