You Don’t Need to Be a STEM Major to Get into Medical School

PRE-MED GUIDANCE

One of the most persistent myths is that aspiring doctors must major in biology or chemistry. The data — and medical schools themselves — say otherwise.

52.9% Acceptance rate for humanities majors (2024–25 cycle)

44.3% Acceptance rate for all other majors (2024–25 cycle)

Source: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), 2024–2025 application cycle data

If you’re a parent of a pre-med student — or a student yourself — you’ve probably heard some version of the same warning: you need to be a biology or chemistry major to get into medical school. It’s well-intentioned advice, but it’s simply not accurate. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), students who major in humanities are currently being accepted to medical school at a higher rate than those in other fields — 52.9% versus 44.3% in the most recent application cycle.

Here’s what you actually need to know.

What medical schools require

Medical schools care about prerequisites — specific courses you must complete before matriculation — not what you choose as your major. As long as those prerequisites are completed by the time you enroll, you can major in English, Philosophy, History, Theater or any other major you are interested in.

SCIENCE PREREQUISITES •     Biology with lab (1 year) •     General Chemistry with lab (1 year) •     Organic Chemistry with lab •     Biochemistry •     Physics (1 year) •     Math / Statistics

BEYOND THE SCIENCES •     Humanities & social science coursework (24+ credit hours) •     Strong GPA (3.5+ recommended) •     Competitive MCAT score •     Clinical experience & volunteering •     Research participation •     Letters of recommendation

Notice that the non-science column is substantial. Schools like Johns Hopkins and Ohio State explicitly require at least 24 semester hours in areas like English, History, Foreign Language, Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology. A humanities major doesn’t just satisfy those requirements — it builds exactly those skills from the ground up.

Why humanities majors actually have an edge

“We welcome anybody who has the grand aspiration, heart, soul and altruistic spirit to want to become a physician.”

— Associate Dean for Admissions, Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical schools are increasingly vocal about wanting well-rounded applicants. Admissions committees specifically look for communication skills, cultural competency, ethical reasoning, and empathy — qualities that a literature, philosophy, or history curriculum develops deliberately and deeply.

Research published in the journal Medical Education found that students with premedical backgrounds in the humanities and social sciences may be more effective at communicating with patients. That’s not a soft benefit — patient communication directly affects health outcomes.

The American Medical Association (AMA) has gone even further. An essay published in JAMA by physician Richard M. Ratzan, MD, argued that humanities training is so valuable that all medical school applicants should major in the humanities — because “the science training will come after acceptance.”

Major in what you can excel in

Here’s the practical reality: an English major with a 3.8 GPA and a 3.7 science GPA is just as competitive as a biochemistry major with identical stats. Medical schools evaluate your GPA in the context of your major’s difficulty, and they value an applicant who clearly thrives in their field of study.

Most humanities majors require fewer than 50 credits, leaving ample room in your schedule to complete every science prerequisite and still pursue advanced coursework that makes your application stand out. The key is planning your four years thoughtfully — ideally with a pre-health advisor — to meet both your major requirements and the prerequisites for the schools you want to attend.

What does matter (regardless of major)

Whether you’re studying biochemistry or art history, every pre-med student needs the same fundamentals: completed prerequisites, a strong MCAT score, meaningful clinical experience, research exposure, and letters of recommendation from science faculty. Your major is the frame — these elements are the picture.

The bottom line: choose a major you’re genuinely passionate about and that you can excel in. Medical schools notice authentic intellectual curiosity. A student who lights up talking about 19th-century literature or the ethics of public health policy is a more memorable applicant than one who chose biochemistry out of fear.

FURTHER READING — AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

The AMA has published guidance on how a humanities background can make a better physician.

ama-assn.org — How a humanities background could make you a better medical student