What Are the Best Undergraduate Degrees for Medical School in 2027?

One of the biggest misconceptions among aspiring doctors is that you must major in biology to get into medical school. The truth is that medical schools do not require a specific undergraduate major. Instead, they look for students who complete the required prerequisite courses, maintain strong academic performance, gain meaningful clinical experience, and demonstrate the personal qualities needed to succeed in medicine.

The best undergraduate degree is one that genuinely interests you, allows you to excel academically, and prepares you for the challenges of medical school.

Looking to strengthen your medical school application? Explore Go-Elective's Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships Abroad

Does Your Undergraduate Major Matter for Medical School?

The short answer is no. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), there is no preferred undergraduate major for medical school applicants. Students are encouraged to pursue subjects they enjoy while completing the prerequisite coursework required by their target medical schools.

This means students studying biology, chemistry, engineering, psychology, business, music, history, or even fine arts can all become successful physicians.

What matters most is whether you:

• Complete the required prerequisite courses.
• Earn strong grades.
• Perform well on the MCAT (where applicable).
• Gain meaningful clinical experience.
• Demonstrate leadership, communication, and professionalism.
  
  

What Medical Schools Actually Look For

Medical school admissions are holistic.

Admissions committees evaluate applicants based on much more than their degree title.

They commonly consider:

• Academic performance (GPA)
• Science GPA
• MCAT scores
• Clinical experience
• Physician shadowing
• Research experience
• Community service
• Leadership
• Communication skills
• Professionalism
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement

Choosing the "right" major cannot compensate for weaknesses in these areas.

Best Undergraduate Degrees for Medical School

Although no major is required, some degrees naturally align with medical school prerequisites and provide a strong scientific foundation.

1. Biology

Biology remains one of the most common pre-med majors because it includes many of the prerequisite science courses required by medical schools.

Students study:

• Cell biology
• Genetics
• Human physiology
• Microbiology
• Ecology
• Evolution

Biology provides excellent preparation for understanding human disease and biomedical sciences.

2. Biochemistry

Biochemistry combines biology and chemistry while providing a deeper understanding of molecular medicine.

Students interested in:

• Medical research
• Pharmacology
• Molecular medicine
• Academic medicine

often find this degree particularly valuable.

3. Biomedical Sciences

Biomedical sciences focus directly on human health and disease.

Common subjects include:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Pathology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology
• Microbiology

This major closely mirrors many concepts encountered during medical school.

4. Chemistry

Chemistry develops strong analytical thinking while covering many required medical school prerequisites.

Students interested in:

• Drug development
• Clinical laboratory medicine
• Toxicology
• Research

often benefit from this pathway.

5. Biomedical Engineering

Students who enjoy mathematics, engineering, and technology may find biomedical engineering particularly rewarding.

The degree prepares students for careers involving:

• Medical devices
• Artificial organs
• Imaging technologies
• Biomedical innovation

while still allowing completion of pre-med coursework.

6. Neuroscience

Neuroscience combines biology, psychology, physiology, and cognitive science.

It provides excellent preparation for students interested in:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Neurosurgery
• Brain research
  
  

7. Public Health

Public health has become an increasingly popular pre-med major because it teaches students to understand health beyond individual patient care.

Students learn about:

• Disease prevention
• Epidemiology
• Health policy
• Global health
• Community health
• Health equity

Combined with clinical experience, public health develops a broader understanding of healthcare systems and the factors that influence patient outcomes.

8. Exercise Science

Exercise science is an excellent option for students interested in:

• Sports medicine
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation
• Physical medicine

Students study human movement, physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition while completing many science prerequisites.

9. Nutrition

Nutrition provides a strong understanding of preventive medicine and chronic disease management.

Students explore:

• Human metabolism
• Clinical nutrition
• Public health nutrition
• Disease prevention

Knowledge increasingly relevant across every medical specialty.

Can You Major Outside the Sciences?

Absolutely. Medical schools regularly admit students with degrees in:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Economics
• English
• History
• Philosophy
• Music
• Fine Arts
• Business
• Political Science

These students simply complete the required science prerequisites alongside their major.

In fact, applicants from non-science backgrounds often bring valuable perspectives in communication, ethics, critical thinking, creativity, and cultural understanding.

Don't Choose a Major Only Because It Is "Pre-Med"

One of the biggest mistakes students make is choosing a major solely because they believe medical schools prefer it.

Medical schools would rather see:

• Excellent grades in a subject you enjoy than
• Average grades in a major you selected only because you thought it would impress admissions committees.

Passion often leads to stronger academic performance, better research opportunities, and a more authentic personal statement.

Clinical Experience Is Just as Important as Your Degree

No undergraduate degree can replace meaningful clinical exposure.

Medical schools want applicants who understand the realities of patient care and have explored medicine beyond the classroom.

Examples include:

• Physician shadowing
• Medical internships
• Hospital volunteering
• Clinical research
• Hospice volunteering
• Community health outreach
• Global health experiences

These experiences help students confirm their career goals while developing communication skills, professionalism, empathy, and clinical awareness.

Why International Clinical Experience Can Strengthen Your Application

Medicine is increasingly practiced within an interconnected world. Physicians today care for patients from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Structured international healthcare experiences expose students to different healthcare systems while broadening their understanding of global health challenges.

Students working in resource-constrained hospitals often encounter conditions that are uncommon in high-income countries while learning to make thoughtful clinical decisions with limited resources. Under supervision, they also observe how multidisciplinary teams collaborate, communicate across cultures, and adapt to different healthcare challenges. These experiences broaden clinical thinking while reinforcing empathy, adaptability, resilience, and cultural humility.

International experiences also deepen students' understanding of the social determinants of health, demonstrating how education, housing, income, nutrition, and access to healthcare influence patient outcomes worldwide.

Go-Elective's Pre-Health and Pre-Med Internships Abroad provide structured, supervised clinical experiences that complement undergraduate education while helping students become more competitive medical school applicants.

How to Choose the Best Undergraduate Degree

Before selecting a major, ask yourself:

• Which subjects genuinely interest me?
• Can I maintain a strong GPA in this program?
• Will I complete medical school prerequisites?
• Does this degree provide research opportunities?
• Can I gain clinical experience alongside my studies?
• Does it prepare me for alternative healthcare careers if my plans change?

Choosing a degree with these questions in mind often leads to better academic success and a more competitive medical school application.

Conclusion

There is no single "best" undergraduate degree for medical school. Successful applicants come from a wide range of academic backgrounds, from biology and biochemistry to engineering, psychology, business, and the humanities.

The strongest applicants are those who combine academic excellence with meaningful clinical experience, leadership, service, and a genuine commitment to improving the lives of others.

As you prepare for a career in healthcare, we invite you to make Go-Elective part of your journey. Here, our aim is to help advance human health by expanding access to meaningful clinical learning opportunities around the world. Through supervised international placements, supportive mentorship, and immersive healthcare experiences, we help future healthcare professionals develop the adaptability, cultural competence, and clinical insight needed to thrive in today's increasingly interconnected healthcare systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. What is the best undergraduate degree for medical school?

There is no single best major. Medical schools accept students from a wide range of academic backgrounds as long as they complete prerequisite courses and demonstrate strong academic and clinical preparation.

#2. Do medical schools prefer biology majors?

No. According to the AAMC, medical schools do not require or prefer one undergraduate major over another. Students should choose a field they enjoy while completing prerequisite coursework.

#3. Can I get into medical school with a non-science degree?

Yes. Many successful medical students major in psychology, business, history, engineering, music, or other non-science disciplines while completing the required science prerequisites.

#4. Does my undergraduate major affect my chances of getting into medical school?

Not directly. Admissions committees focus on your overall academic performance, prerequisite courses, MCAT score, clinical experience, research, leadership, and personal qualities rather than your degree title.

#5. How important is clinical experience before medical school?

Clinical experience is essential because it demonstrates your understanding of patient care, confirms your interest in medicine, and helps develop communication, professionalism, and empathy.

#6. Are international medical internships beneficial for pre-med students?

Yes. Well-structured international experiences expose students to different healthcare systems, broaden cultural competence, strengthen adaptability, and provide valuable insight into global health while complementing undergraduate education.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Med Schools, Pre-health,

Author: Tatina Himes

Date Published: Aug 26, 2026