Pre-Med Majors Ranked: Easiest & Hardest Paths to Medical School in 2025

How to Choose the Right Major as a Pre-Med Student

One of the first big decisions you’ll face in college is choosing a major. For pre-med students, this choice can feel even more intense. Should you pick something science-heavy? Or something less demanding that gives you time to build clinical experience and study for the MCAT?

The truth is, medical schools don’t require a specific major. Your academic performance, extracurriculars, and clinical hours often weigh more than your major itself. That means you can study something you genuinely enjoy—while still completing your med school prerequisites and excelling on the MCAT.

Consider These Factors When Picking a Major

Choose a subject that genuinely interests you
Align your coursework with medical school prerequisites
Think about how much time you’ll need for research, volunteering, and shadowing
Consider how the major complements your career goals (e.g., public health, global medicine, etc.)

For students interested in international healthcare, Go Elective’s pre-med internships abroad are a valuable way to gain patient-facing experience—regardless of major.

Top 10 Easiest College Majors for Pre-Meds in 2025

These majors are known for lower reported stress levels, higher GPAs, and more flexibility in scheduling—allowing you to focus on clinical hours and MCAT prep.

English

Perfect for students who love reading and writing, English develops communication and analytical skills—crucial in medicine. Humanities majors also perform well on the MCAT’s CARS section. Many med schools appreciate applicants with strong narrative skills and humanistic perspectives.

Psychology

A great option for those interested in human behavior and mental health. Psychology also aligns well with the MCAT and future specializations like psychiatry. It’s one of the most common majors among medical school applicants.

Education

Majoring in education builds your communication and teaching abilities—two skills highly relevant to patient care. It’s also less demanding in terms of workload, which leaves time for internships and volunteering.

Criminal Justice

This major offers insight into societal systems and human behavior. While not a traditional pre-med path, students gain critical thinking and writing skills that can translate well into a medical career.

Business Administration

Want to run a private practice one day? A business degree provides financial literacy, leadership, and management skills that future physician-entrepreneurs will use daily.

Religious Studies

Explore how different belief systems influence patient care, ethics, and medical decision-making. This humanities major sharpens cultural sensitivity and critical thinking.

Social Work

Provides a deep understanding of social determinants of health and underserved communities—both critical in today’s healthcare environment. Great for future public health advocates.

Sociology

Studies patterns of behavior, inequality, and health disparities. This major aligns well with AAMC’s Core Competencies and helps pre-meds understand patient backgrounds and systemic issues.

Communications

Sharpens your ability to speak and write clearly—essential for every doctor. Also ideal for students interested in public health, medical journalism, or patient education.

Health Science

Covers human biology, public health, and healthcare systems. A well-rounded, less rigorous major that still gives pre-meds strong foundational knowledge before med school.

Top 10 Hardest College Majors for Pre-Meds in 2025

These majors are highly challenging and often come with heavy coursework in math, chemistry, and engineering. While they prepare you well for medical school, they can also limit your time for clinical experience or research.

Chemical Engineering

Rigorous coursework in physics, chemistry, and math. Students who excel here demonstrate problem-solving ability and discipline—qualities valued by medical schools.

Architecture

Highly demanding in terms of time and creativity. While not medically related, it builds spatial reasoning, design thinking, and project management—useful in fields like medical imaging or surgery.

Chemistry

Fundamental to medicine and heavily featured on the MCAT. Chemistry majors learn lab skills and how to break down complex processes—perfect for understanding physiology and pharmacology.

Physics

Focuses on natural laws and quantitative problem-solving. Physics students often develop strong critical thinking, though the material is notoriously challenging.

Electrical Engineering

A technical and math-heavy major. While not directly related to medicine, it builds advanced analytical thinking that could be helpful in fields like biomedical engineering.

Philosophy

Often overlooked, but this major strengthens logic, ethics, and reasoning. Excellent for students interested in bioethics or medical humanities. The workload is dense, but rewarding.

Cellular and Molecular Biology

This major overlaps significantly with medical school content and the MCAT. It’s difficult, but gives pre-meds a head start in anatomy, genetics, and biochemistry.

Aero and Astronautical Engineering

Combines physics, engineering, and math to explore flight and space systems. While demanding, it strengthens your capacity for handling complex technical concepts.

Biophysics

Merges physics and biology to study living systems. Very research-heavy, but valuable for those aiming to enter academic medicine or biomedical research.

Astronomy

Involves extensive use of physics and math to explore celestial phenomena. Demands high-level abstract thinking and time management.

So, Should You Choose an “Easy” or “Hard” Major?

The Best Major for Medical School Is One You Can Succeed In

Medical schools care more about your performance in your chosen major than the major itself. Whether you’re drawn to philosophy or physics, success depends on maintaining a high GPA, completing med school prerequisites, and gaining clinical exposure.

If you choose a difficult major, make sure you leave time for essential pre-med activities—shadowing, volunteering, and internships. Consider a Go Elective global health internship during academic breaks to maximize your competitiveness.

Final Thoughts: Pick What Fits You Best

No single major guarantees med school admission. What matters most is how you use your time in college.

Are you consistently developing your clinical skills?
Are you excelling academically?
Are you demonstrating a passion for medicine?

If you need support building a well-rounded pre-med application or want to gain international clinical experience, explore Go Elective today. Our internships abroad offer guided hands-on shadowing, diverse exposure, and unforgettable global health experiences.

Your future in medicine starts with making smart, informed choices—and we’re here to help every step of the way.