Science majors encompass a wide spectrum of fields, such as biology, botany and geology. Medical schools don't require specific undergraduate majors, so students should choose one in their area of aptitude.
Certain majors, though, best prepare a student for a medical program, according to Willamette University. Much of the coursework required for a science major provides a foundational framework for tackling the MCAT test. A general coursework guideline for qualifying for medical school includes one year of biology, one year of physics with lab work and two years of chemistry with lab work.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, students majoring in the social sciences made up 44 percent of medical school admissions in 2008, while biology majors constituted 42 percent. Cornell University Career Services says these numbers show that medical schools look at prospective students' total educational picture. Doctors must be able to think logically as well as creatively and understand how to work with all types of people. Social science majors such as psychology, communications and linguistics develop these skills.
A humanities major, including literature, art, music and philosophy, is another well-rounded undergraduate curriculum. Some medical schools favor this type of curriculum in their prospective students. The main drawback of majoring in a seemingly unrelated field, says Cornell University Career Services, is that the major's degree requirements may make it difficult to take more than the minimum number of courses that medical schools require prospective students to have.