Q: Why is Classics or one of its associated majors appropriate for a pre-health course of study? A1: Because medical schools want students with the skills learned by Classics majors...Classics is a multi-disciplinaryfield focused upon the study of the art, history, philosophy, languages, and culture of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome in which students can develop the abilities laid out in the 2009-2010 Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) of “acquiring, synthesizing, applying, and communicating information through a wide variety of disciplines” (MSAR, p. 11).

A2: Because medical schools appreciate diversity...It is well known that Medical schools do not prefer specific majors as long asbasic pre-med courses are taken successfully. Furthermore, anecdotal tales from those involved in medical school admissions indicate that majors outside of the sciences combined with good grades and MCAT scores often make a student stand out in a positive light.

Q: Why Classics and not a major in one of the sciences for a pre-health course of study? A1: See A2 above. Because medical schools really do appreciate diversity...Again according to the MSAR (pp. 11-12): “Choosing science primarily to enhance one’s chances for admission to medical school is not in a student’s long-term best interest. “Choosing science primarily to enhance one’s chances for admission to medical school is not in a student’s long-term best interest. Medical school admission committees seek students whose intellectual curiosity leads them to a variety of disciplines and whose intellectualmaturity assures that their efforts are persistent and disciplined.”

A2: Because experienced physicians recommend taking more than science...“practicing physicians often recommend that premedical students, during their college years, recommend that premedical students, during their college years, take advantage of what might be their final opportunity for study in non-science areas (e.g., music, art, history, and literature) that might become the basis for avocational interests later in life.” (MSAR, pp. 11-12).

Q: Can Classics, Latin, and Greek really help me in the health sciences? A1: Because you will know the language...About 90% of scientific terminology derives from Latin and Greek. There areliterally millions of Latin and Greek terms and names used in botany, biology, anatomy, chemistry, psychiatry, pharmacy, microscopy, bacteriology, etc.

A2: A practicing physician says..."Having a strong background in Classics has, in my opinion, proved beneficial in my studies of medicine. Doctors don't have to major in Biology tomy studies of medicine. Doctors don't have to major in Biology tolearn how to think and become good physicians. I believe ClassicalStudies provides that ability as well as any major offered in the college curriculum." -- Thomas Turner, MD.

Emory University Department of Classics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA404-727-7592

Classics and Pre-Health

Statue of Asklepios, National Archaeological Museum, Athens, Greece.Photo by Diovanni Dall’Orto, Novermber 11, 2009.