MCAT Score Distributions by Major: Who Performs Best Statistically?

The belief that biology majors dominate the MCAT is statistically false. The data shows something very different.

When you analyze MCAT scores by undergraduate major using AAMC data, a clear pattern emerges: traditional “premed” majors do not sit at the top of the score distribution. Instead, a cluster of less common, often more quantitative or interdisciplinary majors systematically outperform the big three of Biology, Biochemistry, and Psychology.

This is not about opinion. It is about distributions, means, percentiles, and sample sizes.

Below, I will walk through what the data shows about MCAT performance by major, why these patterns make sense statistically, and how a premed can use this information to choose a major strategically rather than reflexively.

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1. What the AAMC Data Actually Shows

The central source here is the AAMC “MCAT Total and Section Scores by Academic Major” tables, published regularly (e.g., 2019–2023 combined cohorts). While exact numbers vary year to year, the rank ordering and relative gaps are remarkably stable.

1.1. The broad pattern

When you group applicants by primary undergraduate major, four broad findings appear consistently:

1. Humanities and Philosophy majors score higher on average than Biology majors.
2. Math, Statistics, and Physics majors often sit near or at the top of the distribution.
3. Engineering majors outperform the large biological sciences cohort by a noticeable margin.
4. “Biological Sciences” (the modal premed major) sits close to the overall average, not at the top.

To anchor this in numbers, consider approximate total MCAT score means using recent AAMC combined datasets (these are rounded, but directionally accurate):

• All test takers (overall mean): ~501–502
• All matriculants (overall mean): ~511–512

By major (applicants, not just matriculants), approximate mean total scores:

• Physics & Astronomy: ~510–512
• Math & Statistics: ~509–511
• Biomedical / General Engineering: ~508–510
• Humanities (e.g., English, History, Philosophy): ~508–510
• Economics: ~508–509
• Chemistry / Biochemistry: ~506–508
• Neuroscience: ~506–507
• Psychology: ~503–505
• Biological Sciences (general): ~503–504
• Public Health / Health Sciences: ~500–502

Exact values change slightly by year and aggregation period, but the hierarchy is robust: quantitative and humanities-focused majors tend to outperform the broad biological sciences cohort.

1.2. Applicants vs. matriculants

The distribution tightens drastically when you restrict to matriculants. Among matriculated students:

• Mean scores by major cluster around 511–514.
• The relative ordering still favors math/physics/engineering/humanities slightly over biology, but the gaps narrow.

This matters because:

• High-scoring students are more likely to matriculate.
• Majors with higher average MCAT scores naturally have a higher proportion of students entering medical school.

From a decision-making standpoint, the relevant question for a premed is: What is the likelihood that a student with my major will reach a competitive MCAT score bracket? That requires looking beyond a single mean and thinking in terms of distributions and selection effects.

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2. Who Statistically Performs Best?

The raw means point to a repeated pattern. But we get a clearer picture by looking at three metrics:

1. Mean total score
2. Proportion above key cutoffs (510, 515)
3. Standard deviation / spread of scores (conceptually, where exact SDs are not published)

2.1. Quant majors: small N, high mean

Majors like Physics, Math & Statistics, and certain Engineering concentrations consistently score at or near the top.

Approximate applicant means:

• Physics & Astronomy: ~510–512
• Math & Statistics: ~509–511
• Engineering (Biomedical, Chemical, etc.): ~508–510

Relative to Biological Sciences (~503–504), this represents a mean advantage of about 5–8 points. In MCAT terms, that is huge:

• A 5-point difference is roughly the gap between a 505 (roughly 60th percentile) and a 510 (roughly 80th percentile).
• An 8-point difference can be the distance between being below the typical matriculant mean and above it.

However, we have to note sample sizes:

• Biological Sciences applicants: tens of thousands per cycle.
• Physics/Math/Some Engineering: often in the low hundreds to low thousands.

This has two implications:

• Selection bias: Students who major in physics or math and also apply to medical school are a highly self-selected group—often quantitatively strong and academically confident.
• Stability: Despite smaller N, the fact that this pattern holds year after year suggests it is not random noise.

From a probability perspective, the expected MCAT score of a physics or math major applicant is higher, but this reflects both underlying ability distributions and selection into the applicant pool.

2.2. Humanities: verbal advantage converts to total score

Humanities majors (English, History, Philosophy, Classics, etc.) are consistently above the overall mean and frequently above biology majors by 3–6 points.

Why? The data shows:

• CARS (Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills) scores tend to be higher for humanities majors.
• Their science section means are often only modestly lower than biology majors, not catastrophically worse.

The MCAT is a composite exam:

• 1/4 of the score is CARS.
• 3/4 are science-based, but heavily reading- and reasoning-driven.

A high CARS score (129–131) can offset a slightly lower science section and push the total into competitive ranges (511+). Humanities majors often capitalize on this.

2.3. Biological sciences: many test takers, middle of the distribution

Biological Sciences is the dominant premed major by volume. The data shows:

• Mean total around 503–504 for applicants.
• Massive spread in preparation quality, academic strength, and MCAT strategy.

Statistically, large, heterogeneous groups trend toward the population average. The biology major pool includes:

• Extremely strong students with 520+ scores.
• Large numbers of students in the 490s–500s who apply with weaker preparation.

Result: a mean close to the overall applicant mean, not above it.

This does not mean biology majors cannot score highly. They obviously do. It means that being a biology major, by itself, does not increase your expected MCAT score.

2.4. Health sciences / allied-health majors: lower averages

Applicants from majors like Health Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, Allied Health tend to score slightly below the overall mean, often in the 499–502 range.

Two main likely reasons, inferred from the pattern:

1. Curriculum focus: More applied and clinical content, less emphasis on the foundational physics/chemistry/biochemistry that the MCAT weighs heavily.
2. Statistical selection: Many of these programs attract students less focused on research-intensive science tracks; the average MCAT preparation infrastructure and peer competition may be weaker.

The practical takeaway: if you major in these fields, you will likely need deliberate, structured MCAT-specific science preparation beyond your major requirements.

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3. Interpreting the Data: Why These Majors Do Well

It is tempting to attribute higher scores to “smarter students,” but the data is more nuanced. Certain majors create consistent skill alignments with the MCAT.

3.1. Quantitative majors: precision and problem-solving

Physics, Math, and Engineering students:

• Spend years manipulating equations, interpreting graphs, and reconstructing systems from principles.
• Are trained to manage cognitive load while working through multi-step problems under time constraints.

The MCAT science passages are essentially applied reasoning problems with a biological gloss:

• They reward facility with proportional reasoning, function behavior, and data interpretation.
• Quant majors usually have more exposure to dense technical texts and complex figures.

That alignment yields systematically higher scores, especially in:

• CP (Chemical and Physical Foundations)
• BB (Biological and Biochemical Foundations)

3.2. Humanities: reading density and argument structure

Humanities majors:

• Read large volumes of complex, argument-driven text.
• Are used to parsing author intent, structure, bias, and implication.

The data shows they outperform many other majors in CARS, often by 1–2 points (or more). Because CARS is relatively difficult to “cram” for and is highly reading-skill-based, long-term humanities training converts into a strong advantage.

Given each point on the MCAT moves you several percentile ranks, a 2-point CARS advantage is nontrivial.

3.3. Biology: content familiarity without method emphasis

Biology majors see more raw content overlap with the MCAT:

• Cellular biology, genetics, physiology, molecular biology.

But the MCAT is not a content regurgitation exam; it is a reasoning under uncertainty test using biological context. Many biology curricula emphasize memorization and descriptive knowledge over:

• Quantitative reasoning
• Experimental design
• Deep data analysis

So you get familiarity with terminology, which prevents catastrophic failure, but you do not automatically gain the skills that push you into the 515+ zone.

The data reflects this: biology majors cluster heavily around the mid-500s, with fewer soaring to the extreme right tail relative to math/physics/engineering per capita.

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4. Choosing a Major: What the Numbers Suggest

The core statistical insight is simple: major choice does not determine your MCAT score, but it shifts your probability distribution.

4.1. Does a particular major “cause” a high score?

The data does not justify a causal statement like “major in physics, score 515.” This would ignore:

• Self-selection into majors
• Underlying ability distributions
• Motivation and study behavior

However, you can use the data probabilistically:

• A randomly selected MCAT taker from Physics has a higher expected MCAT score than a randomly selected taker from General Biology.
• A randomly selected humanities major has a higher expected CARS score than a randomly selected health sciences major.

This is about conditional probabilities:

• P(High MCAT | Major = Physics) > P(High MCAT | Major = Biology)
• P(High CARS | Major = Humanities) > P(High CARS | Major = Biochemistry)

But your own probability depends not only on major but:

• GPA trajectory
• Study habits and time allocation
• Access to prep resources
• Baseline strengths (verbal vs quantitative vs memorization)

4.2. Strategy: align major with your strengths and MCAT needs

The data points to a rational strategy:

1. If you are quantitatively strong and enjoy math/physics:

   • Majors like Physics, Math, Engineering, or Quantitative Biology may amplify your natural strengths and match MCAT reasoning demands.
   • You must still complete the core premed sciences, but your daily coursework will sharpen exactly the skills that differentiate 515+ scorers.

2. If you are verbally strong and love reading / writing / analysis:

   • Majors in Philosophy, English, History, Classics, Linguistics can support strong CARS and overall reasoning.
   • You will need to be very deliberate in mastering hard sciences, but the data shows these majors can absolutely produce high MCAT totals.

3. If you already started in Biology or related fields and like it:

   • The data does not justify panicking or changing majors purely for MCAT reasons.
   • Your outcome will depend more on:
     • Taking rigorous, concept-heavy versions of core sciences
     • Supplementing with statistics, logic, or philosophy of science courses
     • Using MCAT prep that focuses on reasoning, not just flashcards

4.3. GPA versus MCAT trade-off

There is a common concern: “Hard majors (like physics or engineering) might raise my MCAT but lower my GPA.”

From an admissions data standpoint:

• Both GPA and MCAT are powerful predictors of matriculation probability.
• An extra 3–4 MCAT points often does not compensate for a 0.4 drop in GPA.

Translated:

• A 3.9 GPA Biology major with a 512 is often more competitive than a 3.3 Engineering major with a 516.
• Extreme MCAT scores (520+) can help offset a slightly lower GPA, but not massive GPA deficits.

So the statistically rational choice is:

• Choose a major you can excel in academically, not just survive.
• Use elective and course selection to build the skill profile that MCAT rewards.

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5. Practical Implications for Premeds

The data suggests a few concrete, numbers-driven recommendations.

5.1. Do not choose Biology by default

Given that Biological Sciences majors:

• Have mean scores near the overall applicant average,
• Are massively overrepresented (more competition),
• Show wide performance variance,

there is no statistical advantage to choosing Biology purely because “that is what premeds do.”

Choose it if:

• You genuinely enjoy biological science content.
• You can maintain a high GPA in it.
• Your program emphasizes quantitative and experimental methods.

Otherwise, reconsider.

5.2. Consider majors that push your weaker dimension

If you:

• Are naturally good at memorizing science facts but weaker in reading complex texts → a writing/critical reading-intensive minor (English, History, Philosophy) can shift your CARS distribution upward.
• Are verbal but math-anxious → a structured sequence in statistics, quantitative methods, or physics for life sciences can improve your comfort with data-heavy MCAT passages.

The data’s message: broad skills outcompete narrow content knowledge.

5.3. Separate major from MCAT prep timeline

Regardless of major, the highest scoring students share behaviors that show up in the numbers:

• Taking the MCAT after completing core prerequisites (gen chem, orgo, physics, biochem, stats, intro psych/soc).
• Dedicating a focused period (often 3–6 months) to targeted MCAT preparation with full-length practice tests.
• Analyzing performance by section and subskill (data interpretation, experimental design, passage mapping).

The distribution of high scores is tightly linked to hours and quality of preparation, not simply major label.

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6. Key Takeaways from the Data

Bringing the statistics together, the message is straightforward:

• Physics, Math, Engineering, and Humanities majors tend to have the highest mean MCAT scores, with total means often 3–8 points above Biological Sciences.
• Biological Sciences majors sit near the overall applicant mean, reflecting high volume and extensive variance rather than poor performance.
• Health sciences and allied majors score somewhat lower on average, emphasizing the importance of dedicated basic science preparation.

The actionable interpretation:

• Major selection should be based on fit and GPA potential, not an assumption that one major “teaches the MCAT.”
• Quantitative rigor and heavy reading/analysis exposure are statistically associated with higher MCAT distributions.
• Any major can produce competitive MCAT scores when paired with strong preparation and strategic course selection.

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FAQ (Exactly 3 Questions)

1. Which major has the highest average MCAT score?
Across recent AAMC datasets, the highest mean MCAT scores typically come from Physics & Astronomy, Math & Statistics, and certain Engineering majors, with total means around 508–512 for applicants. Humanities majors also perform strongly, often outscoring large biological science cohorts. Exact rankings vary slightly by year, but the pattern of quant-heavy and humanities majors leading the pack remains stable.

2. Does being a Biology major hurt my chances of a high MCAT?
No. The data shows that Biology majors, as a group, have average MCAT scores near the overall applicant mean (~503–504). This reflects the enormous size and diversity of the biology pool, not any inherent limitation. A well-prepared Biology major can score 515+ just as easily; you simply do not get a built-in statistical advantage from the major alone. Performance depends more on GPA, course rigor, and targeted MCAT preparation.

3. Should I switch to a harder major (like engineering or physics) just to improve my MCAT prospects?
The numbers do not support switching majors solely for MCAT reasons. While physics, math, and engineering majors have higher mean MCAT scores, they also face more challenging coursework that can depress GPA. Admissions data show that GPA and MCAT both strongly influence acceptance probabilities. Trading a higher GPA in a well-fitted major for a slightly higher expected MCAT in a misaligned, more difficult major is usually not statistically rational. A more balanced approach is to choose a major you can excel in and then add quantitatively rigorous or reading-intensive electives to build the skill profile that the MCAT rewards.