Upon entering college, many students set out to become doctors. One thing that students are often confused about is what pre-med is and what the best pre-med major is. Moreover, a lot of would-be healthcare providers try to figure out ways to surpass other applicants and showcase their talents to the admissions boards in the most effective fashion. If you also want to learn the nitty-gritty of being a pre-med student, get some valuable insights into the application process, and much more, be sure to familiarize yourself with today’s post.
Care About Your Grades
Make grades your number one concern if you want to boost your chances of becoming a medical school student. Note that it’s important to have a high Grade Point Average to become a strong candidate. Whatever specialization you pick, make your academic performance your top priority. If you’re determined to not just get into a medical school but also build a successful academic career, you’ll need to take college from the get-go. Should you notice that your schedule is falling apart and you fail to catch up with your homework, take action to improve the situation within the shortest time possible. For this, you’ll want to attend your classes conscientiously, schedule sufficient time for reading and preparing for exams, and get help as soon as you realize you’re losing grip on your studies.
Your grades in such subjects as Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math are greatly important. If they are not high enough, chances are your applications won’t make it through the first round of cuts. Keep in mind that medical schools are incredibly competitive. The percentage of those lucky guys who end up successfully enrolled in their dream medical school is smaller than 10%, which might be frustrating for those people who want to devote their life to saving others. That being said, this competitiveness should never discourage you from pursuing your dream. With due diligence, time, and effort invested in self-education, you’ll be able to achieve the desired result and score a place in a medical school.
Select the Right Majors and Minors
Students who have aspirations of becoming a doctor normally take a collection of Math and Science courses that can help them prepare for a medical school of their choice. Note that there are few schools that can offer you a specific pre-med major. So, be ready to select something more general like Biology, Psychiatry, or any other relevant science that will help you acquire essential skills and knowledge for your future career.
According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, the five most popular pre-med majors include Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Most essential classes are normally included in majors like Biology or Chemistry. Find out how much the chemistry tuition is nowadays. This means you won’t need to add any extra courses to your current ones if you set your sights on pursuing the aforementioned majors. Still, if you major in some other discipline, you might still need to throw these courses on top of your mandatory college courses.
Furthermore, it should be noted that some prestigious medical schools like Johns Hopkins University might require students to complete a specific number of credit hours of Humanities, as well as Social and Behavioral Science courses. This requirement stems from the fact that universities want to make sure all their applicants are well-rounded, possess necessary communication skills, and are concerned with the human condition, not just the human body.
- It would be curious to know that such majors as Chemistry and Biology have historically been considered as a pre-med route. However, this is not a requirement. In fact, med-schools have seen an increase in the number of Liberal Arts majors. This means that you can still apply to study in your chosen medical school, if your current major is a bit different from that considered as the ‘right’ or ‘more suitable’.
- Beyond just high Medical College Admission Test scores and good grades in school subjects, the admissions board might want to see that a candidate is truly passionate about their field of study. The odds are good that you’ll be chosen over other applicants if you exhibit genuine interest in the specialization you’ve chosen, demonstrate your ability to think outside the box, possess problem-solving skills, and meet prerequisites for their educational institution.
Get Relevant Experience
If you want to help people, there’s no need to wait until you’re allowed to perform surgeries on them. Lots of public hospitals and clinics offer volunteer positions, especially now that the world is still dealing with the consequences of the notorious pandemic. You can become part of the medical realm and get so valuable primary care experience in medical settings. You can apply your knowledge and show your humanistic qualities caring for elderly patients or helping children with some disabilities.
Mental hospitals and hospices also experience a drastic shortage of helping hands. So, your pair will undoubtedly come in useful in such facilities. Needless to say, this kind of experience and valuable skills acquired on the job will give you a considerable edge on other applicants and increase your chances of admission.
Hone Your Professionalism
If you successfully embark on your pre-med educational track, don’t lose time and start learning from day one. And it’s not only about reading and studying for your classes. Try to improve those skills that might distinguish you as a brilliant and competitive professional in your future workplace. For this, you might want to pursue medical research and medical ethics extracurriculars or/and enroll in your local internship program. It’s also a great idea to find a mentor from whom you’ll be learning the ropes of your profession. You can partake in preceptor programs where lots of talented nurses, doctors, and other healthcare practitioners help medical students with professional socialization.
There are lots of ways to grow professionally and polish your person skills. Just make sure you remain loyal to yourself, your dream, and aspiration. Stay inspired and don’t forget about formal education, academic perseverance, and strong motivation. This will go a long way towards helping you transform into a highly qualified medical worker.