The Best Way to Get Into Medical School

The Best Way to Get Into Medical School The Best Way to Get Into Medical School Do you think you might want to go to medical school in the future? Are you wondering what you can do now to prepare and enhance your chances of gaining admission? Its never too early to start thinking about your career goals and planning how to achieve them. When to Start Career Research The high school years are the perfect time to begin exploring your interests and preparing your background. Take advantage of the resources available at your school and in your local community to begin  your  preparation  for a medical career. Why is  it  important to start early if you want to become a doctor? First, you will need to attend a college that will prepare you for medical school. This means a competitive college or university that offers the science classes you will need  for acceptance into medical school. You will need to take the appropriate classes in high school to  increase  your chances of being accepted at the undergraduate  institution  of your choice. In addition to your coursework, undergraduate admissions and medical school admissions will consider your extracurricular activities. The more relevant experience you have, the stronger a candidate you will be. That experience will also help you figure out if you are sure that you are interested in a medical career because you will be exposed to what its really like to be a doctor. Tips for High School Students Who Want to Be Doctors Here are some tips for high school students (and their parents) who are interested in becoming doctors: Visit your high school guidance office and ask about resources for  learning  about medical careers. Tap online resources  such  as  the  Occupational Outlook Handbook.Meet with medical practitioners in your area and through family  and  friends for  informational interviews. Ask them what it takes to be a doctor and inquire about the challenges and satisfactions involved with their work.Ask any contact with whom you  have  developed  a nice rapport if you can  shadow  them as they  go  through their  day. These observations will help you evaluate your comfort with medical environments and interventions. Consider volunteering at a local hospital, nursing home, or other health-care establishment. Medical schools look for proof of your exposure to medical settings and commitment to serving others.Find a part-time or summer job at a health-care facility. The more experience you gain, the better equipped you will be for medical school.Once you are 16 (age varies by state),  you  may  want to complete training during the summer to be a  certified Nurse Assistant  (CNA). Training takes anywhere from three  weeks to three months. Once you have your certificate, you can earn good money and gain valuable experience prior to medical school. Another route to consider is completing  training as an  emergency Medical Technician  (EMT) once you are 18. Basic level EMTs can complete training in as little as two to three  months,  and  they  play an important role  by  intervening in emergency medical situations.Develop a strong background in science and prove that you can handle rigorous courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and math. Take AP and advanced courses as often as possible and maintain high grades. Meet with your guidance counselor to plot the appropriate high school courses. Reach out to local medical researchers  and volunteer to help them carry out their research activities. Ask your science teachers, family physician,  and other contacts  to  recommend researchers. Medicine is a research-based discipline,  and schools will value evidence that you are research oriented.Take on leadership roles at your school and in your community. Prove that you can motivate your peers to action,  particularly in ways that benefit your school or community.Make sure that you conduct your life in accordance with the highest ethical standards. Medical schools and the medical profession demand that candidates conform to very high ethical standards. Carefully research four-year colleges in collaboration with your high school guidance counselor. Identify highly regarded schools and find out how many  of  their  grads are accepted to medical school. By starting early and taking some of these steps, you will confirm your interest in medicine and prove to medical schools that you have the right stuff to succeed! Review the Pre-Med Skills You Will Need Review a list of skills you will acquire if you decide to major in medicine. Accepting Constructive CriticismAnalyticalApplying Principles of Anatomy and PhysiologyApplying Principles of BiochemistryApplying Principles of BiologyApplying Principles of GeneticsApplying Principles of Inorganic ChemistryApplying Principles of Organic ChemistryApplying Principles of PhysicsAttention to DetailCollaborationComfortable Being in the Presence of Injured, Sick or Bleeding PatientsComforting PatientsCommitment to ChallengesComprehending Complex and Detailed Scientific TextsContinual Learning Critical ReasoningCulturing CellsDevising HypothesesDissecting SpecimensDrawing Conclusions from DataEmpathy for the Sick and InjuredEstablishing Rapport with PatientsEvaluating the Viability of Scientific Research StudiesIdentifying Themes in PassagesInfluencing OthersLeadershipManual DexterityMemorizing Scientific and Medical TermsMultitaskingPowerPointPresenting to GroupsPrioritizingProblem SolvingSolving Calculus ProblemsStatistical AnalysisStress ManagementStudying Large Volumes of Information Synthesizing InformationTeamworkTesting HypothesesTest TakingTime Management  Utilizing an Electron MicroscopeVerbal CommunicationWriting EssaysWriting Laboratory ReportsWriting Research Reports