If your life’s calling is to become a doctor or at least be part of a sturdy medical team in diverse industries, you should consider joining a medical school soon. However, this endeavor is not as simple as you think. It requires some careful considerations and steps before you can start navigating your way through med school.
While interesting and exciting experiences await you as you join a medical program and enroll in med school, it can be a long journey. Preparing for med school doesn’t only require you to prepare for and submit the application requirements. And aside from being mentally ready, you should also be emotionally prepared for the different roles and demands of being a med school student.
So, to help you get started, here are some ways to prepare for medical school:
- Start Consolidating Requirements
When applying to medical school, thinking ahead is a valuable strategy. It won’t hurt to start early in acquiring all the requirements. And while every medical university comes with different admission requirements, you should at least prepare the common ones, such as a personal statement and letter of recommendation. Now could also be the time to decide who to approach when backing you up in academic and professional contexts.
In addition, it’s best to use a helpful GPA tool to ensure that your GPA scores fit the institutions you’re applying for. It’s also a good idea to take your MCAT as far ahead as possible-especially if you’re unhappy with your first score and intend to take it again after considerable preparation. Doing all these things earlier gives you plenty of time for your med-school preparation.
- Attend Career Fairs And Events
As you choose the right med school for you, it’s important to be exposed to as many career fairs and events as possible. You can find some of these held in your city. Attending career fairs gives you a platform to learn more about multiple schools, programs, and admissions requirements. Moreover, participating in one can help you narrow your medical school choices while being more cost-effective since you wouldn’t have the visit all the schools you’re considering.
Before attending these events, ensure to list down all the questions you want to ask to get the most out of these resources. During the event, take your time to go around and talk to people about your queries. Later, when you get home, you can compare them easily when you have all the details for each school and its offerings.
- Study And Do Your Research
Getting into and through medical school requires good study habits and research experience. And so, it can be to your advantage to enroll in tutoring centers with support centers and programs that can teach you how to manage your time and study commitments. You can also take this time to start preparing for entrance exams in your preferred med schools. Brushing up on any weak subjects you have can help you ace upcoming tests.
As for research, make it a point to conduct thorough research for all the study guides, exam resources, and other things you need to prepare for med school. You can get a glimpse of some research projects and participate in some if you think it will be handy for your resume and medical study applications.
- Decide On Your Major
There’s no doubt that grades are important, but they’re not everything. However, note that they play a significant role when you’re finally deciding on your major. Generally, medical doctors are required to acquire a GPA of 3.5.
In some cases, some people may already have an idea of which program to apply to, but some are still yet to decide. If you’re the latter, determining your skills and talents can be a good starting point in knowing which major to pursue. Discover what branch of sciences are your strengths and interests and learn the different types of doctors and medical specialists and go from there.
- Speak To Your Advisor
A helpful tip is to approach your academic advisor and seek guidance and advice regarding your med school plans. Make sure you ask them detailed questions about the timeline for applying to medical school so you can develop a plan to get where you want to be. You could also inquire about the courses required for medical school and the best sequence to take them. Chances are they’ve handled a lot of students in the past who share the same life goals as you, so they can guide you accordingly.
You may also be able to gain health-related experience through internships, labs, and other activities recommended by your advisor. Essentially, you can benefit greatly from working with a pre-med advisor at your university.
- Get Some Experiences
Another essential step in applying for med school is to start bunking on some experiences. See if you can assist with faculty research projects by checking your school’s science department’s bulletin boards or website. Now’s the best time to leverage good research and study experiences. You can also assist some groups who are conducting clinical trials. If necessary, ask for help from your advisor to connect you with other researchers or groups holding some projects.
Another way to gain some more experience is through shadowing. After all, you get a better understanding of what a typical day looks like for a healthcare professional by shadowing them. You can consult your advisor about shadowing opportunities. Also, you can ask your pre-med school if they can refer you to shadow any doctor or alum in the school.
ConclusionÂ
Pursuing a medical degree is definitely an achievement unlocked on its own. However, before your med school journey starts, it’s vital to make preparations ahead of time. Hopefully, you’ve gained some valuable tips in this article so you can finally start your med school journey with confidence.