A career in medicine may be considered as one of the most rewarding, prestigious, and important professions available to mankind. Medical doctors are more often than not respected and looked up on in their community. As medical doctors, every time they treat a patient, they practically place the patient’s life into their hands. This is why it is much needed that a medical doctor undergo rigorous training, and actually, never stop learning.
Medical doctors have a huge responsibility and wanting to become one needs more than just the fact that you want to become one. You have to have a serious “about myself” assessment before you decide on entering a medical school. Actually, you should start your “about myself” assessment even before you plan to apply for one. The following are just some of the factors you have to consider when planning to go to med school.
Long work shifts
Emergencies can happen anytime, and that is why medical clinics and hospitals are always open 24 hours a day, requiring medical doctors and the staff to work on longer shifts. Starting from the time a medical student works directly as a trainee at the hospital, he or she is subjected to long, working hours, a usual part of a medical doctor’s shift. It will actually continue well into residency training, where a 36-hour shift is not rare. After all, a medical doctor, whether in the hospital or not, is practically always “on
call.”(1)
Continuous learning
The field of medicine is not an exact science, and it is always evolving and improving for the good of mankind. It is actually evolving very fast that the knowledge of today may be obsolete on the years to come. Therefore, it is important for a medical doctor to be an advocate of learning—always reading the latest medical journals, attending conferences and trainings and the like, aside from being open-minded, of course. That is why even though the interview and the “essay about myself” requirements are important,
the undergraduate scores and the Medical College Admission Test Scores are considered extremely important when admitting students into med school. Your grades and examination scores will show at least a hint if you have the discipline to study well and hard.(2)
Making sacrifices
From medical school to the specialty training, a medical professional will have to sacrifice much for his or her profession. Long, working hours will make you miss affairs and holidays which you enjoyed before entering medical school. That is why the interview and the “essay on myself” requirements are very important, for in it one can see if you have the passion and ability to make sacrifices for the profession that you want.(3)
(1) http://www.bls.gov/k12/help06.htm
(2) http://www.mommd.com/toughdecision.shtml
(3) http://medicaleconomics.modernmedicine.com/memag/Medical+Economics+magazine/Reaching-your-potential/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/370383
As a med school applicant, you may have heard several myths regarding the med school admissions process. To know more about the truth behind these myths, read on.
You need to have high MCAT scores and exceptional undergraduate grades.
First things first. Undergraduate grades are one of the most important criteria for acceptance to any medical school. Furthermore, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score, as a standardized examination, should be high—a good indication that you did fairly better than the rest of the applicants from different schools. Your undergraduate scores or your general weighted average (GWA) may reflect the type of student you are—your study habits or maybe even your intellectual capacity. These are important factors that the medical admission panel needs to see to find out if you are fit for the rigorous training that a medical student needs.(1)
However, those are just “numbers,” and they actually can be affected by other things, such as a personal problem before the MCAT, hence, the low score. There are other things that a medical school admission panel looks for, such as your “essay about myself” and the interview. Those things will show them your “about myself” side that cannot be squeezed out of your grades and MCAT score.
You need to graduate from a big school.
This is one of the most common myths and is definitely false. Again, before and after medical school, your “about myself” side is more important than the things around you—it’s you that counts. After all, what’s the sense of graduating from a “big” school if your undergraduate records are not that “big?”(2)
Life experiences are not important.
Again, your GWA and MCAT scores are extremely important, but they are not the only factors for medical school admission; life experiences also count. If your life experiences are not important, then why do almost all medical school admission panels require an “essay on myself” and an interview? The personal statement will let the admission panel know if you have the personal characteristics fit for becoming a good
medical professional, which in the long run, are definitely more important than your intellectual capacity.(3)
(1) http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/preparing/understandingscores.htm
(2) http://youngadults.about.com/od/collegeprep/a/Admissionsmyths.htm
(3) http://www.unmc.edu/Community/ruralmeded/model/preprof/advice.htm
Going through the medical school admissions process can be an overwhelming task. One way to go about this is to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally so that you’ll be able to send the requirements on time and increase your chances of getting admitted into your dream school.
Coming up with a winning “essay about myself”
The medical school “essay about myself” requirement is one way of conveying your values and qualities that are of utmost importance to you. However, this “essay on myself” requirement must be presented it a way that it will emphasize the characteristics that will justify your “about myself” side that is suitable for medical school. One of the most important points to discuss here is basically why you want to pursue medicine.
Career decision-making does not necessarily lie on pure reasons. That is why most aspiring medical students find it hard to express their desire to be a doctor. And most of the reasons will be like that of every other applicant. Thus, there is a need to show your uniqueness in conveying your ideas. Avoid clichés and ideal ideas that are so vague. It will be better to describe your most influential experiences and the message will just unfold naturally.(1)
Acing that med school exam
Another requirement for medical school is the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This is a tandardized entrance examination required by medical schools in the United States and Canada. It gauges the rospective applicants’ academic ability for medical school. Thus, every applicant should definitely give their full efforts in preparing for this exam. The first step is to familiarize yourself with the layout and types of questions that will be asked. Develop a plan about your target score and divide your time to study each subject area. Try answering sample questions to determine what your weaknesses are so you can work on them prior to the exam. It will be better if you answer sample questions under the prescribed length of time just like the real exam so you will be used to think better and faster under time constraints. Remember that practice is the key in learning this invaluable skill.(2)
Submitting your requirements on time
It will be more beneficial on your part if you submit your requirements earlier than the deadline, at least two weeks before the deadline or as soon as you have completed them. By doing so, you can have more time to process any deficiencies. Since you have completed your requirements, you will be able to properly mange your time for other application-related activities such as preparing for the MCAT or doing some volunteer works.(3)
(1) http://209.85.173.132/custom?q=cache:JfUpKz550QsJ:www.jhu.edu/admis/pdf/2009/universal_app_supplement.pdf+application+essay&cd=6&hl=en&ct=clnk&client=google-csbe
(2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MCAT
(3) http://www.swarthmore.edu/x8890.xml
Going into medical school is not an easy decision to make. There are several factors you have to consider. Plus, making sacrifices is part of pursuing a career in the medical field. To help you make the right decision, the following are the advantages and disadvantages of getting into med school.
Pros
Most of the people who became medical doctors or are currently medical students have been dreaming about it ever since they were young. As a very prestigious, rewarding, and established profession, a medical career surely is one of the best careers out there.(1) Furthermore, you will have the capacity to serve humanity by providing good medical services to your community. Pursuing a medical career also entails continuous learning, which means that your mind will not deteriorate. As a medical doctor, you will invariably be a leader and teacher of health in your community. And of course, once you are established, you can expect financial gains. Furthermore, it may be the most gratifying endeavour that you will do in your life.
Cons
Do not forget that as a medical doctor, you will literally be handling people’s lives. That is why studying medicine is one of the most gruelling, demanding, and extremely difficult academic paths you can ever take. The medical school will get the best out of you, and it will be very stressful.(2) It will also take much time to reach your goal, which is an established, high-earning practice of course. Usual attendance to a medical school would be four years of undergraduate studies, plus several years of internship, residency, and fellowships depending on your specialty. You will also be sacrificing much when you are in medical school, such as spending time with family and other affairs. Lastly, in the absence of a good scholarship aid, it is financially draining.
Do you really want to?
With the advantages and disadvantages of both studying in medical school and eventually practicing a medical career, you might think twice before pursuing it. If it is really your passion, and if you really believe that it is your calling, then it will be worthwhile. Just imagine yourself in other careers and if you still think that it’s medicine, then so be it. Just prepare yourself, physically and emotionally.(3) Another preparation you can do is to come up with a good essay about myself or admissions essay. To help you out, read a sample essay about myself online. A reliable sample essay about myself should help you come up with a concise and engaging med school admissions essay about myself.
(1) http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalschool/f/advdoc.htm
(2) http://fmignet.aafp.org/online/fmig/index/medical-school/surviving.html
(3) http://www.phd-survey.org/advice/advice.htm
As children, many people dream of becoming a doctor or they play doctor for fun. As teenagers, students often think of becoming a doctor because of the prestige and wealth that is usually associated with the profession. As adults, people often look up to doctors because of their vast knowledge and expertise. It’s no wonder why so many people want to get into medical school. The truth is, though, medical school isn’t as great as people fantasize it to be. For those who have recently been rejected by a medical school or those who have decided not to pursue a medical education, here are some great reasons not to be in medical school:
Bodily secretions
The phrase alone, “bodily secretions,” makes some people squirm. The thing with medical school is you’ll be dealing with all types of weird, gross, and downright disgusting bodily secretions, because it is part of the curriculum.(1) The good part is, if you forgot what you had for breakfast, you’ll probably get a quick reminder when you puke after your professor carefully performs an autopsy before your eyes. Not everyone is cut out for the putrid smells, weird textures, and horrifying sights that one is likely to see in medical school and throughout the medical career.
Round-the-clock stress
Another problem with medical school is that they work you like a dog. Because your career as a physician may require 24/7-on-call duty,(2) medical schools often train their students to be able to work around the clock. The trouble with this is that it can get in the way of your relationships with other people, including friends, family, and loved ones.(3) Aside from your relationships, you may just lose your sanity working such long hours under tremendous stress.
The “god” mentality
Every once in a while, you meet a medical student or doctor who has what’s called the “god” mentality. These are the people who feel as though they have the “power” to extend people’s lives, heal them from sickness and injury, and cure them from diseases. The problem is that, when this mentality gets into someone’s head, that person can end up being very arrogant and proud.(4)
Incurring debt
Going to medical school is a huge investment, which will likely have you borrowing money for your tuition, residency, and other student expenses. With the number of years that medical school takes, you will probably incur a pretty big debt. As a result, the first few years of your medical career will probably be about working insane hours at a low wage in order to pay your debts off. And, once you start making your own money, you’ll be probably be buying the nicest cars, best gadgets, and biggest houses. Whatever happened to that childhood dream of helping those in need?
(1) http://www.deathreference.com/Bl-Ce/Cadaver-Experiences.html
(2) http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/reporter/oct2000/well.htm
(3) http://gradschool.about.com/od/medicalschool/a/should.htm
(4) http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=479625
