Medical School

Applying to Medical School

Being accepted to (and even applying for) medical school is a very commendable achievement. Acceptance to medical school takes excellent grades, strong concentration and study habits, and an incredible dedication to the field. University tutors are looking for an excellent understanding of biology, chemistry, physics and any other sciences, even if they don't seem related to medicine.

Many promising high school students are unsure whether to make the leap to a medical school application or not, as they are anxious about the responsibilities of being a health care professional. The best advice for such students is to stay calm and think it through carefully - and to remember that nobody becomes a doctor overnight. The anxieties surrounding such demanding studies and career prospects are enough to unsettle the strongest of personalities, but there is really no reason to miss the opportunity simply due to fear.

Things To Keep In Mind

When you've finally put in your application the nerves are bound to stress out even more, waiting to hear whether you've been accepted or not! It is advisable to apply to several universities simultaneously, just in case your preferred medical school decided not to take you on. Remember that a graduate doctor from the University of Carolina is just as qualified as one from Harvard, no matter what the hype is. And education is an education, and if you are serious about enrolling in a medical school, it is important that you choose wisely but are not too critical.

Next, realize that medical school is going to be a long and demanding part of your life. While your friends may take an environmental science or psychology program and be finished and working within 4 or 5 years, you are destined to remain in school for a good 6 - 8 years. It may seem an unreal amount of time, but at the end of it you will be educated and trained fully as a real doctor, and able to practice your specialized field of medicine as soon as you like. The feeling that someone's health and possibly even their life is in your hands is overwhelming, and it is essential that you stay the course and know your subject matter inside out.

There are many different fields of medicine, and as you progress in your university program you will be able to choose which of these to focus on. Children's medicine, dermatology, podiatry, ear nose and throat, surgery. The choice is yours and there is sure to be one or two areas that you feel are calling out to you. If not, don't panic. You can still study as many different fields in the medical school as you like, and there shouldn't be any pressure to specialise too early on. If you, like many others, can't decide which subject to take a special interest in, ask the professors at your medical school and they may see a spark in you that you weren't aware existed. If there is no specialization even after graduation, don't forget that a lot of medical school students become general practisioners; like your local doctor. Whatever the end results, medical school is not for the weak. Congratulations on being a contender!