Doctor willing to answer some questions about the pre-med program and medical school?

Question

Hi. I just graduated high school and I would like to become a doctor. I was wondering if any doctors would be willing to answer some of the questions I have about this process and some of the medical school requirements?

Answer 1

Here are my simplest recommendations, but everyone I know did something a little differently to get into, through, and past college, medical school, and residency.

My personal feeling toward pre-med programs is that they are a fast-track to medicine for a very good candidate--one with strong grades and an absolute decision to go to medical school.

I would recommend, though, that you continue to be well-rounded. Consider a related major that would allow you to fulfill most or all of the prerequisite subjects and add the others to your schedule.

This would allow you to broaden your knowledge to relate to your patients and to have a secure backup plan if you later decide medicine is not for you or, like some unfortunate students, you don't make it.

The best application has character to it, showing someone who knows how to accomplish what's necessary, but still takes time to be themselves.

Answer 2

I always shake my head and laugh when I hear a HS grad say they are going to medical school.  I will be the realist here. Parents and friends will smile and tell you how wonderful it is you are going to be a Dr. You are 6 semesters  and a good score on the MCATs away from even talking about medical school, not to mention finding the $ to get you through once you are there.

Decide on a college major that you like, can do well in and if all else fails, will prepare you for an alternative to medical school.  

All pre-meds are known as cut throats...at least we were called that when I went to school. So be prepared for not having as much fun as your classmates and being totally focussed on grades and learning all that you can.

The undergrad school I went to sent a large # of grads to professional schools.  A University I chose not to go to that was not as competitive sent no one to medical school when I graduated.  I knew the valedictorian at that school who was not accepted to med school.  

Med schools are loking for you to complete a challenging undergrad program with a very high GPA.  They are also looking at MCAT test scores.  These two things are a must.

I would say good luck, but luck is not involved.  Hard work and intelligence are what is needed.

Answer 3

As someone already mentioned, be prepared to enjoy a small fraction of the free time you'd have in another major. Your life will be labs, lectures, recitations, and science. It becomes all you know. And you don't need to be a bio/chem/biochem major to go to medical school. I was a psychology major. I spent an extra semester studying but it was worth it. The psychology foundation allowed me to rely on grad school for a PhD in the event that I didn't make it to medical school. Getting into a grad program is a thousand times easier than getting into medical school (or osteopathic, though less competitive). I sometimes get a transient pang of regret for not going to get my PhD first because I know that once I get my MD, I won't have time to spend several years focused elsewhere until I'm 45.

Answer 4

The core pre-reqs are these

1 year G-chem

1 year O-chem

1 Year Bio

1 Year Calculus

1 Year English

That's the minimum, doing extremely well in those courses is crucial, the higher the GPA the better.  Going to a competitive school is also good as well, if you did the above course load at a community college to get an easy A, I can guarantee you if I am part of the committee reviewing it, you will go to the instant reject pile.  

You can choose any major you'd like can be Art History to Chemical engineering, choose whats most appealing to you.  I would do some advanced science courses like physio, micro and biochem...it will make your life a bit easier during first year plus it'll help with the MCAT.  

Next and very important is extracurricular stuff...any stuff it doesn't matter although doing the hospital/clinic internships is a good idea to get a better idea if this is the career that fits you.  When I interview applicants, it really doesn't matter what they did as long as they did it earnestly and passionately and can answer the simple question of "why they decided to do XYZ". If I get the sense it was done to be the ideal med school candidate, also instant reject.  Being a genuine well rounded person is the most important thing I look for in a med school applicant.  

Good luck to you and watch out for O-chem, it's a killer and often makes or breaks people's aspirations to go to med school.