I am a student in Williamsville, NY.
I would like to become a doctor.
What do you suggest for me and all other people who would
like to persue medical studies? (Courses, x-tracuriculars,,)
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Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D. (reg@po.cwru.edu)
A career in medicine means hard work, long hours and sacrifice. Certainly, this is true for the doctor in practice, but these commitments begin much earlier.
There are many required courses that students must take before being allowed to apply to medical school. Some of these courses can begin in high school. Chemistry, Biology, and Calculus are subjects that are offered in high school. Good grades in these courses are a must. They begin to give you a sense of what the sciences are about. If they interest you, then the next step might be to get first-hand experience in a medical setting. When I was 16, I started volunteering in a local hospital, and was ultimately given a paying job during school vacations. If you know a doctor, see if you can spend a day in his or her office, to see what their daily schedule is.
Once in college, there is a required pre-medical curriculum. All of those courses must be taken and your grades must be excellent. Once those courses are completed, you can continue to take additional science courses, or choose any other subject in which to concentrate. Some medical schools favor applicants with science backgrounds while others prefer students with a more diverse background. For example, when I was in college, I took all of the required pre-medical courses, and then majored in History. I felt that I would get all of the medical training that I needed in medical school and so I used my extra time in college to learn about something else that interested me.
Research experience is becoming important when applying to medical school. Often, doctors doing research need research assistants to help them with their work. They will hire students to help them. This gives you an excellent opportunity to see another aspect of medical practice. Research projects in school can give you the chance to create and run your own experiments.
To sum up, while you complete all of the required studies, try to work in a medical setting to experience it first hand. See if you think you would enjoy it. See if it interests you. Once you are sure, concentrate on getting good grades. Good grades don't always mean that you'll be a good doctor, but you can't get into medical school without them! A medical education is also very expensive. Good grades can translate into scholarships to help pay for your education.
If I can provide you with any more detailed information, please feel free to write by email to: reg@po.cwru.edu
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Copyright, 1994. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
A RICHARD E. GANS, M.D. 11
A A OFCN Primary Sysop, The Eye Clinic 111
AAAAA xx102@ofcn.org 11
A A A C A D E M Y O N E 1111
http://www.ofcn.org:80/about.ofcn/whois/reg/
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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