| A career in the medical field can be stimulating and | | | | students with the highest grades - perfect 4.0 |
| extremely rewarding. Making the choice to enter | | | | averages, in fact - are most likely to be selected |
| medical school is likely to be one of the biggest | | | | over students with A- or B+ averages. One way |
| decisions you will ever make. And yet many students | | | | students are tested to see if they qualify for medical |
| apply to medical school yearly to become health care | | | | school is in organic chemistry. |
| professionals degree without so much as even | | | | Develop a program of study that offers alternatives |
| earnestly considering their motives for wanting to | | | | if you decide to change careers while you are in |
| become a physician. You should do a lot of soul | | | | school. Be sure to include activities and projects that |
| searching before you enter a school to become a | | | | you enjoy and participate in them regularly to help |
| doctor. degree there are a number of questions you | | | | keep you from burning out. It is important to keep |
| should think about. | | | | yourself both intellectually and physically fit in order to |
| Firstly truly think about why you wish to be a doctor. | | | | meet the challenges you will face during this time. If |
| Would I be totally devoted to healing the sick? What | | | | you find yourself with a lack of humor, your career is |
| is my personal work ethic? What are my work | | | | going to suffer. |
| habits? Is it possible to stay with my job when there | | | | Stay true to your course in school, do not be |
| is something a bit more interesting on the horizon? | | | | tempted to cheat on tests and stay away from |
| Do I have natural acumen for biology, chemistry and | | | | courses that might be easy for you but will not teach |
| math? Do you like these courses enough to remain | | | | you anything valuable. This will waste time that is |
| focused while you complete all the prerequisite work | | | | better spent on things that will advance you towards |
| that it will take for you to enter medical school? Do | | | | your goal. The difficult decision as to direction is the |
| you possess a strong enough love for humanity to | | | | best in the long run. You may find you are not |
| endure and manage people's pain when they are at | | | | enjoying the courses as much as you thought, or |
| their worst point? Are you able to keep a good | | | | you are finding it difficult to cope, if this is the case |
| sense of humor while everybody else around you is | | | | then speak up. |
| in a bad mood? Could you handle the immense | | | | Never allow yourself to be caught in the waves just |
| responsibility that comes with life and death choices? | | | | to lose sight of the shore. Contemplate your actions |
| How long are you willing to wait before you begin to | | | | and your path. Reevaluate often. Ask yourself |
| see a return on your investments both personal and | | | | whether you are enjoying your life and whether you |
| financial? How informed are you about the current | | | | are noticing the signals around you. Also keep in mind |
| state of health care? Can you find the time to keep | | | | that what handbooks tell you about personal and |
| learning new things in order to stay current on the | | | | financial costs may not quite link up with reality. |
| latest techniques and procedures? Many of the | | | | Make the decision to follow through with your course |
| requirements of a premedical program will be outlined | | | | of study. Many students assume that they will be |
| in your undergraduate college handbook. Most of | | | | able to enter another field, such as dentistry, if they |
| these are correct, and some will require you to take | | | | are not admitted to a medical school. This is not true, |
| a class in liberal arts. All of them also contain warnings | | | | at the moment dental schools will only accept |
| to take a moment to decide whether or not you | | | | students who choose dentistry as a first choice and |
| truly desire a career in health care. Many people are | | | | it can be difficult to get a place. |
| attracted to the field solely on the basis of money | | | | Students who are unhappy and frustrated won't |
| and need to reexamine that. | | | | develop into successful doctors. Set goals that are |
| You should have a good idea what you are up | | | | realistic so you will not become unhappy or |
| against early on so that when the studies get hard | | | | frustrated. If at any point along the road you decide |
| you are able to remember your earlier thoughts. | | | | that you do not feel fulfilled by your choices, remain |
| There is a total of 114 medical schools located within | | | | honest and flexible enough to take a good look at |
| the country. There are many prospective students | | | | your goals and figure out if they are really what you |
| who will not be admitted even though they are | | | | want. |
| qualified. Because of this intense competition, | | | | |