Are you deciding on your career path? It is one of the most daunting tasks because what you decide right now affects your whole life! Are you considering medical school because you always wanted to be a physician? Maybe you belong to a family of doctors, or you just love to study the scientific dynamics of the human body. This article will help you discover if you have what it takes to become a doctor.
Are You Committed?
Medical school requires massive commitment and sacrifices in family time and social life, as this is just the first mile of a very, very long road, especially if you go for residency. Medical school takes four to five years; many of your friends will be graduating before you. Knowing what you are getting into can make things a little easier. So, if you know you can persevere, go for it!
Do You Have The Funding?
You may be planning to study at a local medical school or an international one. However, medical school costs can vary greatly depending on the context, and they rarely give out scholarships. So, if you’re asking yourself, ‘what are medical school costs around the world’ you need to do some in-depth research to get a proper idea. You also need to keep in mind accommodation and living costs to get a better estimate. This way, you’ll know if you can afford it or if you need student loans.
Have You Considered Other Options?
Having a goal is very important to achieve success. However, you always need to have options! Consider everything! Brainstorm alone, brainstorm with family and friends and your advisor and then make a list of what you’re good at and what you might be interested in. If you’re good at arts, you could consider that. If you love biology, there are many other options rather than medicine. Don’t stop there. Think bigger. Do you have an academic record for all these degrees? Can you thrive as an artist or a marine biologist? What kind of jobs are available after you get these degrees? What is the pay like? Write down these paths and then consider the pros and cons of each. When you have considered everything, and medicine l is still top of the list, you should definitely choose medicine. However, don’t throw out the list just yet; consider it a backup plan. The acceptance rate of medical schools in 2018-2019 was almost 41% in America. So, remember the competitiveness of the application process, and always have a backup plan.
What’s Your Motivation?
Don’t give yourself the reason you prepared for the interview. If you only selected it to please or impress others or even in fear of your parents, you need to reevaluate your reasons. You will need to stay motivated through all the tough moments you will face at medical school. For that, you need to get in with the right reasons. If you want to get in because you are really passionate, you’ll persist.
How Prepared Are You?
For medical school, aspirants should begin preparing for application two to three years before they apply. Many people make great profiles years before because they know they want to go to medical school. It doesn’t mean you can’t choose it last minute, but it all depends on how great your profile is. This is because the MCAT test is notoriously difficult, and admission to any good medical school depends on the scores you get. Make sure you start preparing for your MCAT as early as possible.
Are You Easily Adaptable?
Yes, you’ll be financially secure (once you’ve paid off student loans). However, remember that medical training is very time-intensive and emotionally taxing; it gets very difficult to maintain your relationships, hobbies, and social life amid the clinical rounds and study sessions. If you’re thinking about medical school, keep in mind that it may take a toll on your lifestyle.
Do You Like To Study?
Being a doctor does not mean your studies stop after four years of medical school. To stay up-to-date, you need to keep up with new research, drugs, and treatments. You really need to ask yourself: Do I like to study? Do I like science? If studying feels like second nature to you, medical school is for you.
Medicine is a great profession, but it requires sacrifices throughout your career. You should consider shadowing a doctor to see what kind of life they live. If what you see is not what you had in mind, then you should consider other options. Ask yourself all the questions above and give yourself an honest assessment. Then, you will have the answer to whether medical school is right for you or not.
Founder Dinis Guarda
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