personal statement for medical school

The road to higher learning is certainly not paved in gold and studying in med school is certainly not as  easy as it was during your undergraduate years. As much as we’d like to think that medical school is just an incubator that houses great talent, it’s not. It’s actually a battlefield of wits, skills, strengths, and patience. Though medical school will equip you for life as a doctor, you should come prepared for the four or so years of medical study.

Here are some of the things you should do to prepare for medical school

* Take up required courses.
Though most medical students are biology majors or took up pre-med courses, there are those that come from not so distant interests as well. A tip for incoming students is to take units that are likely to be required in med school. Some high school students have the end in mind and pattern their undergraduate courses to be able to fulfill med school requirements. As with other science-based interests, med school  requires applicants to have taken up units in biology, physics, chemistry, math and English. Complex subjects such as biochemistry, anatomy, and pharmacology are taught in med school and having knowledge of at least the basics of such can be helpful in the long run.

* Develop effective study habits.

Even if you got through your undergrad years in a breeze, med school promises some serious midnight oil burning. When you decide to go to medical school (or any school for higher learning) be prepared to live a scheduled life if you want to retain a semblance of sanity.  Med school requires a lot of reading and studying, and of developing a list of tasks or a schedule can help organize your life. Professors expect that their student come to class well-prepared. Aside from studying required texts in advance, you could also look into other medical texts that are relevant to your study. It is also important to keep abreast of any developments in the medical community so that you can be able to discuss it with others as well.

* Prepare your physical health.
Med students pull all-nighters so frequently that most of them suffer disorders of one form or another. Partner sleeplessness with stress and you have one interesting paradox – a sick medical student. At the risk of throwing away your efforts for studying for a killer exam in pathology, try to maintain a healthy lifestyle by getting enough rest and sleep and eating right.

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Before heading off to draft those personal statement for medical school essays and asking esteemed professors for letters of recommendation, choose which law school you want to apply to. Though you can go to the one that mom, dad, or your pediatrician went to, it might be better if you investigated for yourself other medical schools. Here are a few pointers to look for when scouting for that medical school to send your personal statement for medical school essay to:

* Academic curriculum

Perhaps the foremost thing that you have to look out for, the curriculum offered by a certain medical school bears an important weight on the quality of education that you get. If you’ve decided on a certain specialization, check and see if a medical school offers enough courses to make a specialist out of you. Look for medical schools that employ effective styles of teaching aside from the conventional modes of instruction.

* Faculty members

They say that the company one keeps makes a person, and it may be right when it comes to studying in a medical school known for its stellar roster of lecturers. It’s not the fame that rubs on to you, but the knowledge and expertise that these esteemed faculty can teach you that makes a medical school appealing. Look into the faculty that each medical school has, chances are you’ll find the one employing the most number of medical experts very much inspiring.

* Physical location

The environment in which a medical school is situated should also be taken into consideration. If you can’t afford to leave home, perhaps a med school that’s conveniently located can cater to your interests. However, if the quality of education outweighs the need to be in your safe zone, at least choose a school where you could establish yourself comfortably.  Some people might also like to consider the cost of living in some states or localities when choosing a medical school.

* Financial support

It is financially draining to go through any form of graduate studies and med school definitely doesn’t come cheap. Though it would be best to be financially prepared for med school, there are times when your finances are just not enough. Good thing there are scholarships and loans that can help finance your med school education. Some scholarships can be applied for by submitting personal statement for medical school essays and other requirements.

* Extracurricular offerings

Say your chosen med school is located far away from home. Look for a med school that offers extracurricular activities to help you combat your homesickness or boredom. Though med schools often offer medical-oriented activities, these tasks are not usually as rigid as a classroom setting. Social relationships can be fostered and can be central to the holistic development of a medical student.

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Medical school prepares you to face a profession where you will be called “Doctor” by patients, co-workers and even superiors and professionals in the field of medicine.  But what if you are also being called “Mom” or “Mama”  by smaller voices while studying in medical school? Though being a mother while preparing to be a doctor can prove a challenge, it should not hinder you from reaching for your goal.

Balancing motherhood with medical school

Raising a child (or a family) and attending medical school at the same time may seem like the ultimate challenge that would probably drive any homemaker crazy. However, see the situation as it is but in a positive light. Yes it would be a challenge to be a mother and a medical student at the same time, but you will get past it with hard work and proper management. Learn how to take one step at a time, based on the importance of the task at hand. Devoting your attention to one item at the moment can help you focus and leave no mistakes behind.

Worrying about your child

It’s typical of a mother to worry about her child. But if you’ve got other stuff to putter about such as your finals in pharmacology, maybe it’s time to ask for help from your partner, a relative, or a professional caregiver. Once you’ve had someone help you out with the child, you can turn your thoughts to your studies for the meantime. Don’t worry about not giving enough attention to your child as you can always see him or her later when you’re done studying. Though guilt may creep up on you every now and then, think about how becoming a doctor can also help you prepare for your child’s future. Motherhood should not stop your dreams. Instead, you’ve actually had more reason to go on and become a doctor.

Overcoming physical and mental stress

Aside from exerting effort in studying, caring for the needs of your family may also add a lot of physical and mental stress to you. Instead of breaking down and throwing in the towel, learn how to lighten up and take it easy. Appreciate the small things such as a compliment for your recitation, additional points for an exam, and even your baby’s warm, sticky embrace. Remember that medical school only lasts a few years and all of these shall pass. And when you finally pass your medical exams and graduate, you’ll carry two titles of distinction in two of the most prestigious fields.

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Despite everybody’s expectations, including yours, it just dawns on you that you don’t want to be a doctor anymore. However, you don’t need to put those four years of medical school training to waste as there are other occupations where a medical degree sans the M.D. suffix can fare well in.

Be a science teacher.

Sure. Rocks and other igneous forms may be the least favorite subjects of kids in high school but biology, anatomy and some other icky subjects can be the areas of specialty of medical degree holders in the classroom. Having a medical degree makes you a person credible enough to explain body parts and processes to students ranging from the curious middle schooler to a bright-eyed freshie in med school. Zoology can also be another point of excellence for the medical degreeholder, having practiced on animals and animal parts in your undergraduate years.

Be a medical journalist.

Not all doctors write well (case in point: prescription notes) and sometimes, some of those impressive papers and dissertations you see in medical journals are actually the works of medical journalists. A passion and knack for writing can be put to good use when you embark on a career as a medical journalist. One can work closely with medical professionals and experts to produce scientific papers that are of importance to the scientific world. A medical background will help you understand and make sense of medical jargon and terminology.

Be a biomedical scientist.

Research can be the next venue for you if you want to hang up the scrub suit and stethoscope. Doctors and medical professionals go into biomedical research to develop cures for certain illnesses and other stuff that can help improve medical science. Experiments and studies are conducted in almost all areas of biological development of humans and animals alike. The results and breakthroughs that biomedical scientists come up with can be published in medical journals as well and help other doctors and researchers in their studies as well.

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Graduate schools, especially medical schools, require a lot of documents to be submitted to further evaluate applicants. Aside from the personal statement for medical school essays, medical schools also ask for submission of letters of recommendation. Admissions people may learn a lot about the applicant through the personal statement for medical school essay, but it’s the letters of recommendation that speak of an applicant’s worth through the third person perspective. Choosing the right people to write letters of recommendation for you is a vital part of your preparation for med school. Here are a few of the people you could ask to be your letter-writers:

Professors

Some schools actually require letters of recommendation to be written by people with professorial rank. Choosing professors to write your letters of recommendation entails a lot of preparation. Sign up in their classes and participate actively in the discussions so your prof would get to know you better. It sure boosts your potentials if you have a well-known prof as your letter-writer, but it would be a lot better if the letter genuinely articulates your achievements and performance as a student in his class.

Professionals

A supervisor or a superior can also draft well-meaning letters of recommendations. Opinions from managers or professionals whom you have closely worked with can be taken as credible sources by admissions people. Make sure that you approach these people with your intentions early on so that they can still accomplish your letter of recommendation despite their busy schedules.

Organization leaders

If you have worked with community groups or organizations, you can ask seniors or officers to draft you letter of recommendation. This would work well especially if your group goes on medical missions or are championing certain healthcare causes. Though involvement in community groups can also be good topics to discuss in your personal statement for medical school essay, additional information that could help boost your application can be written by your seniors.

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You will get to a point after medical school when you will ask yourself if you should be a medical specialist or a general practitioner. Making a choice can be difficult especially if you lack information about both practices. So, to help you decide well, below are the advantages and disadvantages of being a medical specialist and why you choose to become one instead of being a general practitioner.

Advantages

Whether you choose to become an internist, surgeon, or neurologist or someone who focuses on diagnostic specialties, you will learn more about a particular field in medicine when you choose to be a medical specialist. Studying more about a branch of medicine such as cardiology or surgery gives you professional leverage and more credibility than if you are a general practitioner.

Another advantage is, as a medical specialist, you will enjoy a prestigious name. Years of further study as an internist, for example, earns you the benefit of being highly regarded and respected in the medical field. Your colleagues will consult you about matters they cannot solve or recommend you to patients with rare conditions. More than that, you get to solve more challenging cases and become more renowned when you succeed.

Finally, because of the specialized work you do, you earn more than your colleagues. An internist, a neurologist, a surgeon and a diagnostic specialist earn at least $20,000 more than general practitioners. In addition, you are considered as a better candidate for higher job positions in a hospital when you choose to specialize after medical school.

Disadvantages

Of course, before you earn the prestigious name and the money, you have to go through a lot of hard work. After graduating from medical school, you practice working in a hospital for a few years and spend several years more as a resident. As a resident, you learn about the area you want to specialize in, take tests and even be urged by superiors to study further.

Another disadvantage is you only handle medical cases related to your specialization. If you choose to be a cardiologist, you only take care of patients who have disorders of the cardiovascular system. Rarely will you be allowed to handle patients having different disorders. One of the reasons why a good number of doctors choose to become general practitioners is that they look forward to helping many people.

Being a medical specialist may be a more appealing option for you. But as you decide, consider your interests and your life in the long run. Remember that in any profession, financial stability, personal fulfillment and work-life balance are also important.

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