If you want to be a medical doctor, then you may want to start preparing for that career as early as possible. There are many different things that you can do along the way that may make you attractive to medical school admissions committees. Here are some things you may want to consider.
Find a Medical Career
Many medical schools look for candidates that are already involved in the medical field. You may want to earn money during your undergraduate days by working as a certified nurse’s aide. Alternatively, you may want to spend a summer working at a camp for medically fragile children. On the other hand, you may want to volunteer for a research project in the science department at your local college.
Choose Extracurricular Activities
Medical schools usually look for candidates that are well-rounded individuals. While it is important that you have great grades, the committee also wants to know that you have interests away from the classroom. Get involved in a band, go on an overseas mission trip or form a club to tutor children in a low-income area of your hometown. Showing that you have taken a leadership role in these activities can often persuade the interview committee that you would make a great doctor.
Know Why You Want to Be a Doctor
People want to become a medical doctor for many different reasons. Some have family members who a doctor has saved, and they want to pay society back. Others have survived their own medical trauma, and it caused them to want to be a doctor. Still, others have spent time following a doctor and loves how he or she spends their days. Regardless of why you think you want to be a doctor, you need to be able to explain your reasoning in a paragraph or two.
Pass the Medical College Admission Test
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a day-long test required to get into most medical schools. The test covers biology, chemistry and psychology along with critical analysis and reasoning. The maximum score on the test is 525, and most people admitted to medical school score better than 500. It is vital that you study for this test, and one of the best ways to make sure you pass the exam is to study with a private MCAT tutor. He or she should be able to help you spot your weaknesses and help you in those areas along with providing test-taking strategies.
There are many reasons why you might want to be a medical doctor. Use these ideas and your own ingenuity to show why you would make a great doctor. Then, you will hear the admission committee say the magic words telling you that you are accepted to their program.