Author: Maha Vijayakrishnan Ah yes, medical school. Years and years of studying paired with school loan debt! But worth it in the end. How can you prepare to go to medical school? What does it take? Well, I’ll tell you the base prerequisites. It is generally recommended to take these courses: 1 year of Biology (with lab) 2 years of Chemistry (Organic and General) 1 year of Physics (with lab) 1 year of English (but don’t be afraid to take more! It can be helpful when writing admissions essays) However, it all depends on the school. While the Perelman School of Medicine doesn’t require any courses, the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Medicine requires courses such as Biochemistry, Statistics, and Physics (to name a few). So how do you see the requirements for each specific school? The MSAR . You don’t need to wait until your last year in college to buy it if you already are determined to go to medical school. Valued at $28, this buy is well worth it. It will tell you the specific requirements, stats of each applicant (GPA, MCAT scores, etc.), and selection factors of the school. If there’s one thing you need to set your expectations for medical school, it’s the MSAR (not to be confused with the MCAT, which is a test needed to get into medical school!). Wait, you’re a high school student reading this article? Don’t worry! I have many tips for you as well. To understand the medical field more, you can take science classes at your high school. If you want to be more prepared, take AP or Honors classes! They will show college admissions you can handle tough classes and know how to schedule your time. Extracurriculars such as volunteering in the hospital can give you a sense of what it’s like to work at the hospital. You can see how the workflow environment works and contribute towards it. Not only that, but you can open up a club for peers who want to discuss healthcare. Being involved with a group of individuals who share your mindset can push you further. You can plan activities together and help the public community. There’s so many ways to get experience or explore in the medical field! And don’t be afraid to ask for help! Whether it is a person working in healthcare or a counselor you want to consult, they will help you. After all their job/passion is to help others! Image Sources: https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/happy-young-female-student-with-books-hands-university-background_2915305.htm https://pixabay.com/photos/nurse-medicine-doctor-hospital-2019420/
