What can I do right now??

Hello Armaan. I would also agree to focus on your grades and extracurricular activities, including volunteer work, at this time. That is the most important thing you can do right now. But later on in high school, maybe you can try and find a Sports Medicine physician in the area to shadow and that way you can get more information about the specialty and show that you were involved in an observer-ship also. High school grades and standardized exam scores are also very important so don't forget to keep the studying going. In college, I would continue to find mentorship in that particular field so that you can get guidance on the appropriate steps to take, if it is still an area of interest for you. And while in college, make sure to take all the required core classes for a pre-Medicine track along with other math and science classes. But also, take some other classes that interest you that will set you apart from other candidates. Good luck!

Hello Armaan -

At this point, I would recommend working on your grades in school and your extracurricular activities. You can start looking into options for undergraduate colleges and determine what you can do now (and in High School) that will help you get into a good undergraduate program. A lot of better 4-year universities will be looking for good grades in more difficult courses (International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement) in addition to outside activities (sports, music, art, etc.). Find something that interests you and start doing it.

More specifically for the medical field, the University of Manitoba's Medical School offers a lot of support and resources for High School students through their website (http://umanitoba.ca/faculties/health_sciences/medicine/admissions/8822.html) under the "information for high school students" section. This could be an exciting opportunity to get involved in right when you enter high school so you have a full 4-years to determine if you even want to do sports medicine. It can also help you build your professional network while still in High School, which can come in handy when you need letters of recommendation and shadowing experience to get into undergraduate school as well as medical school.

Finally, once you enter college, make sure you study! Your grades and exam scores can make or break your application to medical school and it is important not to become overwhelmed by the independence and allow your grades to slip. Once you feel comfortable with your studies, look for local clubs or groups on campus for future medical professionals to further expand your professional network and provide opportunities to further expand your resume for medical school.

I would say get really good grades, and take all the math and science classes that you can. This might be a little off, but you might think about taking up a sport that teaches about using all the body parts - perhaps martial arts or wrestling. Best of luck!