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What is the best way to prepare for a pre-med program?

Hello, I’m in 11th grade and I am highly interested in becoming an anesthesiologist. Of course, with this in mind I’ve been trying my best to excel in chemistry, biology and other helpful classes. I’m wondering if there are any other ways or a better approach to preparing myself for a pre-medical program, or just university in general. #medical-school #doctor #premed #anesthesiologist

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Bhavna’s Answer

The best way to prepare for a pre-med program is to focus on developing an excellent academic record with a broad range of course work. Students often begin with a foundation program of biology, physics, chemistry, math, and English, but obtaining a strong background in computer science, psychology, health sciences, or the humanities may provide students with a stronger foundation for the future challenges they may encounter in medical school. You should also prioritize maintaining your physical health and wellbeing during your studying by engaging in regular physical activities, eating a balanced and nutritious diet, and getting plenty of sleep. Additionally, creating relationships with professors, mentors, and healthcare professionals can also help to round out your educational experience and increase your network for potential opportunities down the line.
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James’s Answer

hi alyssa! i've been a family physician for 20+ years. i graduated from high school in 1984, college in 1989, medical school in 1993, and residency in 1997. you're on the right track with taking as many sciences as you can in high school, especially biology and chemistry. and definitely consider taking both physics and calculus. the previous advice about taking a foreign language is spot on. spanish and sign language would top my list there. contacting local physicians, residents, pharmacists, nurses, and other health professionals is also excellent advice. they can give you specifics on some of the education and training required. and maybe they can show you what they do on a daily basis. they also could be a good source for some of the recommendation letters you'll need when applying to both college and medical school. at your age no one really expects you to be able to understand too much about the medical field. we just want to see that you're bright, hard working, and eager to be exposed to more. one way you can do that is by reading medical novels and watching medical tv shows. google "the best books by doctors." as for the medical tv shows, movies, and fiction just remember that only a portion of it it true-to-life. but those will keep you entertained and expose you to many aspects of medicine. lastly, i'll mention one other possible avenue of investigation that i'm not too familiar with but i keep hearing about - online courses. google "free online premedical courses." Good luck!
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Misty’s Answer

Alyssa,

Great question. I think it is great that you are trying to prepare now for med school. It is a lot of work. You are on a great start with the sciences but may I suggest adding math to the plan as well. You are going to have to know how to break down dosages and understand how much of what and what can go together with meds for dosages. Once you get to college and start on your goal to med school, you will do all of your basics first which are going to be your maths, sciences, and core classes before you get into medical school. Your advisor will help you determine the best core classes to get you to where you want to be and ready for med school. I would also make a suggestion that you add a few foreign languages to the list just because we are becoming more and more diverse. A lot of places will look for and ask about foreign languages when you apply and interview and this can play in your favor later when entering the job market.


Good luck on your journey.
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Rachel’s Answer

Hi Alyssa,

I would suggest shadowing physicians in fields that you are interested in. I would also suggest an internship or job in a healthcare related field during the summer. No doubt you will need to excel in your classes, but real life experience is always valuable.
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Estelle’s Answer

Pick a college that suits your personality and a major that interests you. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
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Stephanie’s Answer

Hello Alyssa,

In the field of anesthesiology providers can be physicians or specialty trained nurse anesthetists (see link below). The path toward a career as a physician begins with a 4-year college degree, then 4 years of medical school, then a 2-4 year training period referred to as internship and residency. The path toward nurse anesthetists is different, and you can learn more about that from the link below. The place to begin this journey is with your high school guidance counselor. Let him or her know that you want to go to a college that has a strong record of preparing students for medical school. Volunteering in a health care setting can help you understand the different roles and responsibilities of health care providers. Seek out a physician in your community and ask him or her about their journey. Maybe your school counselor can help make these connections for you? With persistence and motivation, you can do it. Good luck!

https://nurse.org/resources/nurse-anesthetist/
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