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Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

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Page 1: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

Is Medical School Right for Me?Things to Consider Before you Apply

Page 2: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

First, Ask Yourself

• Why do I want to be a physician?– There are many reasons, some good, some… not so good.

• Do I know what type of physician I want to be?– There are several to choose from.

• Do I have the right personality traits?– To be a good physician, you must have the correct mindset.

• Am I willing to work hard?– The road to becoming a physician is long.

Page 3: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

Why Do I want to be a Physician?Good Reasons:

• The desire to help people

• The desire to make a difference

• An interest in science and medicine

• The desire to improve medical practices

• The desire to do research

• The desire to save lives

• A true interest in the well-being of others

Not-So-Good Reasons:

• Money

– Money is nice, but it can’t be your only motivator.

• I just always thought I would

– Do you still really want to?

• Approval

– Mom and Dad will still love you.

• Family Legacy

– Grandpa and Aunt Sally are MD’s, so I should be too, right?

Page 4: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

What Type of Physician Do I Want to Be?There are 3 extremely broad types of physicians:

• Primary care physicians.– Seen most often, these physicians are often family doctors offering

long-term care.

• Surgeons.– Operate on patients to treat injuries or diseases.

• Specialists.– Concentrate on one area of study, such as a specific body part, organ,

or disease.

Page 5: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

What Personality Traits Should a Physician Have?

• Compassion

• Good Listening Skills

• An inquisitive mind

• A love of learning

• Stamina

• Patience

• Strong ethical principles

Page 6: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

Am I Truly Willing to Work Hard?

The road to becoming a physician takes a lot of time and effort. Including:

• 4 years of medical school

(after a 4-year bachelor’s degree)

• A 1-year internship

• 3-7 years in a residency program

• Some subspecialties require an additional fellowship of 1-3 years

• Continuing education after being licensed

Page 7: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

Pro’s and Con’s of the ProfessionPro’s

• The ability to help improve people’s lives and well-being.

• The opportunity to advance medical science and care practices.

• The respect and gratitude of patients and society at large.

• The financial benefits.

• Each day brings something new.

Con’s

• It takes quite a while before you get that diploma.

• With a lot of education comes a lot of student debt.

• Social Sacrifices. While in medical school, studying is your priority.

• Long hours, and being on-call once out of medical school.

• Dealing with patient loss, due to financial complications or death.

Page 8: Is Medical School Right for Me? Things to Consider Before you Apply

Confused Enough?Let me answer any questions or concerns you may have.