Some films are made to depict reality. There are movies about war, love, rock bands, pro-golfers, high school, and medical school. Yes, medical school. Is there a better way to present life’s biggest challenges than to feature a group of sleep-deficient medical students undergoing quarter-life crisis? Here are the top five movies that will help you prepare for the crazy and exciting world of medical school:
Of Human Bondage (1934)
After confirming his mediocrity in painting, Philip Carey left Paris to pursue a medical career in his native London. There he finds that the best distraction to medical studies is to fall in love with a manipulative and illiterate tearoom waitress who hates club-footed men. Find out how Philip will survive medical school and find his place in the world while dealing with his irrational obsession to Mildred.
Bad Medicine (1985)
What did Jeffrey Marx do when every single medical school in the United States gave him a thumbs-down? Find a medical school somewhere in Central America, of course! Jeffrey, with the help of his fellow medical students from Madera Universidad de Medicina, faces the ultimate challenge of saving the entire town by providing medical assistance to the impoverished villagers – even before they’re legally allowed to.
Gross Anatomy (1989)
How can a person who never plays by the book survive a world that is heavily based on one? Watch how the troublesome yet brilliant Joe Slovak struggles not only to pass his human dissection class – that is supervised by his uber-demanding teacher, Dr. Woodruff who continuously questions Joe’s place in the medical world – but also to win the heart of his overachieving lab partner.
Vital Signs (1990)
When the third year medical students from LA Central try to outwit each other for that much coveted internship, they learn that life in the hospital is not all glitz and glamor. Although they have every hair strand perfectly in place despite their sleepless state, the medical students from LA Central find out that surviving a career in medicine is not only about saving other people’s lives but saving their own as well.
Anatomy (2000)
A spot in University of Heidelberg Medical School’s special summer course means the world to Paula Henning. But after finding her one-time train buddy on her dissection table, Paula begins to question where the school gets its not-so-dead cadavers for gross anatomy class. Now, Paula needs not only to compete for her place in the medical world, but also to fight for her own life before she ends up in her own dissecting table.
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After finishing medical school, it is very likely that you will get into a point where you want to consider being a medical specialist over being a general practitioner. To help you get a decision, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a medical specialist:
Advantages of being a medical specialist
Being an internist or surgeon or neurologist will give you the chance to learn more about a particular medicine field. This will give you the benefit of having more credibility than a general practitioner.
Being a medical specialist will also open new doors for you. You will have the chance to make your name famous. For example, years of further study as an internist or specialist can give you the chance to be respected by your colleagues in the medical field. Your co-workers might even heed your advice regarding matters that they cannot solve. Your specialization can also transform you into a highly-recommended doctor. Being a specialist will also give you the opportunity to work on more challenging medical cases.
Also, your specialization can also be your ticket to earn more money. Medical specialists earn at least $20,000 more than general practitioners. Having a specialization can also boost your chances of getting various job opportunities.
Disadvantages of being a medical specialist
The life of a medical specialist is not always too good to be true. To be able to establish a prestigious name and earn more money, you have to work hard for it. Once you graduate from medical school you will have to work in a hospital for a number of years. You should also spend several years as a resident. Practicing will make it easier for you decide on your medical specialization.
Being a medical specialist can also limit your work. For example, if you are a cardiologist, you will only be involved with patients who have cardiovascular system-related illnesses. General practitioners, on the other hand, are allowed to handle patients with varying disorders.
Whether you decide to be a general practitioner or a medical specialist, always take into consideration your interests. Your financial stability and work-life balance can also be factors in your career decisions.
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While there are probably thousands of tips on becoming an A student, it is knowing the profile of unambitious students that may help you avoid their bad habits. Knowing the mindset of students who settle for mere passing grades will make you wary of your own study habits. What you may consider to be niggling details of your study regimen may actually be important clues as to why you have not been doing so well. Consider the following profiles of mediocre students as a companion to previous articles that you have read on getting excellent grades.
Going for the passing mark
Mediocrity may become a sickness that will take over your student life. Without you knowing it, you may be getting into the habit of passing a paper just for the sake of turning in a requirement. It is true that student life can get very tough, especially during finals. You will be getting tons of work from all your teachers. So, you may end up just wanting to get them over with. This habit does not make things easier for you, though. Even if you have passed a pretty mediocre paper, you still spent some time researching for it and finally writing it. This means that you should have at least made use of the time wisely by giving it your best. Either way, you may be getting few hours of sleep anyway. Make the sleepless night work for you.
Always look at the bigger picture. Never think that school work is just something you have to do just so to get a passing grade. Consider every task a chance for you to hone your potential and show others your abilities.
I can’t…
Negativity is another problem for the unambitious or mediocre student. Thinking of failing before the test has even happened reduces the time that could have been spent studying. This is because negative thinking can really take over your whole being. You become too obsessed with the notion that you just couldn’t do it. Self-pity and horror combined paralyzes you and prevents you from doing anything substantial. Instead, why not focus on how to correct your mistakes.
It can wait…
Procrastination is a habit that cuts down time for studying. If you are really having a hard time concentrating on a particular day, you can still use the time wisely. You can organize your things or make a timetable for studying.
Live for the moment
Some instances may push you to prefer other activities to studying. However, you should keep in mind that there is a time for everything. To truly live for the moment, you should be able to discern when’s the perfect time to make on-the-spot decisions and when to stick to a plan. Prioritize your studies and be conscious of your grades. You may need high grades if you are a student aiming for further studies. Your present records will determine whether you get into the school of your choice or not.
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Many people believe that being a foreign student would greatly reduce their chances of gaining admission into a US medical school. In truth, like many US colleges, medical schools are looking to accept students coming from diverse cultural backgrounds, such as foreign students. The application process for foreign students is quite similar to that of American students. The main difference is that foreign students have a number of extra requirements to submit. Here is a guide on the application process for foreign students looking to enter into US medical schools.
1. Institution of choice
The first step to applying to a US medical school is to choose which schools to apply to. For foreign students, careful deliberation is a must, because they will likely be separated from their family. It would be a good idea to apply to schools that are near where relatives or friends live. Another consideration to keep in mind is financial aid. Because foreign students are not covered by financial aid given by the US government, it is important to apply to schools that have financial aid programs for foreign students.
2. Common requirements
Many of the requirements for application to US medical schools are the same for both American students and foreign students. These requirements include the following:
* Resume and transcripts
* Recommendation letters
* Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores
* Personal statement
Medical school applicants will be required to have a bachelor’s. With regard to the personal statement, it is important to mention why the decision has been made to study in the US. In order to get a better idea of what is required from the personal statement, it is essential to look at sample medical school personal statements. These sample medical school personal statements can help to decide on the themes and topics that are commonly written about in these application essays.
3. Requirements for foreign students
Aside from completing the requirements that are common to both foreign and American students, there are some special requirements needed from foreign students. Some schools will require the submission of the applicant’s scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). English proficiency is a must, regardless of whether or not the TOEFL scores are required. In most cases, US medical schools will require that foreign students have taken up at least one year of education in the US or Canada. It would be a good idea to take some of the required courses in the US before applying to a US medical school.
Another requirement that is unique to foreign students is a statement or proof of how the student will cope with financial issues while studying in the US. Many US medical schools would charge a different rate for foreign students, which is usually higher compared with those paid by American students. Finally, foreign students will need complete documentation with the US immigration services.
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Medical school can be intimidating to anyone who is looking to become a doctor. One way of dealing with this intimidation is to be adequately prepared to face the challenges of medical school. As the saying goes, “fail to prepare and you are preparing to fail.” Here are some tips on how to prepare for medical school:
1. Having self-motivation and self-discipline
The most important part of preparing for medical school is to motivate and inspire oneself and practice self-discipline. Those who are preparing for medical school should take the initiative to find information on their own. One good place to begin is by talking to family doctors, friends in medical school and anyone else who has experience in medicine.
2. Planning the path
Planning is an essential factor for medical school preparation. Entering into medical school will require students to take exams, such as the MCAT. It is a good idea to get a head-start by planning one’s classes and extra-curricular activities accordingly. Taking courses, majors, and extra-curricular activities related to the sciences and to medicine in general will help increase one’s chances of doing well on the MCAT and in medical school itself. Some of the subjects that should be of particular interest include physics, chemistry, and biology. With regard to extra-curricular activities, joining clubs or organizations that focus on socio-civic issues and activities will help develop people skills, an interest in human beings, and leadership qualities.
3. Taking the MCAT
Taking the MCAT is one of the first required steps for entering into medical school. With the exam fees reaching figures of approximately $500, it would be a waste of money, time, and effort to take the test when unprepared. A good time to begin studying and preparing for the MCAT would be during one’s junior year. Tapping sources such as local bookstores, the Internet, or review courses is a good way of gathering information on the MCAT and preparing for it.
4. Filing the application and preparing for the interview
The application procedure for medical school will involve a number of requirements, including the submission of transcripts, filling of documents, gathering of recommendations and the creation of a personal statement. While the transcripts, documents and recommendations are rather straight-forward, preparing for the personal statement is a good way to get a head start. Try to gather information and ideas by looking at sample medical school personal statements. Sample medical school personal statements can help you come up with topics or themes for your own essay. As for the interview, try to prepare by getting information on the institution that you are applying to. Speaking with other physicians and professionals in medicine is a good way to begin your preparation for this step. When visiting medical schools for interviews, consolidating trips to other institutions is ideal, in order to save money and time.
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Entering into medical school and becoming a doctor can be one of the most fulfilling experiences in one’s life. The path to becoming a doctor is long and oftentimes arduous. Upon becoming a doctor, the tension and work only intensifies. Because of this, it is important to identify and understand the reasons for wanting to become a doctor. Here are five of the worst reasons for wanting to become a doctor.
In it for the money
Perhaps the worst reason for wanting to become a doctor is for the large amount of money that the career can lead to. It is often true that doctors earn a lot of money in their profession, but this should not be one’s driving force for becoming a doctor. There is much more to being a doctor than working long hours and making large sums of money.
Doing it for others
Another common reason for becoming a doctor mentioned in sample medical school personal statements is because of the influence and pressure from others to enter into medicine. Many parents and guardians would love for their children to become doctors, and many students seek to enter into the profession because of this reason. Becoming a doctor should be one’s own aspiration rather than someone else’s.
The promise of admiration and respect from people
Doctors often receive much respect and admiration from others, because of the career path that they choose. Some people want to become doctors for this reason. While gaining the respect and admiration of others is a good thing, it should not be the main inspiration for becoming a doctor.
Loving the subject
Many sample medical school personal statements mention that the writer’s reason for wanting to become a doctor is they enjoy the academic discipline of medicine. The knowledge and intellect that one can gain from medicine is abundant and perhaps even inexhaustible. Still, there is a side of being a doctor that is far detached from the lessons and knowledge that you can gain from the subject. Being a doctor requires interpersonal skills and a sensitivity toward the human being that far exceed those required in other careers.
Anything aside from a vocation
Most people who are happy with and truly love being a doctor cannot explain their reason for wanting to become a doctor. This is because it is often a vocation of theirs, a calling that comes from a longing to better one’s self in order to aid others in need. Perhaps the best reasons to want to become a doctor have something to do with being selfless and centered on an interest toward the human being.
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