Got a study group invitation lately? Well, if you did, then you should say yes right away. Joining study group sessions is not only a great opportunity to meet potential partners, but it is also a good chance to improve your study habits and academic perforamce. And in the stress-filled world of medical school, study group sessions might just be your key to survival.
No room for procrastination
The worst enemy of studying is procrastination. Recurring thoughts of “I still have time” and “maybe tomorrow” will most likely direct you toward a movie theater instead of a library. There is no room for procrastination in a study group. In study group sessions, you study not only for yourself but also for the entire study group. If you put off your reading assignments or teaching duties, then the other members of your study group will also lag behind their medical school work. Be responsible and considerate. Many people are counting on you.
Enough collection of ideas
Study group sessions involve lots of discussions. You will be assigned one topic per session and you will be in-charge of explaining it to the rest of the study group. After your teaching duty, however, there will be a group discussion where each member will give his or her comments or ideas about the previously discussed topic. When you study alone, your ideas are only limited to what your brain can generate. In study group sessions, however, you also learn about the thoughts and ideas of your colleagues. Two heads are better than one, they say, and a gathering of bright minds in one room will generate enough ideas to complete a textbook. Besides, you will have more ideas on what to expect on your next test!
More chances for self-improvement
The benefits of joining study group sessions go beyond good grades and new friends. Frequently speaking before a small study group helps build your confidence and develop your interpersonal skills – qualities that every doctor must need. Getting used to listening to other people’s explanations or ideas is also an effective way to improve your attention span and recall ability. Exchanging ideas and comparing notes with your fellow study group members is actually a good preparation for your medical career. They allow you to enhance your critical thinking and problem solving skills by assessing not only your ideas but also your colleagues’.
Photo Credit : San Jose Library
It is generally known that well-written sample medical school personal statements will help you get admitted to the medical school of your choice. But what are the other requirements for admission? Aside from your sample medical school personal statements, another medical school admission requirement that you need to worry about is the interview. Here are some tips to help you survive your interview for medical school.
*Wear appropriate clothing
Like in most events, you should dress to impress on your interview. “Dressing to impress” doesn’t mean that you have to wear an Italian suit or a designer dress, but rather it pertains to wearing clothing that makes one professional-looking. Wear a carefully ironed suit if you’re a guy, or wear a slightly conservative dress if you’re a girl. Do not wear too much accessories or makeup because it might distract your interviewer. Also, if you like putting on cologne or perfume when you go out, don’t wear one for the interview. You never know if the scent of your cologne is something that the interviewer doesn’t prefer.
* Sit up straight
You have to remember that your interviewer is interested not only with your answers but also your behavior. During the interview, see to it that you sit properly on your chair. This will give your interviewer an impression that you are professional and attentive. Unless you want your interviewer to believe that you are too comfortable or too bored with the interview, do not slouch.
* Be honest with your answers.
Never make up stories or exaggerate information just to impress your interviewer. It might be easy to say that you volunteered for this community project or won that science contest, but your interviewer will find out the truth anyway. Save yourself from embarrassment and stay true to yourself. Do not lie, for doing so might cost you a slot in medical school.
* Stay polite at all times
There are different kinds of interviewers, and not all of them are going to make it easy for you. Some of them will try to question your potential or provoke your anger. Keep in mind that the interview is a test – a test that you have to get an A+ on. Never let your temper get the best of you. Interviews are naturally stressful and nerve-wracking, but you still need to stay polite and respectful every time you answer a question.
Photo Credit : fuzzcat
After graduating from medical school, you have to make another difficult decision: the choice between practicing in government hospitals and in private hospitals. The choice between the two, of course, is subjective. It all depends on what matters to you most – equipment, facilities, or salary. So, which one is better: a government hospital or a private hospital?
Government vs. private hospitals
Government hospitals or public hospitals are medical institutions that are owned and funded by the government. The money used to pay for the services of medical practitioners, supply of medical equipment, and maintenance of medical facilities all come from the national budget. The types of medical institution that are funded by private owners, medical insurers, and hospital fees are called private hospitals.
Medical facilities and equipment
Because they have very limited funds, government hospitals lag behind private hospitals in terms of medical equipment and facilities. Private hospitals, thanks to the medical service fees paid by the patients, have enough funds to purchase the latest medical equipment. If you’d rather work in hospitals with high-tech facilities, then you should work in private hospitals. You are also assured of the availability of supplies, cleanliness of rooms, and efficiency of facilities.
Salaries and debts
In terms of salary, private hospitals offer higher salaries than government hospitals. Working in government hospitals, aside from not getting paid enough for your efforts, is extra stressful. Because the medical rates are either free or relatively cheap, more patients flock to government hospitals than private hospitals. As a doctor, you have to do your best to attend to all their medical needs – even if it means cutting your vacation short.
If you relied on government scholarships for financial support when you were in medical school, working in government hospitals is an effective way of immediately paying off your debt. Although you will not earn much money, working in government hospitals allows you to pay off your student loan in the form of public service. So, while your former classmates are still trying to figure out how to extend their payment terms, you are actually paying off your debt by simply doing what you love best – saving people’s lives.
Photo Credit : TheeErin
Just because you received your medical school diploma while wearing a graduation cap and gown, it doesn’t mean that you have to forget about your student loans. Yes, your student loans – the mere reason you were able to make it all the way to graduation. You don’t need to be a hot shot celebrity doctor to pay off your debt, all you need is this set of tips on how to pay off your student loans.
* Calculate your debt
How are you going to pay off your student loan if you are not even sure how much money you owe? To determine your total debt, gather all your student loan notices. If you can’t find them all, you can always ask your school’s financial aid office for a computation. Before you end up paying more than you should, make sure that your debt total is exclusive of any other financial obligations besides the student loan.
* Contact your lender
Upon discovering how much money you owe, contact your lenders and arrange a meeting. Although your lenders were generous enough to pay for your medical education, you have to remember that they expect to be paid. The purpose of your meeting is to ask for a payment term extension, and if possible, an interest rate reduction. Explain your current financial situation and, who knows, maybe they will grant your requests or at least come to an agreement that benefits both you and the lender.
* Consolidate your loans
To save money on interests, you should consider consolidating your loans. Loan consolidation is the process of combining all your existing debts into one loan. This means that instead of managing multiple loans with different interest rates and payment terms, you only have to pay for a single loan with a fixed interest rate and a fixed payment term. Consolidating loans is advisable for fresh graduates like you because it allows you to simultaneously pay off all your debt while saving more money on interest.
* Save your money
After consolidating your loans, you must now start saving money to pay off your debt. Saving money is easy if you have enough discipline to do so. Spend money only on important things such as food, transportation, and bills. Refrain from buying unnecessary items like concert tickets or designer shoes. Always save up for your consolidated student loan so you can be worry-free when the monthly deadline comes.
Photo Credit : VirtualErn
Every aspiring doctor wishes to be great, and one way of achieving greatness is to choose the right medical school for you. Choosing a medical school should not be based solely on your parents’ personal wishes or the annual ranking of the country’s top medical schools. It should always be about proper education and all things that come with it. Here are the top five things to look for in a medical school.
* Academic curriculum
The most important thing you need to consider when choosing a medical school is academic curriculum. Education, after all, is still your main priority in medical school. Choose a medical school that offers not only traditional classroom lectures but also non-traditional teaching styles. Selecting a medical school that offers frequent exposure trips is also advisable.
* Faculty members
Behind every great person, they say, is an excellent teacher. If you aspire to be a great doctor someday, then you should consider choosing a medical school with a reputation for having a brilliant faculty. Good educators teach you what you need to know about medicine, but great teachers teach you how to be a great medical practitioner. Professors who will help you enrich both your mind and your soul will help you on your way to medical greatness. Check out the profiles of the faculty of medical schools by visiting their website.
* Physical location
Your four years in medical school will not be spent entirely inside laboratories or classrooms. It is best to select a medical school located in a place where you can actually picture yourself living in. Recurring thoughts of homesickness is unavoidable, but being in a place that feels like home to you is enough motivation to make you stay.
* Financial support
Medical education is everything but inexpensive, so it’s important to choose a medical school that offers a wide variety of financial support options for students. Having a sure financial backer will help you take your mind off financial issues so you can concentrate more on your studies. Medical school is stressful enough, and the last thing you need is to worry about your tuition.
* Extracurricular offerings
The key to balancing medical school work and your personal life is to get involved in activities other than studying. Select a medical school that allows you to participate in sports, journalism, arts, community work, music, and other areas of interest.
Photo Credit : kunalmehta
You have the power to turn your dreams into reality, even if it means juggling your responsibilities as a mother and a medical student. Having a baby is never enough reason to give up your dreams of being a great medical practitioner. If you have been dreaming of having an M.D. after your surname ever since you were a child, then you should do whatever it takes to make that dream come true. It is difficult, yes, but it is also attainable. All it takes to be Dr. Mom is perseverance and determination.
Balancing motherhood with medical school
They say that you will only find success if you persevere enough to attain it. Balancing motherhood and medical school work is never easy because both responsibilities require your full attention and absolute commitment. The key to managing both motherhood and medical school is to take everything one step at a time. Multi-tasking might work for some people, but it is best to concentrate on what task before moving on to the next. Not only will this help you avoid confusion but it will also allow you to give undivided attention to everything that you do.
Worrying about your child
One of the biggest distractions in your medical school work is the constant thoughts of “Do we still have enough diapers for my baby?” and “Did the nanny remember to sterilize the milk bottles?” Constant worrying will not do you much good – it will only prevent you from finishing your tasks or comprehending your lessons. Although it is inevitable for mothers to worry, always assure yourself that your child is being taken care of at the moment. Whenever you start worrying about your child, say this to yourself: “I have to focus on my studies. This is for my baby’s future.” Also, you must learn when to ask for help when it is truly needed.
Overcoming physical and mental stress
Medical school, in itself, is stressful enough. When coupled with mommy duties, medical school work becomes even more difficult to endure. Fight the stress and pressure by taking pleasure in small things such as an amazing A+ after long hours of studying for neuroanatomy, a sweet “Honey, I’m home!” greeting from your husband, and a successful attempt at measuring blood pressure. The only way to battle the challenges of juggling motherhood and medical school work is to remember the things that are worth sacrificing for. Besides, seeing your baby smile at you after a long day in medical school is enough to keep you moving forward.
Photo Credit : pedrosimoes7
After four years of spending lunch breaks with cold cadavers in medical school, you may come to a point when you think that, probably, “this doctor thing is not for me.” So, what are you going to do? Apologize to your parents for your very expensive tuition for the past four years? Regret getting absorbed in pharmacology textbooks for four grueling years when you could have watched reruns of How I Met Your Mother instead? Find an alternative career, of course! Don’t put that medical knowledge to waste! Here are some alternative careers for medical school graduates like you:
Be a science professor
Remember how you wished for a good science teacher who can simplify Kreb’s Cycle and explain the significance of Darwin’s theory of natural selection to high school students? Well, now is your chance. Be a science professor. Teach students how to properly write scientific names and how to correctly identify a cockroach’s gender. You have lots of options in teaching. You may teach gross anatomy in medical school, molecular genetics in college, or general biology in high school. You can also serve as thesis adviser to undergraduates or online consultants in different web-based classes.
Be a medical journalist
Have you noticed how some medical journals seem like they were actually written by medical professionals? Well, some of them are. If you have a passion for both medicine and writing, then you can try a career in medical journalism. In medical journalism, you will write medical articles or scientific documents based on the studies of other doctors or scientists. Your background in medical studies will be very beneficial in this field because you will be easier for you to decipher different scientific concepts. If you have a knack for translating highly technical medical jargon into layman’s terms, then your skills will be highly valued in this industry. Medical journals cater to everyday people too, not just to doctors.
Be a biomedical scientist
If you still want to develop treatment methods and investigate medical conditions without wearing a scrub suit, then try a career in biomedical research. In biomedical research, you will conduct studies and perform experiments to help improve the field of medicine. You may research on the growth, health, reproduction, diseases, and overall development of organisms.
Just because you realized that cutting up patients is something you don’t want to do on a regular basis, it doesn’t mean that you have to completely give your dream of helping other people. You can still touch lives even without sporting a stethoscope or holding a scalpel.
Photo Credit : bsabarnowl
Letters of recommendation are very important in college admissions. Not only will they provide a third-person perspective of you but they will also reveal the information that you forgot to include in your application form or admission essay. The key to submitting great letters of recommendation is to select the right people to write them for you. Here are the people to go to for letters of recommendation:
Professors
When choosing professors for your letters of recommendation, do not focus your selection on how many acronyms are found after their surname or how many books they have authored. Sure, getting letters of recommendation from well-known professors is quite impressive but it will be of no use if the professors don’t even know who you are. Your main criteria in choosing professors should be familiarity. Choose professors who personally know you because they are the only ones who can give reliable answers to questions about your study habits and personality.
Professionals
If you are applying for medical school, what could be more impressive than handing over letters of recommendation from well-known professors? Submitting letters of recommendation from practicing physicians is actually one area that you can look into. Professionals are very good at identifying whether you have what it takes to be successful in your chosen field or not. Because they have experienced the whole process first-hand, professionals can give a reliable assessment of your potentials. Just make sure that these physicians know you well enough to vouch for your capabilities, potential, personality, and talents.
Organization leaders
Are you a member of an organization or a community volunteer? If you are, then it is a good idea to request letters of recommendation from your seniors. Submitting letters of recommendation will reveal your involvement with extracurricular activities and passion for community projects. It will also give the college admission evaluators an impression that you are not only good in managing your time, but you are also dedicated in helping your fellowmen. A hard-working student with a good heart? Now, that’s definitely impressive!
Photo Credit : feverblue
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.
Photo Credit : army.arch
American and foreign students are given equal opportunity in US medical school admissions. It is because the admissions committees of medical schools consider academic excellence and medical school potential as criteria in looking future medical students. However, admission requirements for American and foreign students are not always the same. If you are a foreigner who wishes to apply to a US medical school, consider the following tips.
Practice speaking and writing in English.
English is the primary medium of communication in American schools. To get by with the lessons, you should be able to speak and understand English fluently. Try getting English lessons before you apply to a medical school. Read American books and articles. You must also train yourself to write in the language. Research papers, medical reports, books, and journals that you will use are all written in English.
Being able to speak in English fluently will not only boost your academic performance. It can also improve your self-confidence. You will have an easy time interacting with your professors and classmates if you speak English clearly.
Write a standout medical school admission essay.
If you want to increase your chances of admissions, write a good personal statement. Doing so will give you the chance to attract the attention of the admission panel. Don’t forget to contextualize the information in your essay to your situation. Also, utilize this admission requirement to cite why you want to enroll at an American medical school. Justify that you you have the ability to adapt yourself to a place with a different culture. Share your reasons for wanting an educational perspective different from what you currently have. If it is possible, write a short comparison between the education system of your home country to that of the US.
Although you have to write an exemplary personal statement, it is best to still maintain honesty. Take the time to proofread and edit your work too as simple errors in spelling and grammar can put off admissions committee members.
Medical schools in the US are tough for both American and foreign students. So do not be discouraged. Your origins and complexion will not matter in your application. Just remember, only you will call the shots for yourself.
Photo Credit : rstrawser
