3 answers
Daniella
Student
Wellington, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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What experiences in high school/college were most helpful on your path to medical school? Is there anything you wish you did to prepare you better for med school or your career? #fall25
I am in 12th grade and will be heading to college soon. I am trying to discover what career I want to pursue in the future and I have been interested in pediatrics for quite a while now. I am interested in learning more about the medical field in general to ensure it is something I can see myself pursuing in the future. Thank you!
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3 answers
James Hanson
Pediatric Intensive Care Physician; Consultant
160
Answers
Oakland, California
Updated
James’s Answer
I became a pediatrician by allowing myself to pursue studies and extracurricular activities that motivated me. I enjoyed life sciences, but I also enjoyed theater, music, anthropology, language, and literature. I played intramural sports and sang in singing groups. As I was nearing my senior year, I did engage the career counselors at the university, and they argued successfully that I apply to medical school. Fortunately, I have an older brother who was a practicing family doctor in a small town. He let me live with him and follow him around to learn more about what being a doctor was like. I was impressed by all he knew, and how he was so important in his community.
So, I don't think I would do anything differently if I were to do it all over again.
It can be a good idea to get trained as an EMT, MA, or ED Tech to both observe medicine and to make some money as you go. These certifications also may impress a medical school application group. It can also be good to find a way to work in a lab - some universities and academic medical centers have internships.
Good luck!
So, I don't think I would do anything differently if I were to do it all over again.
It can be a good idea to get trained as an EMT, MA, or ED Tech to both observe medicine and to make some money as you go. These certifications also may impress a medical school application group. It can also be good to find a way to work in a lab - some universities and academic medical centers have internships.
Good luck!
Thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate it!
Daniella
Adaobi Maryann Ezeogidi
Medical Assistant
31
Answers
Abia, AB
Updated
Adaobi Maryann’s Answer
Hi Daniella,
I love that you’re already thinking ahead and exploring your interests. It shows you are futuristic.
Here are some experiences from high school and college that I think will be truly helpful on the path to medical school (and what I wish I did earlier):
Note: Although I have my bachelor’s in Physiology from a Basic Medical Science college, I still intend to go further into medicine, which I am gradually making plans for… But these tips were helpful to me, and some I wish I had done earlier. So I’m guiding you ahead so you don’t repeat the same things I did.
1. Volunteering in Healthcare Settings (I volunteered well)
Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and children’s centers are great places.
Volunteering helps you:
Build empathy
Learn patient communication
Understand how healthcare teams work
If you love working with children, look for opportunities related to childcare, tutoring, or pediatric clinics.
2. Shadowing Doctors (Especially Pediatricians)
Since you intend to become a pediatrician, kindly get involved in this practice. It will widen your experience.
Observe how doctors interact with patients
Understand the realities of clinical work
See whether the environment feels right for you
I never shadowed earlier; I’m glad I’m learning now—it helps you confirm your interest and strengthens your future med-school applications.
3. Joining Pre-Med or Health-Related Clubs Like:
Pre-Med Society
Red Cross
They expose you to workshops, mentorship, volunteer opportunities, and research. (I was a member of the Red Cross Society.)
4. Develop Good Study Habits Early
Medical school is intense and requires equal energy to pull through.
Forming serious study groups will help you a lot. Challenge yourself in courses you find difficult now, and ensure you get a very high grade by setting goals and targets. These habits will carry you through medical school.
5. Remember to Always Take Good Care of Yourself
Find time to pray, eat well, and rest.
One more thing: please don’t be shy to ask questions when you’re confused, and seek mentors early.
Also, keep records of meaningful experiences (very helpful for personal statements later).
I wish I did these earlier.
Good luck in your medical journey.
I love that you’re already thinking ahead and exploring your interests. It shows you are futuristic.
Here are some experiences from high school and college that I think will be truly helpful on the path to medical school (and what I wish I did earlier):
Note: Although I have my bachelor’s in Physiology from a Basic Medical Science college, I still intend to go further into medicine, which I am gradually making plans for… But these tips were helpful to me, and some I wish I had done earlier. So I’m guiding you ahead so you don’t repeat the same things I did.
1. Volunteering in Healthcare Settings (I volunteered well)
Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, and children’s centers are great places.
Volunteering helps you:
Build empathy
Learn patient communication
Understand how healthcare teams work
If you love working with children, look for opportunities related to childcare, tutoring, or pediatric clinics.
2. Shadowing Doctors (Especially Pediatricians)
Since you intend to become a pediatrician, kindly get involved in this practice. It will widen your experience.
Observe how doctors interact with patients
Understand the realities of clinical work
See whether the environment feels right for you
I never shadowed earlier; I’m glad I’m learning now—it helps you confirm your interest and strengthens your future med-school applications.
3. Joining Pre-Med or Health-Related Clubs Like:
Pre-Med Society
Red Cross
They expose you to workshops, mentorship, volunteer opportunities, and research. (I was a member of the Red Cross Society.)
4. Develop Good Study Habits Early
Medical school is intense and requires equal energy to pull through.
Forming serious study groups will help you a lot. Challenge yourself in courses you find difficult now, and ensure you get a very high grade by setting goals and targets. These habits will carry you through medical school.
5. Remember to Always Take Good Care of Yourself
Find time to pray, eat well, and rest.
One more thing: please don’t be shy to ask questions when you’re confused, and seek mentors early.
Also, keep records of meaningful experiences (very helpful for personal statements later).
I wish I did these earlier.
Good luck in your medical journey.
This is all amazing advice! Thank you so much, I really appreciate it!
Daniella
Rita Chuang
Physician
259
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
Like you, I also wanted to become a pediatrician but in medical school, I changed to family medicine.
I recommend anyone interested in medicine to work as a medical scribe. With AI, the job market may decrease but this is an excellent way to find out what medicine is all about. First, they pay you which is not important. Second, you learn the language of medicine. You interact with patients and doctors. This will make your life in medical school much easier. There is an unbelievable amount of information to retain in medical school. I won't lie. When you work as a scribe, you can also learn how doctors deal with "difficult patients." This is a skill. I challenge you to come into the office and start working when the doctor works, not when you first see patients and leave the office when the doctor leaves. If after doing this, your first thought is, "I want to go home," this is not the job for you.
I want you to experience having an appointment for dinner with your friends and needing to cancel because you are still at work. This is what your life will be like...of course, not all the time, but a lot. What do you do when you get a call from a frantic mother asking you to "squeeze in" seeing her child but you already have an appointment to take your own child to a piano lesson?
I think you also need to know yourself. My personality is a people pleaser so at first, being a doctor was great. I was helping people and constantly giving of myself. However, there is only so much you can give. After working 8 years without a vacation, I slowly burned out. I resented being in the office and squeezing patient after patient in. I use to be a nice doctor and I slowly changed. You need to know how to protect yourself and create boundaries because people will try to break those boundaries and your own guilt will have you caving in to requests.
I wish you luck. This is not an easy job. There are good and bad as with any job and you need to figure out how to deal with the bad. Like I mentioned, work as a scribe. You see what being a doctor is about. Volunteering and research are great on your resume but it doesn't show you the work a doctor does.
It is not just about seeing patients. It's answering telephone calls, refilling medications, reviewing documents from other specialists, Xrays, labs etc.
I recommend anyone interested in medicine to work as a medical scribe. With AI, the job market may decrease but this is an excellent way to find out what medicine is all about. First, they pay you which is not important. Second, you learn the language of medicine. You interact with patients and doctors. This will make your life in medical school much easier. There is an unbelievable amount of information to retain in medical school. I won't lie. When you work as a scribe, you can also learn how doctors deal with "difficult patients." This is a skill. I challenge you to come into the office and start working when the doctor works, not when you first see patients and leave the office when the doctor leaves. If after doing this, your first thought is, "I want to go home," this is not the job for you.
I want you to experience having an appointment for dinner with your friends and needing to cancel because you are still at work. This is what your life will be like...of course, not all the time, but a lot. What do you do when you get a call from a frantic mother asking you to "squeeze in" seeing her child but you already have an appointment to take your own child to a piano lesson?
I think you also need to know yourself. My personality is a people pleaser so at first, being a doctor was great. I was helping people and constantly giving of myself. However, there is only so much you can give. After working 8 years without a vacation, I slowly burned out. I resented being in the office and squeezing patient after patient in. I use to be a nice doctor and I slowly changed. You need to know how to protect yourself and create boundaries because people will try to break those boundaries and your own guilt will have you caving in to requests.
I wish you luck. This is not an easy job. There are good and bad as with any job and you need to figure out how to deal with the bad. Like I mentioned, work as a scribe. You see what being a doctor is about. Volunteering and research are great on your resume but it doesn't show you the work a doctor does.
It is not just about seeing patients. It's answering telephone calls, refilling medications, reviewing documents from other specialists, Xrays, labs etc.