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Grace
Student
Sheffield, Massachusetts
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What are good high school courses to take in preparation for a premed major?
I am a high school student looking to major in premed for undergrad school. Specializing in courses and subjects can help you feel more experienced in the long run, and I would like to best prepare myself for college. #high-school #medicine #courses
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Doc Frick
Career Coach and Mentor
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California, CA
Updated
Doc’s Answer
Grace to prepare for a pre-med major, you must take the right courses in high school. These include the sciences, such as physics and chemistry; math, including calculus and statistics; and even English. Pursue a rigorous combination of AP, Honors or IB courses and strive for the highest grades possible. It’s important to note here that although your college may accept AP credit, medical schools may not. If you are pursuing a medical career, take the college course and pass up the AP credit. Not only will this college level course look better on your pre-med admissions application, but it will also prepare you for the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test) and medical school classes.
Next, look for a high school summer medical program. These programs will give you exposure to the world of medicine and also the opportunity to work with medical professionals. Colleges such as Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown and many others offer summer programs that introduce students to the medical field. Some hospitals, such as Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, also offer summer internships or research opportunities for high school students. High school medical summer programs offer learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. Many include hands-on lab training. You'll also learn how to examine MRIs, X-rays, and CTs. If you are looking at summer medical programs, consider who is teaching the classes and whether it includes opportunities to be in the lab or even do your own research. If you like what you experience at one of these pre-med summer programs, it is a good indicator that you are on the right track toward a career in medicine.
If you’re already sure you want to be a doctor, you might consider a BS-MD program in college, which combines undergraduate school with medical school, giving you both your bachelor and medical degrees. These programs last 7-years, and requirements vary from program to program. The benefit of these programs is they usually offer guaranteed admission to medical school after the third year of college. After completing medical school, courses apply toward your BS and your MD degrees. As you can imagine, these programs are popular among students who are sure medicine is the field they want to major in. Because of this, the colleges that offer these programs can be highly competitive. You need a strong GPA, high standardized test scores, and will also have to prove your interest in medicine by writing an essay or attending a special interview. These programs are not for everyone. You will have to commit to academic excellence because you will be completing your prerequisites for medical school in just three years. You will need to have your priorities in place and be prepared to sacrifice some of the normal college experiences in order to focus on your academics. If you have any doubt, it would be better to enroll in a normal pre-med program and take the time to discover whether or not medicine is the right field for you.
Hope this is helpful Grace
Most med schools expect applicants to have some medical experience, either as a volunteer or paid worker. Primary care experience is particularly valuable. Many hospitals and clinics have volunteer positions that allow you to interact with patients. You can also consider finding a position at a hospice or a chronic-care facility, or assisting disabled children or nursing home residents.
Next, look for a high school summer medical program. These programs will give you exposure to the world of medicine and also the opportunity to work with medical professionals. Colleges such as Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Georgetown and many others offer summer programs that introduce students to the medical field. Some hospitals, such as Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, also offer summer internships or research opportunities for high school students. High school medical summer programs offer learning opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom. Many include hands-on lab training. You'll also learn how to examine MRIs, X-rays, and CTs. If you are looking at summer medical programs, consider who is teaching the classes and whether it includes opportunities to be in the lab or even do your own research. If you like what you experience at one of these pre-med summer programs, it is a good indicator that you are on the right track toward a career in medicine.
If you’re already sure you want to be a doctor, you might consider a BS-MD program in college, which combines undergraduate school with medical school, giving you both your bachelor and medical degrees. These programs last 7-years, and requirements vary from program to program. The benefit of these programs is they usually offer guaranteed admission to medical school after the third year of college. After completing medical school, courses apply toward your BS and your MD degrees. As you can imagine, these programs are popular among students who are sure medicine is the field they want to major in. Because of this, the colleges that offer these programs can be highly competitive. You need a strong GPA, high standardized test scores, and will also have to prove your interest in medicine by writing an essay or attending a special interview. These programs are not for everyone. You will have to commit to academic excellence because you will be completing your prerequisites for medical school in just three years. You will need to have your priorities in place and be prepared to sacrifice some of the normal college experiences in order to focus on your academics. If you have any doubt, it would be better to enroll in a normal pre-med program and take the time to discover whether or not medicine is the right field for you.
Hope this is helpful Grace
Doc recommends the following next steps:
Brayden Reiland
119
Answers
Corvallis, Oregon
Updated
Brayden’s Answer
Hello! While im not totally versed with the medical school pipeline I know that it is challenging and takes a lot of hard work and determination. I know that there is a lot of similarities in rigor when comparing engineering (which i am a student in) and medical. One of the biggest pieces of advise that I can give is you create good habits. I know that its very tempting to want to maybe put an assignment off or not begin to study a few days before an exam but creating good study habits and sticking to them is a huge part of difficult major. Another suggestion is to make as many connections as you can and make study groups. While you may not be the type to work with others this is a key in a major such as med because over you are able to bounce ideas off one another and talk things out. I know that your first few years in pre-med consist of a lot of memorization and doing this with other can make a big impact on remembering certain key phrases and terms of a definitions. Lastly, one of a major suggestions is to ask for help early. I know that it can be intimidating to approach a professor or fellow student about something especially when it doesn't make sense but simply sitting on it and thinking about it can only go so far. In many cases professors desperately want students to visit them in office hours because they want to see you become successful so dont be afraid to ask for help. The earlier you ask, the more time that gives the professor or person you are asking to try and help you. People are busy and it may be a few days before they get back to you so the earlier the better. I hope this helps! Good luck!
Thank you! Good study habits are definitely a big help in high school too!
Grace
Geoffrey Barto, MA, CLC
Communication Coach for Career
3
Answers
Los Gatos, California
Updated
Geoffrey’s Answer
Hi Grace,
Premed is an ambitious major, but if it's your interest it's good that you're getting an early start. Depending on your school, there are a few specific areas I would recommend because they often represent the biggest hurdles for undergraduate students:
1) As much mathematics as you can. Pre-calculus is good, but really calculus is a good idea. This will put you on a firmer foundation for the next challenge...
2) Chemistry. A lot of medicine deals with pharmacology and an understanding of how the body works at the molecular level. Most advanced chemistry classes will cover at least the basics of organic chemistry. This will make organic chemistry easier which will prepare you for biochemistry, which mostly deals with organic reactions.
3) Biology. Obviously the more you know about the physical workings of living organisms, the better.
If your school offers AP options for these courses, you should take them. It will get you college credit so that you don't have as heavy a courseload to get through all your requirements in college. And in high school, the teaching is slower so you can absorb the key ideas with a little more breathing room.
Two more recommendations: 1) If you can take AP English, do so. Not for pre-med per se, but because it's one less basic requirement you'll need to find time for when you get to college. And 2) If you can find a volunteer activity such as helping at a vaccine clinic or in a nursing home (this one's a lot harder with COVID restrictions than in the past), go for it. Demonstrating an interest either in helping people in a medical context or helping people who may have medical issues will help with the college essays and scholarship applications.
One last point to summarize all this: At the high school level, you are not going to be able to learn about medicine in depth. But it's a great chance to learn fundamentals that will make your college coursework easier and, with AP, get required courses out of the way that would otherwise distract you from your main studies.
Best of luck!
Premed is an ambitious major, but if it's your interest it's good that you're getting an early start. Depending on your school, there are a few specific areas I would recommend because they often represent the biggest hurdles for undergraduate students:
1) As much mathematics as you can. Pre-calculus is good, but really calculus is a good idea. This will put you on a firmer foundation for the next challenge...
2) Chemistry. A lot of medicine deals with pharmacology and an understanding of how the body works at the molecular level. Most advanced chemistry classes will cover at least the basics of organic chemistry. This will make organic chemistry easier which will prepare you for biochemistry, which mostly deals with organic reactions.
3) Biology. Obviously the more you know about the physical workings of living organisms, the better.
If your school offers AP options for these courses, you should take them. It will get you college credit so that you don't have as heavy a courseload to get through all your requirements in college. And in high school, the teaching is slower so you can absorb the key ideas with a little more breathing room.
Two more recommendations: 1) If you can take AP English, do so. Not for pre-med per se, but because it's one less basic requirement you'll need to find time for when you get to college. And 2) If you can find a volunteer activity such as helping at a vaccine clinic or in a nursing home (this one's a lot harder with COVID restrictions than in the past), go for it. Demonstrating an interest either in helping people in a medical context or helping people who may have medical issues will help with the college essays and scholarship applications.
One last point to summarize all this: At the high school level, you are not going to be able to learn about medicine in depth. But it's a great chance to learn fundamentals that will make your college coursework easier and, with AP, get required courses out of the way that would otherwise distract you from your main studies.
Best of luck!
Thank you for the advice!
Grace