Career questions tagged medical-school
Medical school is where doctors receive their education. Popular medical doctor careers include a pediatrician, surgeon, and anesthesiologist. Please read below to find out more. Read more Show less

Is there a major that fulfills most medical school requirements without being a pre-med program?
I'm unsure if I want to attend medical school in the future, but I’d like to be prepared—while still earning a degree that leads to a good job if I choose a different path.

what are the steps i can take in middle school to be a psychiatrist?
what are the steps i can take in middle school to become a psychiatrist

How do medical school applications work?
How should I start preparing for them as an incoming sophomore in college?

What are some good study habits to apply to your routine for medical school?
Many people have trouble figuring out how to study once they are out of high school, so, what are some good study habits to apply to your routine once you're in medical school?

What is your #1 tip to get into medical school?
What is the best tip you can give for getting into medical school. Additionally, would you recommend taking the MCAT your junior year or your senior year of college? Did you take any gap years in-between college and medical school?

What is something I can start doing sophomore year that will help preparing me for the MCAT test to get into Med school? #Spring25
I decided that I wanted to add pre-med onto my psychology major kinda as a last minute decision and want to make sure I can be as prepared as possible for med school. Whether it be preparing for the MCAT, getting experience through shadowing or internships or doing extracurriculars.

Medical School Applications?
How do I know which medical schools to apply to? Also when should I start looking into which medical schools I am interested in attending? The topic of medical school has been coming up since I'm about to start my undergrad #Spring25.

MCAT, med school, and college major?
What is the best college major to prepare for the MCAT and medical school? Does the choice of major affect my chances of getting accepted into medical school, and how important is it to choose a major that covers all the prerequisite courses? Also, should I choose a major based on what interests me, or one that is traditionally considered 'pre-med

MCAT and college major?
What major is best to prepare for the MCAT? How long should I study for the MCAT? What is the best way to study on a college campus? Why is the healthcare field lacking workers?

How should I go about studying in college when I never really needed to in high school, also I know that grades are taken much more seriously than high school?
I will be enrolled in college this fall and don’t have any kind of study method. I also have ADHD and have a hard time even trying to study. I want to go to med school after and I will major in chemistry.

How should I prepare for medical school if I switched majors halfway through college?
Good morning everyone, I recently decided to go on a career path to become a physician. I'm currently in my 2nd year of college and will transfer to a 4 year university (UTA Arlington) in the Spring of 2026. I'm currently attaining my Associates of Science and have taken a majority of science classes and some math classes. When I transfer to a 4 year, I will need to take only math and science classes since I've finished all my core classes. While researching, I found that people on the pre-med track take the MCAT during their junior or senior year. I'm soon to be a junior in college, but I haven't prepared for the MCAT as I recently decided to head on this career path. Because of this, will I have to take it in my senior year or take a gap year before applying to med school so I can study for the MCAT? Other than the MCAT, I found that students would already be doing research during their undergrad or have apprenticeship/internships. I haven't done any of those yet, but I've been researching opportunities near me. I found a PCT apprenticeship near me, but there are currently no openings. In the meantime, I plan on getting a certificate in BLS/CPR. Are there any other ways I should prepare myself for med school? Thank you for your time.

How do medical schools look at application? Is it simply based on stats or is it more so who you are as a person?
I'm an upcoming applicant to medical school and would really appreciate any advice.


Is it worth it to pursue a specialty in Pediatrics? What are some of the most worthwhile specialties?
I know that I want to pursue a career in the medical field, specializing in pediatrics. I am an incoming college freshman planning to major in Biology and take on the pre-med route. I want to try to explore just general pediatrics for now but I'm curious what it's like studying something specific, how job finding or residency or shadowing is in a particular pediatric field, what patient care looks like, what kind of research is done (if any at all), or how pursuing it is like in general. I know there are also salary differences based on the specialty but I'm more curious as to what experiences can come with different specialties vs. what it's like in general pediatrics. I also want to hear some of the best experiences some people have had doing specialties and how satisfactory they are career-wise

What are the pros and cons of going through such rigorous years of schooling to become a cardio-thoracic surgeon ?
I am a high school senior and I'm planning to pursue a career in medicine, more specifically surgery and I'm wondering if it's worth it and if it's for me.

How do you remain motivated as a first-generation when obstacles have steered you away from your original path but continue to strive to reach your dreams while carving your own lane?#Spring25
I'm not your traditional college student and faced some hardships early on in my academic journey, which resulted in a couple of gap years. Nevertheless, I've stayed dedicated to forging my own path toward achieving my dreams of ultimately serving in the medical field. I am proud to be a community college graduate and am transferring to complete my undergraduate degree. I understand how long a road and how intentional you have to be with pursuing the medical field. I'm curious about how to stay motivated and build relationships with medical professionals early in my journey. In particular, I'd like to know how newcomers can access internship and research opportunities that are not readily available to students who do not fit the conventional profile.

Is going through medical school worth the end result? #Spring25
I am planning on being a CRNA and I want to know if going through the school and hard work is worth what people say it is. I just want to know that you truly make a difference in the field.

#Spring25 What are some tips I could use to help me stay motivated as I really want to do well in medical school and also grow in my dream writing career?
#Spring25 I'm a young medical student in my second year in the university. I really love writing, especially creative writings. But for someone who got awarded the Best Female Writer of the Year in my last faculty’s Awards Night, I sometimes lose motivation and I believe procrastination gets the best part of me. Medical school isn't easy, and I don't want to stop writing as well. I have this dream that one day, I'd be awarded ‘Best Writer for A Movie’ in the popular African Nollywood movies awards, when I perhaps get grounded in screen writing and submit my stories. I don't know how it's all going to happen. Medical school and writing for myself, combining both so that I can be a good gynecologist and finally be a screenwriter is a big overwhelming achievement. Sometimes, I'm in the middle of “waiting for the right time” or “procrastination”. I'd love to pursue these dreams and not leave one lacking. Now I ask, what advice do you have for someone like me who wants to be proficient in such both fields? Is there any study routine that will help me balance time, and also a guide on how I can improve my writing and progress to screen writing while in the university?

How difficult is it to get your preferred specialty on match day?
I want to go into obstetrics and fertility medicine, but don't know how likely it is to expect to be able to do so. Currently undergrad, but anxious about the future.

What is the work life balance like for a medical pathologist? Also, what classes would you reccomend to take as an undergraduate in order to better my chances of getting into a pathology school? #spring25
#spring25 What is the work life balance like for a medical pathologist? Also, what classes would you reccomend to take as an undergraduate in order to better my chances of getting into a pathology school?

Is being a PA worth it or rewarding as someone that has wanted to be a doctor but doesn't want that commitment?
I've wanted to be a doctor since I was 5 but now I'm not so sure. I know it's a lot of work and I don't really want to be in school that long, plus once in that field I know it's not a lot of flexibility (looking at being a surgeon or pediatrician as of right now). However, I still have a strong interest in medicine and have a desire to help people through that. I also still have plans of traveling, starting a family, etc. in the future. I've been thinking about being a PA as opposed to going to med school but I'm not sure and I don't know if I should pursue pre-med or pre-pa in college.

How easy is it to start working after medschool ?
I am interested in going to med school and wonder if it is hard to keep pushing through four more years of schooling.

What is the process of becoming a doctor like?
I wish to be an anesthesiologist after I finish schooling. I know about undergrad and med-school and residency, but what else should I know about the process to get there?

How can I shape a medical career that not only treats illness but also dismantles the systemic barriers that create it? #Spring25
This question reflects my desire to pursue medicine as both a healer and an advocate—someone who not only addresses individual patient needs but also works to reform the broader social and structural determinants of health that perpetuate inequity.

Was it difficult to begin your life in the medical world after medical school? Or was medical school the toughest part of your journey? What should I expect when entering medicine?
Was it difficult to begin your life in the medical world after medical school? Or was medical school the toughest part of your journey? What should I expect when entering medicine?

What is the best financial advice for a pre-med student?
What is the best financial advice for a pre-med student who is receiving some help from my parents for college but will be expected to pay for medical school on my own. How do loans and interest work for pre-med and med students? How can I manage a (healthcare- related job such as a PCT) during college while balancing studying? Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

What was your journey to, and through, medical school like? Did you always know that you wanted to be in the healthcare field?
I'm currently a graduating high school senior and my favorite subject in school is science. I want to join the healthcare field but haven't decided on a career path yet. However, I have experience volunteering at skilled nursing homes and hospitals before and know that I want a career that is medical related.

help me choose?
I'm a sophomore in high school and I cant seem to pick a career, I love the outdoors and like hands on work I also enjoy helping people but I love baking and cooking and I'm good at it. there are so many options but I cant pick, park ranger, environmental technician, forestry, cook, Baker, doctor, anesthesiologist, I would go the med school but I don't want to spend half my life in school I want to make money and be financially stable unlike my family. I don't know if I should do something I enjoy with little pay or get a job that make lots of money but not enjoy it

Shadowing for Med School?
Hello! Does anyone know medical professionals who are open to being shadowed? Or rather, how did you guys start your shadowing process?

How can I best prepare in undergrad to be a competitive applicant for medical school? #Spring25
I am a high school senior, and I have committed to Temple University as a Bio major. I am curious as to what extracurriculars are recommended. #Spring25