The medical doctor is one of the most sought-after professions. Those who aspire to become one may seek rewards that no other career may offer, whether it be humanitarian or intellectual. However, the rewards are equaled by its challenges. One must not only understand what it takes to become a physician but also what it takes to work as one.
Questions For the Applicant
The medical profession is a long-term commitment to both service and science. One should not enter this profession expecting only prestige and wealth. The demands and expectations are significantly more than the average 40-hour-per-week job. Only certain types of individuals are a fit for this profession. If one truly wants to become a doctor, he or she must understand why.
To help decide whether this job is appropriate for someone, he or she should consider the following questions.
- Are you able to put aside your personal interests to help someone else?
- If someone were in dire need, would you be willing to stop what you're doing in order to help this person?
- Are you so dedicated to serving the public that you have no problem doing so over many hours straight?
- Do you maintain professionalism and courtesy with everyone, even with those whom you have a negative opinion about?
- Do you have the skills to address other people's concerns, especially those that are emotionally sensitive?
- Can you function well in a chaotic and constantly changing environment where many people turn to you for help?
It's not enough to know what the "correct" answers are. The real test is whether they apply to the person in particular. Desire to help humanity should be backed up with experiences that demonstrate selflessness. Being a physician is an altruistic occupation, just like being a firefighter or a soldier.
Even so, other questions should be considered.
- Do you have a strong interest in the sciences, particularly from an academic research standpoint?
- Are you someone who enjoys keeping up with all of the latest research published in medical literature, even throughout your entire career?
- Are you able to read the details of a clinical study, analyze the data yourself, and develop your own conclusions?
- Would you be willing to consult a medical reference or journal for information about something related to a patient, even after you go home from work?
- Can you retain a vast amount of information and still remember many important details?
- Can you think quickly in a medical emergency and still be confident in your decisions?
Don't forget that doctors are scholars. One must also possess the intellect to constantly acquire up-to-date clinical knowledge used to help others. This is a job that requires tremendous intellectual demand. To be a physician is to be an altruistic scholar or a scholarly humanitarian.
Requirements For the Application
After making the decision to enter medicine, one must know what the entry requirements are. There are required college courses, especially science courses like biology and chemistry. This is easily achieved by selecting a college major whose course requirements overlap with the medical school entry requirements. Another requirement is the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), a standardized test that assesses one's ability to think critically and logically. The test revolves around the sciences but also has an essay-writing component.
From there, one completes applications for the medical schools of choice. Personality and extracurricular activities that reflect it are considered as much as academic achievements. A more well-rounded candidate does things like scientific research, volunteer work, and community service. This would hopefully lead to interviews with schools interested in these accomplishments. This is the critical stage of the process but it is also the chance to shine.
If all goes well, a spot in at least one medical school will be offered. If not, one can choose to either try again or explore another career path.
References
- Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) - Considering a Medical Career
- UCLA Career Center - Allopathic Physician
