Posted 30 September 2006 - 08:42 PM
i'm seriously now thinking of becoming a doctor.. specializing in pediatrics.. but i would like to know more about what it's like before i seriously decide on that as my career goal.. so if possible... can you answer these questions for me as to why you choose to become a doctor and the process of becoming one?? i haven't applied to any schools yet nor do i plan to in the near future.. probably a year from now at earliest..
Gday! i was pretty much stuck in the same position as you when i was choosing courses - i was actually tipping the scales between acting and medicine. Its good to hear about your aspirations, i'll see if i could lend a hand. Ive just started the course though so i also highly suggest you talk to your parents, think about it yourself as well as a careers coordinator.
1. why did you want to become a doctor?
It offered an endless journey to improve. I thought of medicine as a gateway; you study medicine, but the path you can take after you graduate is boundless with all the specialties and job options. Of course there is the consideration of helping people - which is altruistic, but also consider other goals you may have in mind; consider family options, social life etc it takes about 10 years to stand up on your own feet as a specialist or GP.
2. what school did you attend to get your undergrad at or currently attending
Im from Australia so things may be a little different. It should NOT matter what school you go to - its up to you.
3. what major did you or planning to graduate with
When i just started, i was really considering pediatrics like you - i love kids! But then its really hard to see them sick and frail - you dont want to become too attached to your patients and as a result, you actually start practicing being detached from what you do so that you're not easily moved emotionally by things. I dont know what it'll be like afterwards, but its a frightful thought to render death a commodity.
Having been exposed to some clinical settings - barely - im actually gaining an interest in emergency medicine - surgery also seems quite appealing.
4. how are the courses like? hard? easy?? i know you have to take lots of bio and chem courses
The course that i do is slightly different to other universities. Its an intergrated curriculum where everything studied, regardless of 'subject' blends together to become a case - im not making sense...Essentially when we learn for example about a certain area of the body, the whole week is devoted to studying the social aspects, biological, clinical etc
There is definitely a lot of biology. I didnt study it though during highschool, so it was quite tough picking up some things during the first semester, whereas other who had studied the subject were breezing through. I managed though.
About the course's difficulty; like all things, it is challenging. Medicine is not like highschool where there are set things you need to know, where learning the information between the covers of a book is quite enough. In med, there is an endless amount of knowledge to absorb- ENDLESS! What is difficult, is to learn what you need to know at the time, so organisation of time and rationale is important. But like i said, as there is no end to what you can learn, you always feel the pressure to study. Its hard, but good...hehe
5. is it really all just memorization?? because that's what everyone tells me
To a certain extent yes. But if you apply what you learn to practical situations, it makes things a lot more simple. Remembering all the muscles and nerves is taxing, but if you can apply practical aspects, things are slightly eased - for eg. a certain arm muscle allows certain movements, if someone appears in the emergency department having cut themselves across the area, what can they no longer do etc.
A lot is also remembering procedures - like suturing, giving injections. Its frustrating since you essentially have to remember almost everything you're taught, but over time, and especially with practice, it slowly becomes embedded.
6. what GPA did you get into university with
Im sorry i cant help you with this question. i presume this is the entry mark you need to achieve. I also presume that med would be high up there. But a word of advice. Aim for as high as you can. Having decided to do med or not, with a high score you essentially have everything to choose from. The tragedy is when you aim for a certain score, get it, and realise that another course, more appealing requires a higher score.
Do you best!
7. what kind of qualities would in your opinion have to have inorder to become successful.. because people always tell me you can't just be a doctor without motiviation
Doctors can have any quality to be successful. The joke is, if you're not a people person, you become a surgeon - your patients are most of the time doped. But just imagine the qualities you would like to see in a doctor treating you - aspire to these models. BUT - you ask about motivation. That's a quality for anything you do. i was told by someone when i was choosing my course that your job is simply a money earning aspect of life. I thougt that was BS! If you have the control to choose a career that you enjoy, then that's a benefit for you. If you enjoy it, you are motivated to do better. Practically, like i mentioned earlier, it takes years to become fully fledged - even then, you have a lot of practice to do. You WILL need to enjoy your work, and be motivated to get through it all.
8. do you have to be really smart? like err especially in math.. lol!!
hehe, you ask me a maths question now and i'll probably flunk it. it is helpful if you are smart. I admit that im only average - but diligence is a major player. Try to be motivated to study. Learning shouldnt be a chore (though often it is), but you'll find with anything, is that its only when you're immersed in what you're studying that the knowledge lasts longest. If you're just rote learning, yes you'll get the marks in exams, but a couple of days later, itd be out the other ear.
9. how is the workload?
As much as you set yourself. University learning is predominantly self directed. A lecturer of mine told us that we have to find a balance between being a professional student and a professional clinician. You need to pass the exams as a student, but you also need to practice professionally as a doctor. You therefore gotta find a balance between what you learn.
10. kind of courses did you take to use to apply for the university that you are currently attending now
Hmm things may be different over here. Essentially to gain entry to the uni im at, you need a good academic score, a good aptitude test score, and do well at the interview. I took a course for the aptitude test, and took some advice for the interview. Im not too sure what you mean specifically about 'courses', but its always good to have some other involvements beside the academic up your sleeve.
What my uni looks for in the interview, are people with balance in their lives - social life, work, study, contribute to society. The courses that you take, or the things you involve yourself in are an image of your personality. If you are able to provide links between what you do, for example helping out at your local church, and what you learnt from it and how its gonna help you be a good doctor, then that's great!
Umm - to tell you the truth, i gotta scoot. I'm glad that you're considering medicine - but dont be too virtuous about your endeavours. Consider EVERYTHING - work, social life, family etc. Essentially your career will be a major part in your life. With any pathway, consider it carefully. Post up if you need anything else - ive probably just given you the most abstract and diluted post on advice but if you can ravage anything from it then im happy to be of help.
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