Do you aspire to be a doctor?
People consider doctors to the most respected profession in the whole world. It’s a great honor to be a doctor, but it’s not for everyone. You might feel doubt and end up asking: is medical school right for me?
An aspiring doctor must undergo rigorous training before graduating. Anything from time management to motivation can affect your success as a doctor. There’s also the fact that courses in medicine can take a decade to finish.
If you’re having doubts about pursuing a medical career, we can help. These are eight signs that medical school is right for you.
1. You’re Committed
The stakes and competition in medical school are high. About 50% of students will drop out of pre-med before getting the chance to enroll in medical school.
You will meet students who you feel are smarter or who you think are far more deserving. If you want to become a doctor, you need to be resilient. That means being able to turn a bad situation into a good one.
The years are daunting, and there will always be outside factors you can’t control. A person pursuing a career in medicine must have a long-term goal. You must be able to commit to the demands of medical school.
2. You Have the Right Motivation
Why do you want to be a doctor? Is it because you find pleasure in helping others? Are you following your parents’ wishes?
Helping people is a generic answer to the question. Many students do want to help people, but there is always a selfish desire. Reflect and your goals carefully.
You could consider your motivations to be the foundation of your medical school experience. When you find yourself struggling, you will always need to fall back onto why you started in the first place. Having the wrong motivation could lead to failure.
3. You’re Open To Life-Long Learning
A doctor spends at least 11 years in training. You will spend a good few years learning more things than you did your entire life. If you’re passionate about learning, a medical school might be the right fit for you.
You won’t only be studying medical terms and human biology. Medicine is a practice that requires great attention to detail. The learning doesn’t stop after you graduate either. Technological advances and developments in the field happen every day.
Healthcare practitioners need to keep up with these to be at the top of their game. Assessing and adapting to situations are essential real-life skills.
Healthcare workers find various learning opportunities all around them. Educational courses and personal experience are vital to your becoming a doctor.
4. You Can Keep Calm Under Pressure
There is no rest in the hospital for medical practitioners. Emergencies can present themselves to you at any time. You will have to deal with patients and concerned visitors.
In a hospital, everyone will depend on you. The stress involved in healthcare can take its toll on you. You may find yourself multi-tasking a lot of the time.
It’s crucial to have emotional stability in the medical field. Having excellent stress management skills allow you to avoid burnout. These are all valuable traits that win respect in a hospital setting.
5. You Like Working With People
You’ll be working with people almost all the time. Effective communication is vital to your work. Empathy and compassion are also crucial traits.
In the hospital, you will be dealing with patients who are in pain. They can express through anxiety or anger. Empathy will improve patient satisfaction and overall care.
Having teamwork is also crucial in the medical field. You will work closely with other medical practitioners and staff. Collaborating with your colleagues is essential in effective patient care.
No matter how good you are, you will need to rely on your team.
6. You Like Volunteering
Volunteering is an essential part of medical practice. It allows you more hands-on experience, which you can apply later in life. Medical schools are more likely to accept students who have experience in a medical setting.
In medical school, volunteering can give you an edge against your competitors. It proves commitment. Aside from that, it can help you build a personal connection to your work.
Volunteering proves how much you care about other people. Exposure can help build communication skills. In summary, volunteering can give you many advantages in the field.
It’s not a requirement, but it helps. If you’re not open to volunteering, you might want to reconsider going to medical school.
7. You Have A Good Support System
Medical training is an arduous process. When you find yourself having a hard time, it’s good to have a support system to fall back on. Any form of institutional or external help can make the process easier.
Support from family and friends can sustain you through your journey. When you’re asking if medical school is right for you, a friend or close family member could provide you with some insight.
Going to the right school can affect your decision too. If you’re looking for a school, check out UMA campuses here.
It’s important to remember your decision must not rely on someone else’s opinion but a lack of support could gravely impact your learning. A support system can help you balance and manage stress.
8. You Can’t See Yourself Doing Anything Else.
You’ve considered all your other options. You did some career exploring, and yet you keep coming back to healthcare.
If medicine is your passion, then you ought to pursue it.
It’s important to research when deciding on a career. Many students end up second-guessing their majors in college. It’s good to know what a profession expects from you.
It gives you an idea of the type of work you’ll be doing. If you’ve done intensive research about this career and still want it, becoming a doctor might be your calling. Being passionate in service and helping in emergencies are what makes a great doctor.
Is Medical School Right For Me?
It’s a common question: Is medical school right for me? Well, if you identify with any of these eight signs, then yes. Medical school might be right for you.
If you’re having doubts, remember, it’s not the end. There will always be other career paths for you to explore.
When you’ve decided on medical school, you might be wondering where to start next? Decide which medical career is right for you.
To learn more, we invite you to read more of our guides to get a better insight into each option.