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Career/education path to medicine.
Has anyone here ever considered being a doctor and has at least attempted to get into med school or has gotten in ? If so, how was your timeline like in terms of your university/college years ? When did you take your mcat ? When and how did you prepare for the mcat ? Any tips of how to do well with the interviews? Any tips or experiences of getting accepted to med school? Should I take a gap year after graduating from my degree ? If so what should I do during that year ? Or should I apply during my junior year ? What should you do if you dong get in the first try ??
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Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
I'm not a doctor but I know about a half dozen who have become doctors; some in very unconventional ways.
Let me answer your last question first: If this is what you want never stop trying. I know for one of the people I know he didn't stop trying and while his grades were not good enough for an American med school he did make it into an Israeli med school in exchange for medical service in the Israeli military. That's how badly he wanted to be a doctor.
For another person I know medicine was a second career for him. His parents wanted him to be an engineer and sent him to college for that. At age 35 he went to med school. He was the oldest student and oldest resident in his residency program. He turned out to be a great doctor who went back home to an area under served by medical people.
The four others I met when they joined as volunteers in the County Fire service at the station I was at. They all felt that working as a volunteer at a Rescue Squad, which was this stations primary function would look good on their school application. If nothing else it would show they were not adverse to blood and guts, as this is what we see at vehicle accidents. We clean the patients up, dress wounds and care for the victims prehospital. The docs get a patient, usually stable, with dressed wounds in somewhat better condition then we find them.
Of the four two went on to become career firefighter/paramedics. They then took the bridge program to nursing. One is now in his residency program and the other will start courses in the fall to be a LPN.
The last scored high on her MCAT and was lucky enough to get selected off a standby slot for a very prestige's med school. She is now an attending in an ER.
Scoring as high as possible is the first step in getting into a med school. When to take them is up to you. Like any other test there are prep schools you can go to; then take the test as soon as you finish the prep course.
If you take a year off, which would be good as you can spend it prepping for the MCAT. Try to find work in the medical field as this show intent. Joining a fire service is not for everyone, career or volunteer. It is long hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror and high anxiety. Also nothing good happens after midnight with the possible exception of delivering a baby.
I have not interviewed in years so I can't help you there. I would bet there are services out there that can help you with the interview as well.
I would suggest since it sounds like you are in your undergraduate studies or heading off to college that you speak with a course counselor on how best to proceed if med school is your ultimate goal.
As far as getting their. If this is what you want; try, try and try again until you succeed.
Good luck
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