Hello everyone. So I've been lurking SDN forums for a while now, and have the general idea about things for Pre-Med (which is all I'm going to worry about right now, I've been known to worry about things in Med school/residency which only makes me miserable). I still have a couple questions that i haven't found specific answers to though. Some may be a bit vague and therefore unanswerable; but let me know if that's the case.
Basically the big question is, I'm going to be entering my freshman year of college next year (most likely UCF). What should I start getting done from day 1 to start preparing myself for med school when the opportunity comes?
In elaboration,
1) Which classes would be good to take first year? I don't plan to use my AP science credit, which is just Biology, because first I want to review the material again and two because I've heard it helps GPA, which is a bonus. But other than Biology I, MS I (ROTC), and maybe a class from my minor, which are the must do classes, what else should I take first year/semester? Another science I class? or a mathematics/literature class?
Just to clarify, all science i take will have lab.
2) I am going to do Army ROTC, and I understand joining it will not severely give me benefit when applying for med school. I also understand, even though I hope for the best, that I may not even get a chance to do med school until after I've done service time. I'm fine with that, because the reason I will do ROTC is because I WANT to do the military, and have lived a military lifestyle, so soldier before med student will not affect me much. In any case, I will be joining it. The question is whether or not ROTC would be a good EC to include in a resume/application. I believe it's a very good leadership EC and can't believe it would become something negative if put down in an app. In any case, would it be a good EC to include with other ECs?
3) I understand volunteering and EC's are very important to do undergrad. This may be a silly question, but should they ALL be medical? Or do they look good as long as it serves the community? For example, if I have done clinical volunteering, would having volunteering at a food bank or the sort also look good? (maybe I could do a simple volunteering like that along with a job in the summer?)
4) Research and Internships. I know you have to do them. Question is, how? I know there's a couple of research programs in the universities that you can sign up for. Are those good, or should you look for research on your own? If so, how do you find it? Do you ask professors or what? Same for internships. Should you intern with an MD (I'm guessing that's the most logical), or can you intern with something else? If so, do you need to pay to do so? (I've actually heard people are paid stipends for internships. I wonder who they intern with...) And again, should it all be medical/clinical, or does researching things about general biology along with clinically related research look good? Oh, and too many questions, but should you do these during the academic year or in the summer, or is it unimportant when?
5) Lastly, shadowing. How do you get across doing it? I'm under the idea you just find an M.D. and ask them until you find someone willing.
And that's pretty much it. I know it's quite a lot, and I'm probably being an annoying little kid, but this would help me to clarify a whole lot of things. I appreciate any help and comments you may give me. Thank you for looking!
Basically the big question is, I'm going to be entering my freshman year of college next year (most likely UCF). What should I start getting done from day 1 to start preparing myself for med school when the opportunity comes?
In elaboration,
1) Which classes would be good to take first year? I don't plan to use my AP science credit, which is just Biology, because first I want to review the material again and two because I've heard it helps GPA, which is a bonus. But other than Biology I, MS I (ROTC), and maybe a class from my minor, which are the must do classes, what else should I take first year/semester? Another science I class? or a mathematics/literature class?
Just to clarify, all science i take will have lab.
2) I am going to do Army ROTC, and I understand joining it will not severely give me benefit when applying for med school. I also understand, even though I hope for the best, that I may not even get a chance to do med school until after I've done service time. I'm fine with that, because the reason I will do ROTC is because I WANT to do the military, and have lived a military lifestyle, so soldier before med student will not affect me much. In any case, I will be joining it. The question is whether or not ROTC would be a good EC to include in a resume/application. I believe it's a very good leadership EC and can't believe it would become something negative if put down in an app. In any case, would it be a good EC to include with other ECs?
3) I understand volunteering and EC's are very important to do undergrad. This may be a silly question, but should they ALL be medical? Or do they look good as long as it serves the community? For example, if I have done clinical volunteering, would having volunteering at a food bank or the sort also look good? (maybe I could do a simple volunteering like that along with a job in the summer?)
4) Research and Internships. I know you have to do them. Question is, how? I know there's a couple of research programs in the universities that you can sign up for. Are those good, or should you look for research on your own? If so, how do you find it? Do you ask professors or what? Same for internships. Should you intern with an MD (I'm guessing that's the most logical), or can you intern with something else? If so, do you need to pay to do so? (I've actually heard people are paid stipends for internships. I wonder who they intern with...) And again, should it all be medical/clinical, or does researching things about general biology along with clinically related research look good? Oh, and too many questions, but should you do these during the academic year or in the summer, or is it unimportant when?
5) Lastly, shadowing. How do you get across doing it? I'm under the idea you just find an M.D. and ask them until you find someone willing.
And that's pretty much it. I know it's quite a lot, and I'm probably being an annoying little kid, but this would help me to clarify a whole lot of things. I appreciate any help and comments you may give me. Thank you for looking!
.
