Some people tend to cage themselves in by thinking that the only types of professions that a medical degree will lead to are related to being a doctor or other clinically related job paths. This is very limiting because the truth is that medical school graduates can hold jobs in a plethora of fields. You learn many valuable things through medical education, including the sciences, mathematics, and writing and research. Such a varied education can only bode well for practically any field that you enter into. Here are some career path suggestions for graduates of medicine who don’t want to become practitioners:
Work as a health care administrator
This is a great career path because it allows you to marry your education in medicine with a less practice-centric line of work. Some of the positions that you may want to consider include seeking out a position as a manager, vice-president, or president of a clinic, hospital, or other health care company.
Apply your knowledge in medical journalism
One of the most important aspects of medicine is research and development. Without continuous research, study, and contributions to medicine, we wouldn’t be able to continue the tradition of finding new cures, developing medical technology, or simply tickling the intellect of our fellow colleagues. You may want to help the cause by entering into medical journalism, where you can join the continued effort to advance the field of medicine through continuous study of and contributions to the field.
Enter into a non-medicine related career path
Another option is to seek out a career path in something that is not directly related to medicine. For example, you may want to pursue venture capitalism, become the CEO of a company, or perhaps put up your own business. In this case, it would help to pursue further studies in the field you want to enter. Take up an MBA program or attend seminars to plan and prepare adequately to do well in whatever it is you want to do. No matter what it is, always remember that you are free, capable and able to do pursue your dreams.
Even before worrying about editing and proofreading your med school admission essay, you have a lot to think about since there are a lot of hurdles to overcome in the process of writing the personal statement. Conquering them one by one however, would be a rewarding experience. Read on and know a couple of obstacles you might encounter during the writing process.
Showing lack of enthusiasm when writing your med school essay
Think of the kind of mindset you have when you could not go out of the house because there is a snowstorm, and the cable TV is down, and you don’t have anything to read. Out of boredom, you pick up your organizer and start jotting down things just to kill time. If that kind of mindset is what you have when writing the essay, your personal statement is doomed, and probably your application prospects too. When writing your application essay for medical school, you need to bring out your passion on the topic or issues you are discussing. However, being bored won’t really help you bring out your passion and come up with an essay that genuinely reflects your interests. If you think the essay prompt seems to ordinary for you, then you should connect it to any of your traits, principles, or goals. In doing so, you would still be enthusiastic when preparing your essay.
Failure to express good reasons for med school admission
If you say I want to get rich before I turn 30 in your personal statement, chances are the admissions staff would not be impressed. It would only serve as a selfish motivation. Providing good reasons for med school admissions means that you have to give the readers something that is honest, original, and personal. Relate the motivations to your most significant experiences, and the words would flow smoothly. Failing to give good reasons is a major shortcoming of any med school admissions essay.
Put your enthusiasm on paper since the readers do not want to accept candidates who are like robots. Also, put down your reasons for applying to med school in a creative and interesting manner. In doing so, you’ll have an essay worth bragging about.
Related questions:
1. What is the kind of voice (of the essay) desired by the essay readers?
2. What are suggested contents of a med application essay?
3. How does passion figure in on the admission essay?
There are many things you can do to ensure survival in med school. One of the essentials in surviving med school is by joining study group sessions. Joining study sessions have many benefits for med school students. For one, you can find out which among your medical school classmates can be your regular partner when you study for exams. Study group sessions will also give you a chance to improve your study habits and, as a result, your performance in the academe.
Being responsible
Because study group sessions are functional if every member performs his or her duty well, there is no room for you to procrastinate. You have to bear in mind that, in a study group, your efforts have to benefit all the members of the study group, so you have to be responsible for all the tasks assigned to you.
Sharing ideas
One great feature of study group sessions is the sharing of ideas among the members. In these sessions, you have a chance to explain a concept to everybody or pose questions that the group can brainstorm on. Through these exchanges of ideas, you will learn many things. You will also have better chances of knowing what to expect on your tests because of these discussions.
Developing essential skills
Friendship and better study habits are not the only things established in study group sessions. You will also have a room for the development of your skills necessary in succeeding in the career path you choose. In study group sessions, you will develop your self-confidence and improve your interpersonal skills which are very important skills needed by a doctor. The sessions will also train you to improve your listening skills, attention span, and ability to recall. The exchange and analysis of ideas in group sessions will also enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
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After graduating from medical school, you will have to decide between becoming a general practitioner or a medical specialist. Your decision will have a great impact on your career life. To help make this decision a little easier for you, here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of becoming a medical specialist.
Pros of becoming a medical specialist
* Earning respect and recognition – You will probably stay in the field of medicine that you choose for a majority of your career life. The continuous training, education, and experience that you undergo allows you to get better in your career with time. This means that, eventually, you can easily become recognized and respected as a master in your field. Colleagues will turn to you for the knowledge and experience that you possess in your specialization.
* Compensation for your expertise – Another advantage to becoming a medical specialist is that you can earn more money than your colleagues who are general practitioners. The salaries of general practitioners are at least $20,000 less than the salaries of medical specialists, such as surgeons and neurologists.
Cons of becoming a medical specialist
* You get what you specialize in – When you specialize in a certain field, most of the cases you work on will have to do with your specialization. For example, cardiologists mainly deal with patients who are experiencing cardiovascular problems. General practitioners, on the other hand, deal with many more patients with varying conditions.
* Getting there – Becoming a medical specialist requires a lot of hard work. First, you must graduate from medical school. Then, you have to spend a few years working at a hospital. On top of that working experience, you are required to become a resident doctor for a number of years as well.
The bottom line
In the end, whether you become a general practitioner or a medical specialist, you will be rewarded for your hard work and dedication. Not only will you earn a nice salary, but you will also earn the respect, gratitude, and admiration of others – and you can’t put a price tag on that.
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