How to Prepare for Medical School

Medical is a broad term that covers the various specialties of medicine and related fields. Medical school is an intense and time-consuming experience that requires students to learn a vast amount of information in short periods of time. Most students are unprepared for the level of study required and quickly realize that the study methods they’ve used throughout their undergraduate education won’t work in medical school.

Students need to master not only the science behind the various specialty areas but also how to practice medicine and interact with patients. These skills involve a combination of knowledge and psychomotor skills that cannot be taught through lectures alone. They require mentorship and a process of immersion in the clinical environment.

To become a physician, it is important to find an area of medicine that interests you. You can do this by pursuing a bachelor’s degree in health and wellness sciences, such as the one offered at U of M CCAPS, or a related subject, like biology. Many pre-health students find it helpful to choose a major that will give them the flexibility they need later in medical school to explore different areas of medicine.

If you plan on a career in health care, it is important to pursue healthy hobbies and activities outside of school that will help you stay mentally fit. Gatekeepers for medical schools, residencies, and jobs look for well-rounded candidates, so it’s important to balance studying with a variety of extracurricular activities. This will make you more interesting and well-rounded to potential employers and will also help you stand out from the competition.

Whether you’re interested in a specific area of medicine or just want to learn more about it, there are a variety of books and websites that will teach you the basics. You can also find medical journals online that publish articles on a variety of topics, including general health, medical ethics, and medical technology. These journals typically feature “departments,” which are dedicated to certain types of articles, such as those that focus on image-focused subjects or medical histories.

When learning medical terminology, it is best to start by learning the roots, prefixes, and suffixes of words. This way, you can break down the meaning of a word into simpler parts that are easier to memorize. It’s also important to find a good resource that makes learning medical terms fun and engaging, rather than stressful or boring.

When it comes to writing articles about health, you must think of your audience and what you hope to accomplish with the article. The goal of an article about health is to provoke discussion and change the perception of a certain topic or issue. This may mean addressing controversial issues, or simply providing facts about current medical procedures and research. It is crucial to read up on the topic before you begin writing, as this will help you create an informative and interesting piece. Aim to get the main ideas down on paper early on (and give yourself permission to revise them later) and keep your article focused and organized.