It's easy to relax and watch TV, or watch others succeed. However, it is also easy to look back and reflect on what you accomplished in the past. This girl shows us by putting in effort and hard work you can become what you want to be and go where you want to go. Fear is the number one obstacle holding us back. Don't let fear control your life. Thank you for your inspiring video!
- agh thanks for this comment! Watching this video made me want to start choosing another career out of the medical field. I know it's hard and its what scares me the most :( but you are completely right. Thanks for those words !
I watched this video back when I was an undergrad and it motivated me so much. I just got accepted into medical school last week, and watching this video again is so inspiring! thanks for all your motivating advice, Andrea!! 😍 looking forward to following in your footsteps on this new journey.
Year 01: Cool Year 02: Shit... Year 03: OMG OMG OMG Year 04: I don't know what I know. Residency: I don't know anything. Fellowship: I must know something. Consultant: There are still tons of shits I don't know, so Stop asking me questions.
so glad to be training in the UK. sounds like a lot of years for you guys! technically, such as in Scotland where you can start med school at 17, you can be in your foundation years (junior doctor) at the age of 21/22 - the age most people start their journey in the US!!!!
As a 51 year old guy, I'm glad there are young ladies and men like you out there. The future looks bright. Something tells me you are going to make a wonderful doctor.
+austin kolomalu ehhhh, not really. Becoming a doctor is a journey that you love (and hate) every step of. Enjoying the progress is half the battle. You have to REALLY love medicine.
+austin kolomalu Well, given you will probably lose most of your life expectancy trying to train in neurosurgery, it is in face all of your life that you will use becoming it!
I've considered MD/PhD programs for a while, and your timeline really gave me a new perspective of the MD part that allowed me to consider a different point of view. Thanks a lot for the vid! Cheers
Definitely not looking forward to more standardized tests! Super helpful video for anyone who is interested in medicine to get a glimpse of the long journey ahead. Thanks for sharing! :)
Im a medical auditor and biller and im on my premed journey. I love what I currently do and billing is a piece of cake and so is the documentation. Once you've been doing it you get the hang of it.
+Christian Rivera how would a person be in the position to operate on another human, if they didn't already work hard to earn the position? I mean, fuck, your response was littered with unthought out ignorance. geez
I think your positive perspective is absolutely awesome! Thank you for that! Your comment about how your roles change from being an intern to a resident, etc. It is a beautiful comment, very self reflective, shows how we should enjoy staying in the present moment. Thanks again! Good luck !!
I know many think that the endless hours of studying and prolonged journey of test taking after the MCAT seems deathly but personally, I think it's really encouraging, because usually I'll forget what I studied after I take a test, but it's reassuring that there's this checkpoint every so often to keep you on your toes.
+Andrea Tooley hi Andrea I just actually want to ask that does a 4 year bachelor's degree is compulsory before getting in med sch or a 2 year bachelor's degree is also acceptable by med schls in Canada
im only 4 years old but i want to be a neuropathological brain surgeon rocket scientist for NASAs mars mission and i tell everybody on youtube about it so that i can get some gratification without actually doing any work
I would be starting med school this year and thank you so much for sharing this. I am excited and scared at the same time but I cant wait for my life as a medical student to start.
Thank you so much for this! As someone who also has no relatives or close/family friends in the medical field, this helped to clear some of the dark cloud of confusion hanging around the reality of medical school/ being a doctor. So, so helpful!
adoctorinthehouse I am very grateful for the information you put out here. Most students who are gladly looking forward to a medical career do not know whats involved.
Most doctors will practice "cook book" medicine, which is treating patient based on memorized flow charts. The good doctors practice science based medicine, treating patients based on their understanding of the pathophysiology of the patient's conditions.
Oh dear, I knew I was gonna be in school for a long time, I didn't know that it was close to forever. Well I guess that's why you really have to make sure that this is the path you want to take
Raw and true! Your video was not discouraging at all. In fact these are the hard truths that people who are considering medical school NEED to know. I do the same thing. Every time I have a parent whose kid wants to get into medicine or a high school student/college student comes to me for advice I make it VERY real. It's not dreamy Grey's Anatomy :)
You're so positive and can tell you're going to make a fantastic doctor! Thanks for answering so many of the questions I was thinking as a pre-med student.
That was a great video. I'm brazillian and I'm a med student, currently in my 3rd year of med school. Its interesting how it works in the us; here in brazil we don't have this "pre-med" or college you mention: right after high school you go straight into med school (if youre lucky enough), but it's 6 years long overall. The first 2,5 years you do the basic course, which includes celullar biology, anatomy, physiology, etc. From that on, until the end of the 4th year, you cycle through all the specialties. After that ends, you're not graduated yet like in the US, youre still in med school, and you become an intern. You are an intern for 2 years, and you just keep accompanying doctors (i assume its similar to the clinic cycle from 2,5 to 4th year, not sure 'cause im not there yet). After 6 years you graduate, and you can practice medicine. You're not obligated to go into any residency before actually start working. My lifelong dream is to live in the USA, and my girlfriend was born in brazil but her family is american. She is also in med school, but still on her first year. When we graduate, we'll take all the USMLE tests, the step 1 and 2, and hopefully do residency in the USA and stay there for good. My plan is to go into radiology, which is a very difficult specialty to do in the US as far as i'm concerned. Do you have more information about radiology? How difficult it is to pass? Thank you very much for the video, it was very helpful. Best wishes from Brazil!
It is very hard. We don't have GPA in Brazil, the only thing we have is a test you take to apply to the shool you want. We have 2 kinds of schools: public and private. To go into the public schools, we have to do a test called ENEM (its an unified test, the whole country takes it at the same time, its once a year). To pass in medicine and go to a free-of-costs university, you need to get at least 80% on ENEM (for a comparison, the highest grade ever in ENEM was between 84 and 85%). If you get 80% or more, you can choose 2 schools you want to try to, and with 80% youre pretty much guaranteed to pass. Public schools are great, they're the most respected schools in the country and everybody's dream. It's also absolutely free, you don't have to spend a single penny to study there. The other kind of school are the private school. and these you have to pay and it's very very expensive. And unlike the US, we don't have this loan mechanism - everybody has to pay while theyre studying, every month, you can't pay after you graduate. We have a program by the government that they pay for you 25, 50, 75 or 100% depending on your income - but this program has been shut down by our economic crysis. The price ranges a lot from school to school, but the average I'd say is at least 2.000 dollars/month. Private schools can be very very good, they just don't have the same fame because theyre generally newer schools, whereas public ones are really old and already are well known. For EACH private school you try, you have to pay a fee and take their specific test -- that means ENEM doesn't mean anything for private schools, they each have their own tests, and you have to do these tests in each and every single school you want to try for. When i was trying for schools, i remember taking 15 different tests - just to try, there's absolutely no guarantee. And these tests, the dispute is huge, theres usually between 30 to 60 spots for 4, 5 or 6 thousand or more people in each test. Most people don't pass right after graduating high-school - they have to do courses specific for ENEM, stuff like that. So people sometimes take 2, 3, 4 or even more years after graduating high-school to actually go to med school, which is completely absurd. I was lucky enough to pass right after graduating high-school, but in a private school. It's a great school, I'm very happy studying here, but certainly the price is absurd (all my family helps pay for my tuition). Yea, that's about it. :)
In France it's the same: you go to med school directly after high school, but the first year is extremely difficult (on purpose to get rid of the big number and only keep the best and most motivated) and you have only a certain number of spots depending on the school for the four specialties: medicine, odontology, midwifery, and pharmacology, After that I'm not sure, I'm not a med student myself.
Your video really help guide me if I wanted to become a hollistic pediatrician or not. This is my first year undergraduate and I started seeing that I really do not have a passion for science. I can't seem to learn it to know it but just to remember for a test and then its all erased. And now knowing that it only gets worse and that you have to really KNOW and UNDERSTAND science, should really showed me wow maybe I shouldn't be a doctor. So now I have to do some sitting down and figure out what career is really for me. But I thank you so much for this video and I wish you the best in the MD world lol :)
you're so positive & i think that's awesome ^_^ it's really important to have a positive outlook to get through the stress of med school, as awesome as it is!
This guy posted on google how he went to med school and his parents who are poor spent 200g on him and he failed 3 out of 25 exams and so their policy said he failed med school so he us deviated and can't find a job or go to med school again because they won't accept someone who has failed before. I am scared that this is something that can actually happen. I really want to go to med school but if it is harder than I anticipated, I don't want to risk my career on a few exams :(
Wow, you're so right. We, the pre-med clan, do think of getting into medical school as the light at the end of the tunnel when in fact it's just the beginning of another tunnel. I guess we all have to take it in steps and enjoy the small victories along the way. Thanks for your insight!
I'm actually really happy I found this. Committing next week for a BA in speech pathology and then I plan on moving onto get my MD. Super helpful video!
If anyone is still coming to this video my advice is time will pass anyways so choose what you’re passionate about. I almost dropped one of my pre-med classes this semester, but owed to myself to try and am glad I stayed with it! Can’t wait for the rest of my pre-med journey halfway done.
+Andrea Tooley this video was nice. I am a high school student wanting to become a radiologist if you know anything about this could you please do a video on it or tell me some things thanks
In other countries, you can go straight to Medical School after high school, and Medical School is 6 years. I am studying in Poland, and after I finish, I can still practice in the states
On top of the USMLE you also have to take the ECFMG which is a test for international doctors who wish to practice in the US. Another barrier international students can face. Getting a residency as a FMG (Foreign Medical Graduate) is more difficult. Even good family medicine/internal medicine residencies are difficult to get and very desirable/competitive residencies ranging from Neurosurgery to dermatology are essentially impossible to get. So yes you can get your MD degree in a foreign country and practice in the US but it is not simple and there are more hoops to jump through with that route than we face jumping through as US medical school grads. Good luck to you.
I knew about the test, but I'm also sure being a US citizen and knowing a few doctors is a little different as well. I normally live in the states, but am studying in Poland
Robert Bednarz True, networking is easier if you are born in the US and do not have to worry about visa issues when you apply for residencies. It is tough taking the different steps of USMLE when I am not sure that your fellow classmates will be taking them. Also most US medical schools have the curriculum and breaks built around these tests.
Thank you for making this video. It was really informative and also cheerful. There are a lot of aspects to being a physician that many people don't think or know about and this video really pinpointed them exactly. :D
I am really glad I came across your video. I had no idea about any of the topics you mentioned. I am still excited to become an anesthesiologist but I thought 8 - 10 years would get me straight into the field. Glad to know more details. Thank you for sharing! I am beginning pre med at FSU in January. (:
***** no no no no by 8 hour test it means that's the maximum time you have to take it. People usually finish in an hour or so. It's just silly protocol.
I am tired of people complaining about how hard it is to be a doctor. Like, ya don't say... Do you want someone with little knowledge of medicine opporating on you? No, ya don't. If you're not going to work hard it's probably not for you. Know what you're getting into. Don't let people tell you that you can't do it because it's hard. Not everything comes easy so either work hard or don't do it.
you r totally right in every single word , many things if i had known wouldnot choose medicine as a career ,but it is too late .but still medicine one of best choices although we should work harder than ever..after 25 years as a doctor u will ask your self did it worth it? knowledge u gain in medical career is a pleasure and makes u unique in many ways ,in afew moments in your life this knowledge would make adifference
Just found this youtube channel. Great information, it was defiantly a reality check. I am on the biology/ pre-med track as an undergraduate. I have always been a great student but for the past few weeks I have lost my motivation because of the competitiveness and difficulty of the subject. At times it feels like a rat race against classmates. I know that the path to becoming a doctor is difficult, however your enthusiasm is very motivating. Thanks for reminding me the reason why I want to pursue this career :) Goodluck!
When I started my doctorate CRNA program I also didn't realize that every 8 years I would have to study and retake boards the rest of my career as an anesthesia provider. Ah well, I guess it's best to ensure everyone is keeping their skills and knowledge up to date.
Think about it- you want to potentially put your life in the hands of a doctor who says, “Took my boards 15 years ago, but hey- no worries, I never forget a thing and I keep up with the literature” ? Relicensure Is great for patients-that’s the point.
Quite similar as here in Italy. We have 5 years of high school instead of 4 like you (so we finish at 19) and then you have to pass a very selective exam to enter Med School directly (so you don't need a bachelor's degree to enter, just pass the test after you got your high school diploma). Then, you will have 6 years of medical school. We study on books for the first three years (Biochemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Semiotics, etc..) and then three years of clinical internship with some additional important "book" studying to pass Pharmacology and Pathological Anatomy (which is considered the most difficult exam in Med School here in Italy). Then you get your MD and you need to study to pass the Register exam, after which you are licensed to practice. Obviously, you can do almost nothing, as you've said. You need to get into a residency right away as well, for which there's another test (a national test this time, like the one to enter medical school after high school). Residency is between 3 to 6 years usually for us as well.
Hey Andria!!!! I have seen some videos since you were in med school and you have truly inspired me. I enjoyed them all and I have learned a lot from them, so I just wanted to say thank you :)
it's my 1st year in medical school and it's sucks , i have a lot of classes , a lot of lessons especially anatomy it's a nightmare and when i think that i still have 7 years more to go i just get discouraged and feel like to drop it
Well don't psych yourself out! Medicine is a life choice so it isn't 7 years but more like a lifetime you still have "to go." So just focus on the task at hand and enjoy / make the most of each moment. If you constantly look ahead you will miss out. But also remember that it is only 2 more years of "school." Once you start rotations in 3rd year it becomes much more fun and engaging. You no longer have to sit on your ass studying all day and going to silly group discussion to waste your time lol.
thegarbageman21 I read your comment and out of curiosity checked out your channel to see if you have any videos about school and found out you're a pc gamer too! xD How do you manage to play and do school stuff?
haha more like a wannabe PC gamer. Retired old school WOW player :). I watch videos instead of playing. I could if i wanted to but i prefer sports so thats where i spend my free time. I finished med school and now as a resident i have much less time. During med school however there were kids who played video games very often. I actually remember this kid who helped monitor anatomy lab which involved him just sitting there basically making sure nobody did anything stupid. He did this a couple times a week and would bring his computer and play starcraft the whole time. Kid was an awesome student too. The idea that you have no free time during med school isn't true. It is vital that you relax your mind in whatever way works for you so that the time you invest studying is as efficient as possible. Sitting in the library for 8 hours straight isn't efficient and will result in a lot of wasted time. That is the key to success ... efficiency. The real challenge (for me at least) in med school and even more now... was finding the right balance between work and play that gave me satisfaction in academics and my personal life. A little long winded but hope I answered your question :).
I really like all your videos😊Working as an ED/ER scribe you definitely realize being a doctor is mostly paperwork! But its's good experience and has reassured my that I want to pursue MD
Hi, I'm a freshman in college currently intending on majoring in neuroscience on the pre med track. I am in a research position currently and I plan on taking summer classes, shadowing, and going on a brigades trip this summer. I really want to build a strong resume with unique extra curriculars. Would you mind sharing any interesting extracurriculars you participate in or your classmates participated in, in college? Thank You!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm also looking into becoming the first in my family to go to medical school so this is definitely the advice I needed to hear.
Watched about half of it... generally very accurate from what I saw. One thing is that more and more schools and moving away from the 2 year lecture system, 2 year clinicals, and putting in more clinicals earlier. Also she mentioned that step 2 isn't a big deal, just need to pass it, which is sort of true back in the past, but it's becoming increasingly more and more important. More and more programs won't even interview you without seeing a step 2 score and others won't rank you w/o seeing it. But generally step 1 is still more important as of today
Thank you for such a helpful video! I would argue, however, that in medical school and in a medical career, there are more resources available to help students and doctors study for exams, and it's also the case that medical students already have the background of the MCAT and other difficult exams to draw upon when studying for the steps and boards. I'm taking the MCAT May 22nd, and have essentially had to make up my own study schedule for a semester, using old '09 Kaplan books and a weekend course. You would know more than I the specific resources and climate of preparing for graduate exams in medical school; I would suggest that while the exams are more important and perhaps more difficult than the MCAT, the students are subsequently more prepared to take them.
Wow thanks for the information. Very useful indeed. I am currently a medical assistant that is wanting to climb up the ladder and go to school and either become a PA or MD (not sure what specialty I would like yet though).. In my short time in medical (1 year and half) I've realized I have a passion to helping the sick and I'll... Not sure which path to take yet though. I know it's gonna take a lot of work and time but I'm willing to invest!
Thank You for uploading this video! It was very helpful to me. I decided to be a doctor and I am in college. So, this video help me foreshadow (briefly) what would like to be in a med school. Thank you again! :)
Really enjoy listening to you and understanding the effort put forth and that it seems like it never Ends to become a Sucessful Doctor. Really Really Proud of you Andrea.and What a partener that you two have with each other. You two are Truly Blessed. Text you Soon❤😊❤😊
My college has medicine program and it's 6 years. First two years are bookwork, three next years are clinical and the last year is the internship. (After that you have to do another year in the country or small town of practice).
Thank you so so much for this video. I want to work in the field of medicine, most likely a pediatrician, and this helped me better understand the process.
***** the MCAT? It was ok hah...if you're studying for it now, get off youtube get and get to it!! I highly recommend mcatprep.com golden standard exams, I found them quite challenging which is what you need. The harder the practice questions, the better Assuming that you are preparing for it now... good luck! :)
***** awe that's awesome!! that's great that you're already thinking about it ahead of time. A lot of people go into college saying "Oh i want to be a doctor!!!" but they don't even know what it is truly all about! I took AP bio in high school, great class and helpful in college. Maybe you can volunteer at a local hospital or do some shadowing just to understand more the role of a doctor. Don't worry too much and enjoy high school as well :) You have a looot of time until applying to med school and what not and you'll figure everything out as well :)
wow... so i'm graduating next semester with a B.A. in Spanish literature and linguistics/Sociology... lol. watching this video just because i wanted to know what thebrave aspiring doctorsmust do to achieve their goals... such intensity. my major suddenly feels so easy and meh. i loveit though, hahaha. can't imagine having to memorize allthat!!! good luck future med students
I'm a sophomore in high school and I want to be a Spinal Surgeon. I know that there is a lot of things to do to become one. I know I can do it though because I am super motivated and I do really good in school! I think about the day that I become a Spinal Surgeon everyday. I can't wait!
I'm not going into med school but I plan to be either a pediatric oncology nurse or a pediatric nurse practitioner. I feel like being a nurse practitioner is a little closer to a doctor since they can do "doctor like" things
:) Thanks Sis. Yet, don't forget, you CAN opt out of the conventional medical-socioeconomic paradigm. There are ever more doctors in the USA choosing to work like Country Doctors of yesteryear - working for chickens, eggs, fish, meat, grain, etc. There are also ever more doctors doing their own PRE-Pay plans & NOT HMOs etc. Just GO for IT!!!
Hey OP, I think the traits to be successful are: bookworm, English major, pre medicine studies, intuitive, paranoid/careful, generous/not cheap, raised in a nurture environment, and what else? I could be wrong or not more correct. They seemed to be paradox which make me think they have multi personality disorder. Not that I wanted to be a physician or I loved being sick or around sick people or worship the AMA or enjoy lawsuit that involved dead people. It is a dirty job that need to be done. When I was young, I once considered working as a butcher to master my handiwork.
I'm a junior in high school and I have always wanted to be an anesthesiologist but I am scared of what will happen if I ever fail. I have a 4.2 GPA in school but if I pursue my desire and spend a quarter of a million dollars in college and 8 years of my life and ever mess up, then all those years and money would be wasted. What do you think I should do? And what did you mean by competitive? Thanks
Consider dental school. There is a dental anesthesiology specialty (similar job and salary to regular anesth.) and if you "fail" worst case scenario you are a general dentist already. But if you "fail" as in don't get into the specialty residency, you can work as a general dentist for a year, and re apply next year. It's not 1 time chance, you could work as a general dentist for 10 years, and when you're 36 go into anesthesiology. It's a good alternative. I was premed and made the switch to dental my junior year of college when I realized how many more benefits there are
Yeah, I'm 22 and in my fourth year of med school in Guatemala. 2 years left for graduation. And everything she says is true. I wannna do Radiology or Neurosurgery but I still haven't made the final decision. And trust me, even in the last moment of clicking on the specialty you want to apply or get into, you hesitate and think about it many many times...
Hi. I'm Indi. I'm from Australia. I wanted to become a doctor since i was 14, when my teachers saw my course selection form at the end of year 9. i had picked psychology, health and human development, chemistry, biology VCE leave, and math methods. which is a really specialized mathematics (but in truth I don't know because i never got to take it) they immediately discouraged me from taking those classes because I was naive and prone to stress. I told them I wanted to be a doctor. they said that I would never get there and that it was too hard. since then I have opted for paramedics, which I love, because its fast paced and the "get in, treat chief concern, get out" nature of the job attracted me. but now I'm not sure. I think that seeing a patient walk away from treatment with a better quality of life attracts me to medical school more. I am willing to do whatever it takes. to work and work and work because through VCE I have developed that study skill. that work ethic, I know exactly how to get through exams and I have a natural intense curiosity for anatomy, physiology and through my whole life i just wanted to help others. there is however a problem, because I was too naive to disregard my teachers and my mothers advice, (shes a nurse) I now do not have the prerequisites to pressure med school strait away. I feel totally lost, gutted and stupid. What would you suggest that I take at uni to cover the prerequisites for admission? would I still be able to make it? Am I waiting my time? P.S. my courses now at the end of year 12 are biology (score of 29 out of 50) general mathematics, English general, health and human development psychology and PE.
Quote: "I have a natural intense curiosity for anatomy, physiology and through my whole life i just wanted to help others." In my opinion that is all you need to be successful in the medical field no matter how tough, or how far you want to go. Your teachers really need to be more supportive. If it means anything I have faith in you man. You just have to put another penny in the bucket every day.
My teachers also discouraged me from doing medicine so I know how it feels. Truth is I had already made up my mind before going to college and I had no option. I am not from the U.S so I can't give you advice, but I can give you encouragement! Use that ill-feeling to drive you forward and you will achieve it. Motivation is the key.
I became a nurse and the reasons for that are two fold, one, income and its a career in of itself, two, the clinical experience, and because if I wish i can go back to school as a graduate. but right now, im not sure that I will. even as a nurse, Im really good at clinical deduction, reasoning, applying the principals of anatomy, physiology and psychopathology, anticipating peoples medical needs, things I believe will serve well in either field.
this dude Ohh bless you man. Thanks that means so so much. My high school teachers were full of it. I still worked hard and still got alright grades but I had missed the boat and so I chose nursing not only because its extremely rewarding but also because its a fall back option for me and most schools in Australia offer graduate medicine with no specific prerequisites anyway. Though his accountancy degree my father showed me too that if you work hard enough and you are disciplined enough, that you can do anything. The nurses I work with show me every day that I can still make a real difference in a patients life and recovery. They show me that my strength in clinical deduction and reasoning will not only get me far in nursing but also in medical school if I choose. and so now, I just need a rewarding and challenging career from which I can build. I wish I could tell others that I am not using the nursing field to my own end, I am doing it because I genuine want to make a real difference.
in the country where I'm studying right now it's a little bit different, we don't take pre-med, but directly go to med school. but I don't know if it's harder or easier (but it's definitely cheaper), though the principals are the same. one thing I really know is, that when someone wants to be a doctor it means never ending study, exams and hard works.
I'm premed and I'm planning to go to medschool In two years. This will sound funny but Greys anatomy helped me realize all what you just covered. Lol. Of course I did my own research but it is a lot. But at the end. It's gratifying. Wish you the best.
So I imagine that throughout medical school you will not have the ability to work? My fear (and my parents fear) is that I will graduate from college, and enter medical school, (that is...if I get in)l, but not be able to finish it if they pass away money reasons, etc. I'm a junior, almost senior, in high school and I've always wanted to be a Pediatrician, possible specializing in Cardiology. But the money is what is concerning me the most, so that is putting a huge hole in my heart because now I am actually considering being an RN just to be safe, because I am not too sure my parents would be able to afford me becoming a doctor. I know you said that in Residency you make about $50k but that is WELL INTO medical school, and I'm nervous that I wouldn't even make it that far. I was so set on being a Pediatrician in life and now I am so confused, please help me! :(
+TahtahCutie52 Student loans are a big part of the process. I had enough scholarship money to pay for undergrad but and taking loans for med school now. The government wants doctors, so they will help you with the money up front (you just have to pay it back later)
Do amazing in high school. Andrea has mentioned that she had almost all if not all her undergrad time paid for in scholarship(s). Scholarships are what helps a lot. Study as much as you need and do really well on the act/sat. Plus student loans but at least with scholarships you don't have to pay them back
I'm exactly like you! I'm becoming a senior next school year and hoping to pursue a medical career and specializing in paediatrics. I have no money saved as of right now and I could not handle the weight of a job while being in med school. I would say at least 90% of people in medical school rely on student loans to pay for most of or all of their studies. I'm still going to pursue this career because it is something I really want to do. Don't let money be an issue, ever! Good luck on your journey :)
It's easy to relax and watch TV, or watch others succeed. However, it is also easy to look back and reflect on what you accomplished in the past. This girl shows us by putting in effort and hard work you can become what you want to be and go where you want to go. Fear is the number one obstacle holding us back. Don't let fear control your life.
Thank you for your inspiring video!
Thank you!!!!
- agh thanks for this comment!
Watching this video made me want to start choosing another career out of the medical field. I know it's hard and its what scares me the most :( but you are completely right. Thanks for those words !
I already knew it wouldn't be easy to become a doctor, but damn! I just get really discouraged sometimes. But I'm still going to do it.
And voila 3 years have already passed like yesterday...enjoy the journey people sometimes its more important than destination
gravityclarity hope you’ve made it through! I’m sure you have and you’re a kick ass doctor!
Good for you! All the best!
Lol "When you're 35 and you're finally a Doctor "
I think I'm gonna cry 😞
+marlen salinas i'm on that 45 year old track
+Anup Chalise 23 years? I think without specializing in anything...
23? Do you start your studies in the womb?
u r true indian bro
+marlen salinas Ahahahaaaa😂😂😂
I watched this video back when I was an undergrad and it motivated me so much. I just got accepted into medical school last week, and watching this video again is so inspiring! thanks for all your motivating advice, Andrea!! 😍 looking forward to following in your footsteps on this new journey.
that’s so wholesome, congrats!! incoming undergrad freshie here, hope you’re doing well
Year 01: Cool
Year 02: Shit...
Year 03: OMG OMG OMG
Year 04: I don't know what I know.
Residency: I don't know anything.
Fellowship: I must know something.
Consultant: There are still tons of shits I don't know, so Stop asking me questions.
Jee yong Jung lol heya jee.
first time I've seen any one i knew in real life comment on youtube. mindblown.
😂😂
so glad to be training in the UK. sounds like a lot of years for you guys! technically, such as in Scotland where you can start med school at 17, you can be in your foundation years (junior doctor) at the age of 21/22 - the age most people start their journey in the US!!!!
As a 51 year old guy, I'm glad there are young ladies and men like you out there. The future looks bright. Something tells me you are going to make a wonderful doctor.
...and I'm just an engineering student on a RUclips trip. I salute you folks who are in medicine and wish y'all the best.
So if I want to become a neurosurgeon, I basically have to use half of my life actually becoming it and the other half working endless hours? Damn it.
+austin kolomalu ehhhh, not really. Becoming a doctor is a journey that you love (and hate) every step of. Enjoying the progress is half the battle. You have to REALLY love medicine.
+austin kolomalu Well, given you will probably lose most of your life expectancy trying to train in neurosurgery, it is in face all of your life that you will use becoming it!
cc
cc
What did you think you'd do? Ask someone and bam?
I've considered MD/PhD programs for a while, and your timeline really gave me a new perspective of the MD part that allowed me to consider a different point of view. Thanks a lot for the vid! Cheers
Definitely not looking forward to more standardized tests! Super helpful video for anyone who is interested in medicine to get a glimpse of the long journey ahead. Thanks for sharing! :)
Im a medical auditor and biller and im on my premed journey. I love what I currently do and billing is a piece of cake and so is the documentation. Once you've been doing it you get the hang of it.
so.... this was thoroughly discouraging.
I agree..
+Christian Rivera how would a person be in the position to operate on another human, if they didn't already work hard to earn the position? I mean, fuck, your response was littered with unthought out ignorance. geez
Madhurima Gogia right
this girl is the most adorable nerd i have ever seen
Awesome breakdown of the timeline for pursuing a career in medicine.
Thanks for the video!
I think your positive perspective is absolutely awesome! Thank you for that! Your comment about how your roles change from being an intern to a resident, etc. It is a beautiful comment, very self reflective, shows how we should enjoy staying in the present moment. Thanks again! Good luck !!
I know many think that the endless hours of studying and prolonged journey of test taking after the MCAT seems deathly but personally, I think it's really encouraging, because usually I'll forget what I studied after I take a test, but it's reassuring that there's this checkpoint every so often to keep you on your toes.
thank you so much sister I've learned a lot,you're not just beautiful you are also kind in sharing advice and that what makes you beautiful most.
Thank you!
+Andrea Tooley hi Andrea I just actually want to ask that does a 4 year bachelor's degree is compulsory before getting in med sch or a 2 year bachelor's degree is also acceptable by med schls in Canada
you remind me of Bernadette from the Big Bang Theory!
yes she does. its a complement.
Nope wrong. Way hotter.
im only 4 years old but i want to be a neuropathological brain surgeon rocket scientist for NASAs mars mission and i tell everybody on youtube about it so that i can get some gratification without actually doing any work
+nygeek64 LOL lmao
Ye, I believed you, you're 4 lol
@@radmehrabdolahi1346 right no way this person is 4
@@Defrap22 dude that's the freaking joke
Underated comment 😂
I would be starting med school this year and thank you so much for sharing this. I am excited and scared at the same time but I cant wait for my life as a medical student to start.
lol just watch greys anatomy
Thank you so much for this! As someone who also has no relatives or close/family friends in the medical field, this helped to clear some of the dark cloud of confusion hanging around the reality of medical school/ being a doctor. So, so helpful!
This was really encouraging for me, I feel like I can do this. So thank you :)!!
adoctorinthehouse I am very grateful for the information you put out here. Most students who are gladly looking forward to a medical career do not know whats involved.
Most doctors will practice "cook book" medicine, which is treating patient based on memorized flow charts. The good doctors practice science based medicine, treating patients based on their understanding of the pathophysiology of the patient's conditions.
DING DING DING!
Oh dear, I knew I was gonna be in school for a long time, I didn't know that it was close to forever. Well I guess that's why you really have to make sure that this is the path you want to take
Hi, I'm an undergrad right now working towards med school and your videos have been really helpful. I just wanna say thanks and don't stop!
Raw and true! Your video was not discouraging at all. In fact these are the hard truths that people who are considering medical school NEED to know. I do the same thing. Every time I have a parent whose kid wants to get into medicine or a high school student/college student comes to me for advice I make it VERY real. It's not dreamy Grey's Anatomy :)
You're so positive and can tell you're going to make a fantastic doctor! Thanks for answering so many of the questions I was thinking as a pre-med student.
I love that even knowing about all of these things about the road ahead you still look at it in a positive point of view :)
That was a great video. I'm brazillian and I'm a med student, currently in my 3rd year of med school. Its interesting how it works in the us; here in brazil we don't have this "pre-med" or college you mention: right after high school you go straight into med school (if youre lucky enough), but it's 6 years long overall. The first 2,5 years you do the basic course, which includes celullar biology, anatomy, physiology, etc. From that on, until the end of the 4th year, you cycle through all the specialties. After that ends, you're not graduated yet like in the US, youre still in med school, and you become an intern. You are an intern for 2 years, and you just keep accompanying doctors (i assume its similar to the clinic cycle from 2,5 to 4th year, not sure 'cause im not there yet). After 6 years you graduate, and you can practice medicine. You're not obligated to go into any residency before actually start working.
My lifelong dream is to live in the USA, and my girlfriend was born in brazil but her family is american. She is also in med school, but still on her first year. When we graduate, we'll take all the USMLE tests, the step 1 and 2, and hopefully do residency in the USA and stay there for good.
My plan is to go into radiology, which is a very difficult specialty to do in the US as far as i'm concerned. Do you have more information about radiology? How difficult it is to pass?
Thank you very much for the video, it was very helpful.
Best wishes from Brazil!
How is it, is it hard ? Do you have to have a high HS gpa to get in ?
It is very hard. We don't have GPA in Brazil, the only thing we have is a test you take to apply to the shool you want. We have 2 kinds of schools: public and private. To go into the public schools, we have to do a test called ENEM (its an unified test, the whole country takes it at the same time, its once a year). To pass in medicine and go to a free-of-costs university, you need to get at least 80% on ENEM (for a comparison, the highest grade ever in ENEM was between 84 and 85%). If you get 80% or more, you can choose 2 schools you want to try to, and with 80% youre pretty much guaranteed to pass. Public schools are great, they're the most respected schools in the country and everybody's dream. It's also absolutely free, you don't have to spend a single penny to study there.
The other kind of school are the private school. and these you have to pay and it's very very expensive. And unlike the US, we don't have this loan mechanism - everybody has to pay while theyre studying, every month, you can't pay after you graduate. We have a program by the government that they pay for you 25, 50, 75 or 100% depending on your income - but this program has been shut down by our economic crysis. The price ranges a lot from school to school, but the average I'd say is at least 2.000 dollars/month. Private schools can be very very good, they just don't have the same fame because theyre generally newer schools, whereas public ones are really old and already are well known. For EACH private school you try, you have to pay a fee and take their specific test -- that means ENEM doesn't mean anything for private schools, they each have their own tests, and you have to do these tests in each and every single school you want to try for. When i was trying for schools, i remember taking 15 different tests - just to try, there's absolutely no guarantee. And these tests, the dispute is huge, theres usually between 30 to 60 spots for 4, 5 or 6 thousand or more people in each test.
Most people don't pass right after graduating high-school - they have to do courses specific for ENEM, stuff like that. So people sometimes take 2, 3, 4 or even more years after graduating high-school to actually go to med school, which is completely absurd. I was lucky enough to pass right after graduating high-school, but in a private school. It's a great school, I'm very happy studying here, but certainly the price is absurd (all my family helps pay for my tuition).
Yea, that's about it. :)
+Bernardo Guerra that's amazing you can get it for free ... Gl with everything
In France it's the same: you go to med school directly after high school, but the first year is extremely difficult (on purpose to get rid of the big number and only keep the best and most motivated) and you have only a certain number of spots depending on the school for the four specialties: medicine, odontology, midwifery, and pharmacology, After that I'm not sure, I'm not a med student myself.
Your video really help guide me if I wanted to become a hollistic pediatrician or not. This is my first year undergraduate and I started seeing that I really do not have a passion for science. I can't seem to learn it to know it but just to remember for a test and then its all erased. And now knowing that it only gets worse and that you have to really KNOW and UNDERSTAND science, should really showed me wow maybe I shouldn't be a doctor. So now I have to do some sitting down and figure out what career is really for me. But I thank you so much for this video and I wish you the best in the MD world lol :)
you're so positive & i think that's awesome ^_^ it's really important to have a positive outlook to get through the stress of med school, as awesome as it is!
This guy posted on google how he went to med school and his parents who are poor spent 200g on him and he failed 3 out of 25 exams and so their policy said he failed med school so he us deviated and can't find a job or go to med school again because they won't accept someone who has failed before. I am scared that this is something that can actually happen. I really want to go to med school but if it is harder than I anticipated, I don't want to risk my career on a few exams :(
Wow, you're so right. We, the pre-med clan, do think of getting into medical school as the light at the end of the tunnel when in fact it's just the beginning of another tunnel. I guess we all have to take it in steps and enjoy the small victories along the way. Thanks for your insight!
I'm actually really happy I found this. Committing next week for a BA in speech pathology and then I plan on moving onto get my MD. Super helpful video!
I knew most of these things, yet I still stress my self out about this daily.... not to mention I am a senior in high school. haha.
what kept you motivated to keep moving forward despite having the constant stress of having to compete and prove yourself?
Christian Rivera yess you are my spirit animal.
If anyone is still coming to this video my advice is time will pass anyways so choose what you’re passionate about. I almost dropped one of my pre-med classes this semester, but owed to myself to try and am glad I stayed with it! Can’t wait for the rest of my pre-med journey halfway done.
This was so helpful! Your energy is inspiring. Also, I love your glasses! Where can get them?
+Taylor Bontrager Thank you! They are Fendi :-)
+Andrea Tooley this video was nice. I am a high school student wanting to become a radiologist if you know anything about this could you please do a video on it or tell me some things thanks
In other countries, you can go straight to Medical School after high school, and Medical School is 6 years. I am studying in Poland, and after I finish, I can still practice in the states
That's really good. Good luck.
You'll need to sit for USMLE step 1, step 2 CK, step 2 CS and then apply for a residency if you wanna work in US.
On top of the USMLE you also have to take the ECFMG which is a test for international doctors who wish to practice in the US. Another barrier international students can face. Getting a residency as a FMG (Foreign Medical Graduate) is more difficult. Even good family medicine/internal medicine residencies are difficult to get and very desirable/competitive residencies ranging from Neurosurgery to dermatology are essentially impossible to get. So yes you can get your MD degree in a foreign country and practice in the US but it is not simple and there are more hoops to jump through with that route than we face jumping through as US medical school grads. Good luck to you.
I knew about the test, but I'm also sure being a US citizen and knowing a few doctors is a little different as well. I normally live in the states, but am studying in Poland
Robert Bednarz True, networking is easier if you are born in the US and do not have to worry about visa issues when you apply for residencies. It is tough taking the different steps of USMLE when I am not sure that your fellow classmates will be taking them. Also most US medical schools have the curriculum and breaks built around these tests.
Thank you for making this video. It was really informative and also cheerful. There are a lot of aspects to being a physician that many people don't think or know about and this video really pinpointed them exactly.
:D
wish I saw this 8 years ago....I already graduated
In what?
I am really glad I came across your video. I had no idea about any of the topics you mentioned. I am still excited to become an anesthesiologist but I thought 8 - 10 years would get me straight into the field. Glad to know more details. Thank you for sharing! I am beginning pre med at FSU in January. (:
An 8 hour test? Goddamn what the flying fuck!
Yeah just like my highschool test .. :D
***** no no no no by 8 hour test it means that's the maximum time you have to take it. People usually finish in an hour or so. It's just silly protocol.
TheInternetBully94 I see. Weird protocol in my opinion... But thank you for clearing it up.
*****
yeah your welcome
+TheInternetBully94 No you wont lol
I am tired of people complaining about how hard it is to be a doctor. Like, ya don't say... Do you want someone with little knowledge of medicine opporating on you? No, ya don't. If you're not going to work hard it's probably not for you. Know what you're getting into. Don't let people tell you that you can't do it because it's hard. Not everything comes easy so either work hard or don't do it.
I find it incredible that you didn't know most, if not all, of those things before you entered a pre-med college program.
I want to be a surgeon:)
you should read atul gawande, his books are very inspiring
***** thanks, am gonna search for that book. :)
If you don't mind working 100 hours a week go for it, it's well paid and you impact people in ways others couldn't dream of.
Olivia Henry update us on your journey
you r totally right in every single word , many things if i had known wouldnot choose medicine as a career ,but it is too late .but still medicine one of best choices although we should work harder than ever..after 25 years as a doctor u will ask your self did it worth it? knowledge u gain in medical career is a pleasure and makes u unique in many ways ,in afew moments in your life this knowledge would make adifference
Just found this youtube channel. Great information, it was defiantly a reality check. I am on the biology/ pre-med track as an undergraduate. I have always been a great student but for the past few weeks I have lost my motivation because of the competitiveness and difficulty of the subject. At times it feels like a rat race against classmates. I know that the path to becoming a doctor is difficult, however your enthusiasm is very motivating. Thanks for reminding me the reason why I want to pursue this career :) Goodluck!
Thank you so much!!
When I started my doctorate CRNA program I also didn't realize that every 8 years I would have to study and retake boards the rest of my career as an anesthesia provider. Ah well, I guess it's best to ensure everyone is keeping their skills and knowledge up to date.
I just discovered you on RUclips!! I don't have any family in medicine and I wanna do ophthalmology, and I didn't know a lot of these things either!
Doctors have to re-take and pass their boards every 10 years? That is like an attorney passing the bar every 10 years. That is a big hassle!
I believe so
de yes :-)
yes; I know a surgeon who is currently taking courses to pass the boards :)
Think about it- you want to potentially put your life in the hands of a doctor who says, “Took my boards 15 years ago, but hey- no worries, I never forget a thing and I keep up with the literature” ? Relicensure Is great for patients-that’s the point.
Quite similar as here in Italy. We have 5 years of high school instead of 4 like you (so we finish at 19) and then you have to pass a very selective exam to enter Med School directly (so you don't need a bachelor's degree to enter, just pass the test after you got your high school diploma). Then, you will have 6 years of medical school. We study on books for the first three years (Biochemistry, Biology, Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Semiotics, etc..) and then three years of clinical internship with some additional important "book" studying to pass Pharmacology and Pathological Anatomy (which is considered the most difficult exam in Med School here in Italy).
Then you get your MD and you need to study to pass the Register exam, after which you are licensed to practice.
Obviously, you can do almost nothing, as you've said.
You need to get into a residency right away as well, for which there's another test (a national test this time, like the one to enter medical school after high school).
Residency is between 3 to 6 years usually for us as well.
Hey Andria!!!! I have seen some videos since you were in med school and you have truly inspired me. I enjoyed them all and I have learned a lot from them, so I just wanted to say thank you :)
Thank you, now I have a better idea of where I'm going. I'm only in high school, but now I have a better idea of where I'm headed!
Absolutely incredible, very informative. I appreciate the heads-up!
it's my 1st year in medical school and it's sucks , i have a lot of classes , a lot of lessons especially anatomy it's a nightmare and when i think that i still have 7 years more to go i just get discouraged and feel like to drop it
sarah lorane You can do it! First year is so hard but it gets better!
Well don't psych yourself out! Medicine is a life choice so it isn't 7 years but more like a lifetime you still have "to go." So just focus on the task at hand and enjoy / make the most of each moment. If you constantly look ahead you will miss out. But also remember that it is only 2 more years of "school." Once you start rotations in 3rd year it becomes much more fun and engaging. You no longer have to sit on your ass studying all day and going to silly group discussion to waste your time lol.
thegarbageman21 I read your comment and out of curiosity checked out your channel to see if you have any videos about school and found out you're a pc gamer too! xD How do you manage to play and do school stuff?
haha more like a wannabe PC gamer. Retired old school WOW player :). I watch videos instead of playing. I could if i wanted to but i prefer sports so thats where i spend my free time. I finished med school and now as a resident i have much less time. During med school however there were kids who played video games very often. I actually remember this kid who helped monitor anatomy lab which involved him just sitting there basically making sure nobody did anything stupid. He did this a couple times a week and would bring his computer and play starcraft the whole time. Kid was an awesome student too. The idea that you have no free time during med school isn't true. It is vital that you relax your mind in whatever way works for you so that the time you invest studying is as efficient as possible. Sitting in the library for 8 hours straight isn't efficient and will result in a lot of wasted time. That is the key to success ... efficiency. The real challenge (for me at least) in med school and even more now... was finding the right balance between work and play that gave me satisfaction in academics and my personal life. A little long winded but hope I answered your question :).
Neal Martin You are wrong for discouraging something like that.
Thank you for sharing your experiment, i think studying medicine is hard every country in the world
I really like all your videos😊Working as an ED/ER scribe you definitely realize being a doctor is mostly paperwork! But its's good experience and has reassured my that I want to pursue MD
Hi, I'm a freshman in college currently intending on majoring in neuroscience on the pre med track. I am in a research position currently and I plan on taking summer classes, shadowing, and going on a brigades trip this summer. I really want to build a strong resume with unique extra curriculars. Would you mind sharing any interesting extracurriculars you participate in or your classmates participated in, in college? Thank You!
That 35 finally making it thing was funny!
Thank you so much for this video! I'm also looking into becoming the first in my family to go to medical school so this is definitely the advice I needed to hear.
Watched about half of it... generally very accurate from what I saw. One thing is that more and more schools and moving away from the 2 year lecture system, 2 year clinicals, and putting in more clinicals earlier. Also she mentioned that step 2 isn't a big deal, just need to pass it, which is sort of true back in the past, but it's becoming increasingly more and more important. More and more programs won't even interview you without seeing a step 2 score and others won't rank you w/o seeing it. But generally step 1 is still more important as of today
Thank you for such a helpful video! I would argue, however, that in medical school and in a medical career, there are more resources available to help students and doctors study for exams, and it's also the case that medical students already have the background of the MCAT and other difficult exams to draw upon when studying for the steps and boards. I'm taking the MCAT May 22nd, and have essentially had to make up my own study schedule for a semester, using old '09 Kaplan books and a weekend course. You would know more than I the specific resources and climate of preparing for graduate exams in medical school; I would suggest that while the exams are more important and perhaps more difficult than the MCAT, the students are subsequently more prepared to take them.
Wow thanks for the information. Very useful indeed. I am currently a medical assistant that is wanting to climb up the ladder and go to school and either become a PA or MD (not sure what specialty I would like yet though).. In my short time in medical (1 year and half) I've realized I have a passion to helping the sick and I'll... Not sure which path to take yet though. I know it's gonna take a lot of work and time but I'm willing to invest!
I cannot tell you how helpful and informative this is! Thank you so much!!
That's why I am going to be a teacher. Thank God for all doctors! God bless them. They deserve all the money they make.
Thank You for uploading this video! It was very helpful to me. I decided to be a doctor and I am in college. So, this video help me foreshadow (briefly) what would like to be in a med school. Thank you again! :)
6:20 I was told by the veterinarians that I work for "If you didn't write it down, it never happened."
As a first graduate college student in my family, I want to say thank you for your advice!
Congratulations!! Jessica gutierrez
i don't have any questions yet, but i do thank you for your informative videos! they keep me inspired.
Really enjoy listening to you and understanding the effort put forth and that it seems like it never Ends to become a Sucessful Doctor. Really Really Proud of you Andrea.and What a partener that you two have with each other. You two are Truly Blessed. Text you Soon❤😊❤😊
My college has medicine program and it's 6 years. First two years are bookwork, three next years are clinical and the last year is the internship. (After that you have to do another year in the country or small town of practice).
Thank you so so much for this video. I want to work in the field of medicine, most likely a pediatrician, and this helped me better understand the process.
This was very helpful!!! Thank you! Currently studying the MCAT right now ahhh
thank you!! :)
***** the MCAT? It was ok hah...if you're studying for it now, get off youtube get and get to it!! I highly recommend mcatprep.com golden standard exams, I found them quite challenging which is what you need. The harder the practice questions, the better
Assuming that you are preparing for it now... good luck! :)
***** awe that's awesome!! that's great that you're already thinking about it ahead of time. A lot of people go into college saying "Oh i want to be a doctor!!!" but they don't even know what it is truly all about! I took AP bio in high school, great class and helpful in college. Maybe you can volunteer at a local hospital or do some shadowing just to understand more the role of a doctor.
Don't worry too much and enjoy high school as well :) You have a looot of time until applying to med school and what not and you'll figure everything out as well :)
wow... so i'm graduating next semester with a B.A. in Spanish literature and linguistics/Sociology... lol. watching this video just because i wanted to know what thebrave aspiring doctorsmust do to achieve their goals... such intensity. my major suddenly feels so easy and meh. i loveit though, hahaha. can't imagine having to memorize allthat!!! good luck future med students
I'm a sophomore in high school and I want to be a Spinal Surgeon. I know that there is a lot of things to do to become one. I know I can do it though because I am super motivated and I do really good in school! I think about the day that I become a Spinal Surgeon everyday. I can't wait!
I'm not going into med school but I plan to be either a pediatric oncology nurse or a pediatric nurse practitioner. I feel like being a nurse practitioner is a little closer to a doctor since they can do "doctor like" things
Thank you so much for your effort in putting these videos up! They're very realistic and helpful.
Thank you!!!
I like your personality :3 Good luck on your endeavor.
Hmmmmmm, Wow. PA all the way. :)
Lol. I was thinking the same.
Yesss
:) Thanks Sis. Yet, don't forget, you CAN opt out of the conventional medical-socioeconomic paradigm. There are ever more doctors in the USA choosing to work like Country Doctors of yesteryear - working for chickens, eggs, fish, meat, grain, etc. There are also ever more doctors doing their own PRE-Pay plans & NOT HMOs etc. Just GO for IT!!!
Thank you for this video. I am buring these MCAT study books now because this sounds terrible
I'm a senior in high school determined to become a doctor. Okay I find you really atrractive #justsaying
Hey OP,
I think the traits to be successful are: bookworm, English major, pre medicine studies, intuitive, paranoid/careful, generous/not cheap, raised in a nurture environment, and what else?
I could be wrong or not more correct. They seemed to be paradox which make me think they have multi personality disorder.
Not that I wanted to be a physician or I loved being sick or around sick people or worship the AMA or enjoy lawsuit that involved dead people. It is a dirty job that need to be done. When I was young, I once considered working as a butcher to master my handiwork.
First I was like damn that's so long. Then you said look at medical like a job. That sold me. Thank you.
medical school*
haha, a job where you work AND you pay! I like it
I'm a junior in high school and I have always wanted to be an anesthesiologist but I am scared of what will happen if I ever fail. I have a 4.2 GPA in school but if I pursue my desire and spend a quarter of a million dollars in college and 8 years of my life and ever mess up, then all those years and money would be wasted. What do you think I should do? And what did you mean by competitive? Thanks
Consider dental school. There is a dental anesthesiology specialty (similar job and salary to regular anesth.) and if you "fail" worst case scenario you are a general dentist already. But if you "fail" as in don't get into the specialty residency, you can work as a general dentist for a year, and re apply next year. It's not 1 time chance, you could work as a general dentist for 10 years, and when you're 36 go into anesthesiology. It's a good alternative. I was premed and made the switch to dental my junior year of college when I realized how many more benefits there are
Yeah, I'm 22 and in my fourth year of med school in Guatemala. 2 years left for graduation. And everything she says is true. I wannna do Radiology or Neurosurgery but I still haven't made the final decision. And trust me, even in the last moment of clicking on the specialty you want to apply or get into, you hesitate and think about it many many times...
Being a doctor in the United States and being a doctor in Guatemala might be completely different.
Thank you I am a pre med student with no help this was life changing
Hi. I'm Indi. I'm from Australia. I wanted to become a doctor since i was 14, when my teachers saw my course selection form at the end of year 9. i had picked psychology, health and human development, chemistry, biology VCE leave, and math methods. which is a really specialized mathematics (but in truth I don't know because i never got to take it) they immediately discouraged me from taking those classes because I was naive and prone to stress. I told them I wanted to be a doctor. they said that I would never get there and that it was too hard. since then I have opted for paramedics, which I love, because its fast paced and the "get in, treat chief concern, get out" nature of the job attracted me. but now I'm not sure. I think that seeing a patient walk away from treatment with a better quality of life attracts me to medical school more. I am willing to do whatever it takes. to work and work and work because through VCE I have developed that study skill. that work ethic, I know exactly how to get through exams and I have a natural intense curiosity for anatomy, physiology and through my whole life i just wanted to help others.
there is however a problem, because I was too naive to disregard my teachers and my mothers advice, (shes a nurse) I now do not have the prerequisites to pressure med school strait away. I feel totally lost, gutted and stupid.
What would you suggest that I take at uni to cover the prerequisites for admission? would I still be able to make it? Am I waiting my time?
P.S. my courses now at the end of year 12 are biology (score of 29 out of 50) general mathematics, English general, health and human development psychology and PE.
Quote: "I have a natural intense curiosity for anatomy, physiology and through my whole life i just wanted to help others."
In my opinion that is all you need to be successful in the medical field no matter how tough, or how far you want to go.
Your teachers really need to be more supportive. If it means anything I have faith in you man. You just have to put another penny in the bucket every day.
My teachers also discouraged me from doing medicine so I know how it feels. Truth is I had already made up my mind before going to college and I had no option. I am not from the U.S so I can't give you advice, but I can give you encouragement! Use that ill-feeling to drive you forward and you will achieve it. Motivation is the key.
I became a nurse and the reasons for that are two fold, one, income and its a career in of itself, two, the clinical experience, and because if I wish i can go back to school as a graduate. but right now, im not sure that I will. even as a nurse, Im really good at clinical deduction, reasoning, applying the principals of anatomy, physiology and psychopathology, anticipating peoples medical needs, things I believe will serve well in either field.
this dude Ohh bless you man. Thanks that means so so much. My high school teachers were full of it. I still worked hard and still got alright grades but I had missed the boat and so I chose nursing not only because its extremely rewarding but also because its a fall back option for me and most schools in Australia offer graduate medicine with no specific prerequisites anyway. Though his accountancy degree my father showed me too that if you work hard enough and you are disciplined enough, that you can do anything. The nurses I work with show me every day that I can still make a real difference in a patients life and recovery. They show me that my strength in clinical deduction and reasoning will not only get me far in nursing but also in medical school if I choose. and so now, I just need a rewarding and challenging career from which I can build. I wish I could tell others that I am not using the nursing field to my own end, I am doing it because I genuine want to make a real difference.
tyzer32 are you from Australia. I am.
in the country where I'm studying right now it's a little bit different, we don't take pre-med, but directly go to med school. but I don't know if it's harder or easier (but it's definitely cheaper), though the principals are the same.
one thing I really know is, that when someone wants to be a doctor it means never ending study, exams and hard works.
Glad to hear what's needed. I guess I'll just be watching re-runs of Dougie Howser M.D. and fantasizing about what could have been.
Thank you for your videos! You're really putting things into perspective for me.
Thanks so much for making this video! I'm a pre-med student and it really helped :)
I really want to become an obstetrician and after watching this video I'm more excited about it!
just like me we won't be draged with those rumors and horrible videos right ?
+Judith Garza I also want to become an OB but did not have the same reaction to the video as you LOL
I'm premed and I'm planning to go to medschool In two years. This will sound funny but Greys anatomy helped me realize all what you just covered. Lol. Of course I did my own research but it is a lot. But at the end. It's gratifying. Wish you the best.
So I imagine that throughout medical school you will not have the ability to work? My fear (and my parents fear) is that I will graduate from college, and enter medical school, (that is...if I get in)l, but not be able to finish it if they pass away money reasons, etc. I'm a junior, almost senior, in high school and I've always wanted to be a Pediatrician, possible specializing in Cardiology. But the money is what is concerning me the most, so that is putting a huge hole in my heart because now I am actually considering being an RN just to be safe, because I am not too sure my parents would be able to afford me becoming a doctor. I know you said that in Residency you make about $50k but that is WELL INTO medical school, and I'm nervous that I wouldn't even make it that far. I was so set on being a Pediatrician in life and now I am so confused, please help me! :(
+TahtahCutie52 Student loans are a big part of the process. I had enough scholarship money to pay for undergrad but and taking loans for med school now. The government wants doctors, so they will help you with the money up front (you just have to pay it back later)
Do amazing in high school. Andrea has mentioned that she had almost all if not all her undergrad time paid for in scholarship(s). Scholarships are what helps a lot. Study as much as you need and do really well on the act/sat. Plus student loans but at least with scholarships you don't have to pay them back
I'm exactly like you! I'm becoming a senior next school year and hoping to pursue a medical career and specializing in paediatrics. I have no money saved as of right now and I could not handle the weight of a job while being in med school. I would say at least 90% of people in medical school rely on student loans to pay for most of or all of their studies. I'm still going to pursue this career because it is something I really want to do. Don't let money be an issue, ever! Good luck on your journey :)
omg my case is exactly like your one, this is so depressing though
OMG.! you are so helpful. I knew some of the things you state in your video but I am so glad I watched it. Thanks so much.