We’re not asking you to immediately produce an MD because that takes ages. But, it’s good also to prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for the life-changing choice you’re going to make. Being a doctor means handling life and death very closely; these are in your hands. Especially during the crisis caused by COVID-19, doctors are always called to the field.
But as an aspiring doctor, your life plans have been affected. COVID-19 mucks up your plans; you have to delay your med school application, you’re left wondering what school has a better school year now that COVID-19 messed it up. And most of all, you’re also left wondering when you can finally take the dreaded NMAT.
No need to fear though, here are some ways to prepare yourself for medical school even if you aren’t there yet.
Research, Research, Research
We don’t mean just Google it. Lord only knows how that always turns out. We mean looking into medical journals that cover different techniques and epidemiologies. There are journals out there that cover prevalence and other techniques that may not even be performed in medical institutes here in the Philippines but were confirmed as a success elsewhere.
At the same time, you’ll be drowning in readings also when you got medical school. This is the perfect time for you to get used to it. It’ll also keep your mind sharp and who knows? Some eureka moments might happen and you might discover ways to fight off COVID-19 without actually hurting yourself in the process.
Listen to the logs of COVID-19 patients
Bedside manner is what makes patients more open to their doctors. The more they like their doctor, the more they talk. And when they speak, they can also give insights on their experiences with the disease, which is exactly what you need when diagnosing someone. Reading their stories and listening to people talk about their insights about the disease can not only help you ask the right questions but how to diagnose the right disease as well.
Learn 5 medical vocabulary words a day.
Geriatric. Calories. Endocarditis. Mitral Valve Prolapse. These are terms that can possibly appear in your med school days. So, what better way to help gear yourself for medical school than to learn them? Know their definitions and know what happens. Doing this also helps improve your comprehension especially when it comes to understanding case studies.
Learn about homeopathic treatments and how they interact.
A lot of people discredit homeopathic treatment because of the lack of studies done on them. However, learning about them can also add a lot to your arsenal especially when understanding the biochemical reactions they have in your body. Doing so, you can also figure out how to mitigate certain symptoms while waiting for the final diagnosis. You can often find them lying around Facebook and then you can cross-check through journals.
I mean, if fancy medicines didn’t exist back then and we’re still alive, there must be some truth to it right?
Review for the NMAT
Before you become a doctor, you first have to take the NMAT exam. All students who aspire to become doctors need to take it and score 85 or higher, depending on your dream school. Reviewing for the NMAT can take a lot out of you though. After all, it requires sifting through all the things you’ve learned from the first year to fourth year in Science to boot. But if you’re having a hard time reviewing, we have a guide to help you out.
Being a Doctor is a Calling
A lot of people say that it is and that’s because it is. Money isn’t really a good motivator when choosing to become a doctor. There are harrowing experiences that can make you question your decisions but at the end of the day, it’s the passion of being a medical practitioner that will pull you through.