Medical career advice.

Medical career advice?

• So im still currently in high school in y10, but i'm really interested in the medical profession.. not so much as being a doctor but im interested in Forensic Pathology. I was just wondering if any med students, doctors or even pathologists could answer a few questions that i have?! * What is medical school actually like? * Is it hard to get into medical school? * What grades do i need?, and what subjects do i need to take in 6th form? * In general, what is the medical/pathology career like? Thanks alot x

• Answer:

  I'm a 2nd year medical student in the UK. * What is medical school actually like? Its great fun, but also very hard work. A typical week is something like this, monday we'll have lectures for half the day, and dissection in the afternoon. On tuesday we will spend the morning talking about communication skills/leadership/ethics etc. and the afternoon will be spent on placement in a hospital or GP surgery. Wednesday at university, even for medicine is usually a half day (the afternoon is off for sports/hobbies etc.) In the morning though we would have seminars (group work). On a thursday there would be more lectures again, possibly interactive sessions where we do things like draw on each other (anatomy!) or learn clinical skills (e.g. how to examine patients). Then on friday there would be lectures and a tutorial or mini-test. These are small group discussion sessions where we get asked questions and talk through them. Sometimes it takes the form of a test. At medical school testing is very frequent, as they have to keep you working hard and keep an eye on anyone who might be slipping up. * Is it hard to get into medical school? Yes and no. Its hard in the sense that you have to do a lot of work for it. But its not impossible, every year 18,000 people apply and about 8000 people manage to get in. Most of the ones that dont get in then apply the following year and get in then. Some go off to do other courses and some just get a job. If you want to be a doctor, you can be, its just how much work your prepared to put in. * What grades do i need?, and what subjects do i need to take in 6th form? Biology and Chemistry are essential. Physics and Maths are optional, but usually one or the other is sensible. If you can handle maths I strongly urge you to take it. Of all the subjects I studied at A-level, it has turned out to be one of the most useful, and being confident with maths is very useful in life generally (medicine is not at all mathematical by the way, I've done about 2 sums in as many years!) Then your other subject should be a "serious" but ancillary A-level. For example English, History, Geography, Psychology is very popular (and fairly relevant to medicine), French/German etc. Basically anything except Design Tech, Media Studies/Buisness studies etc. For grades you'll want ideally a mix of A, B and even a few A*s or better at GCSE if you can (although if you dont get that, it isnt the end of the world). The odd C wont kill you, most medical schools say something like 5 grade As, including English, Maths, Science. For A-level you'll want AAB or AAA. * In general, what is the medical/pathology career like? Pathology is very scienfitic as medicine goes, and involves less patient contact than most other areas. I suggest gettign some work experience in this area. Its also worth rememberign that you may come into medical school wanting to do pathology, but come out and prefer something else. Also be aware, that after the 5 years of medical school, all doctors work for 2 years as "foundation house officers"/general dogsbodies. After that you'll be looking at about 3-5 years of specialising and training. So becoming a pathologist could take 12-15 years, but thats not to say you wont have fun along the way, and you'll almost certainly change your mind as you go. Finally, have a look at www.ukmedicalschools.com they have excellent advice and can tell you far more than I can in a single message.