Deaf sophomore in High School, have questions

[DEAF]

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Hello everyone, first of all, I am completely deaf which means I don't speak at all. Don't be surprise. The last few months ago I've been thinking about what I am going to do after high school, and applying to any universities that are the right schools for a deaf student. I've always been interested in the medical field, I know it's too early for me to decide, but I want to know what universities I should apply to. I am not sure what my grade should be, but I got decent grades at the sophomore year, it could be like above 3.5x. I have yet to take SAT, or ACT.

My worry is I don't even know if any good pre-med universities would be more than happy to accept a deaf student. I would like to get some information, or opinions from you. What pre-med university is the right school for a deaf student who seeks a good pre-med program that easily educates deaf community.

Sorry for my grammar errors. English is not my first language and English is the hardest language ever I've learned in my entire life. :|

 

[Dr Lyss]

Hi DEAF. Welcome to SDN

I'm not really familiar with what schools have the best provisions for Deaf students. I know there are some Deaf students that roam SDN so they might have better advice for you in that arena. I would suggest that you research some colleges that interest you and make sure that they have the proper accommodations for you. There really is no such thing as premed universities. You can apply to medical school from any school as long as you have fulfilled the required courses and have good scores.

It really is very early to worry about what is required to be accepted to medical school but I'll give you a little idea: the average accepted student has a GPA around 3.6 and an MCAT score above 30. You will have to take classes in intro bio, general chem, math, physics and english in order to fulfill the requirements. Also, you have to become involved in different volunteering opportunities, including clinical activities in hospitals or medical environments.

Enjoy the rest of high school and try to focus on a college that will be the best fit for you and your needs -- and that won't put you in significant debt. Best of luck!

 

[tennisball80]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7318398

Medical schools recruit disabled student. Don't give up !

I understand English is a very hard language to learn because English is not my first language.

Practice makes it perfect. I have done a tons of English grammar books.

Good luck to you

 

[niranjan162]

what college you goto doesnt matter for applying to med school, so it would probably be best to goto the school with the best accommodations for your disability. Also its been said many times, but what you do in high school doesnt matter at all, for med school at least.

 

[DEAF]

DRLyss - I know it is pretty early to worry about those things such as MCAT, and others, but I am a curious guy. Lol. I've been doing great in high school and I hope I get decent SAT and ACT scores so I can apply to good colleges. I recently had been researching on the colleges with deaf programs, they don't have good reps about pre-regs, which pretty much worries me. That's why I made a thread. Thanks for the advice! 🙂

Tennis - Good find, dude. Man, English is not easy. There are lots of rules.

I cannot speak, or hear, does it mean I will be a terrible doctor who cannot communicate with impatient patients? I know there are a few deaf doctors in Rochester, NY near RIT(they have a deaf program and there are alot of deaf students.) Deaf doctors have interpreters there and their patients love them. What do you think?

 

[Brandqn]

redacted

 

[WiscDoc]

My school graduated a bind medical student a couple of years ago. Here is a news report:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/?id=7318398&

 

[Depakote]

Hello everyone, first of all, I am completely deaf which means I don't speak at all. Don't be surprise. The last few months ago I've been thinking about what I am going to do after high school, and applying to any universities that are the right schools for a deaf student. I've always been interested in the medical field, I know it's too early for me to decide, but I want to know what universities I should apply to. I am not sure what my grade should be, but I got decent grades at the sophomore year, it could be like above 3.5x. I have yet to take SAT, or ACT.

My worry is I don't even know if any good pre-med universities would be more than happy to accept a deaf student. I would like to get some information, or opinions from you. What pre-med university is the right school for a deaf student who seeks a good pre-med program that easily educates deaf community.

Sorry for my grammar errors. English is not my first language and English is the hardest language ever I've learned in my entire life. :|

Hi DEAF,

The premedical curriculum can be completed at many universities. I would look into universities that have educated deaf students and see which one feels like it is the best fit for you.

Medical Schools have made accommodations for students before, I do not know about deaf students in particular but I could see it being something that a school could work around. When you get closer to applying you would look into the technical standards of the schools you are interested in and you could contact them regarding your specific situation.


Regarding your second question:
If you are using a sign language interpreter, this can put you at a disadvantage when trying to speak with a patient. There is always a bit of a delay and the possibility of interpreter bias or mis-communication. If you plan to practice medicine, you will need a very well-trained professional interpreter.

 

[DEAF]

I just researched about Yale's student disabilities, they have everything for a deaf student such as high-skilled interpreter, note-taking person, and more. It's not like I am going to Yale. I would kinda need a person who would take notes for me so I don't have to miss everything what a professor say.

Depakote -- I love your posts. I guess I am going to stop worrying about this stuff until I go to a college to finish pre-med requirements.
I go to mainstreamed school. There are only four interpreters, they are very good; but are not good enough at subjects they suck at, know what I mean?
As far as I know, there are so many different levels for being an interpreters such as court, college, etc. I should be fine if I have a very well-trained interpreter, but I'd like to work in a hospital where a lot of deaf people go to.

Thank you all for posting and helpful information!

 

[Dr Lyss]

I just researched about Yale's student disabilities, they have everything for a deaf student such as high-skilled interpreter, note-taking person, and more. It's not like I am going to Yale. I would kinda need a person who would take notes for me so I don't have to miss everything what a professor say.

Depakote -- I love your posts. I guess I am going to stop worrying about this stuff until I go to a college to finish pre-med requirements.
I go to mainstreamed school. There are only four interpreters, they are very good; but are not good enough at subjects they suck at, know what I mean?
As far as I know, there are so many different levels for being an interpreters such as court, college, etc. I should be fine if I have a very well-trained interpreter, but I'd like to work in a hospital where a lot of deaf people go to.

Thank you all for posting and helpful information!

DEAF, if the schools you are researching don't clearly state what accommodations they could provide for someone in your situation, call or e-mail the office that deals specifically with providing accommodations (in my school it is the office of student development) and find out the specific details. Schools with more money and funding (ie Yale, large public universities) will probably have a better ability to accommodate you.


In terms of pre-requisite classes, as long as the school is an accredited four year university and offers bio, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics, you should be fine. Don't worry about reputation. It's more important to do well than to go to a prestigious school. Good luck with your SAT!

 

[Colbert]

I went to a major university and took a medical anthropology class. In one lecture, a completely deaf physician came in to speak to us (through someone else, who spoke his sign language). He said that he had patients, particularly deaf patients, come from hours away just for check ups because he was able to fully communicate with them and relate to the problems and challenges they faced. Moral of the story - don't give up. It's definitely possible and people have done it before you. Will it be hard? Probably, but it all depends on how much you want it.

 

[ertraumashield]

Have you thought about a Cochlear implant to help with the hearing? That would be a huge help if a cochlear implant was right for you. I know someone who was deaf and she tought herself to speak and read lips, so you could work on this, it would be hard, but I believe in you and I think you can do this.

But yes, you could become a physician. If you do working with deaf pt.s would probally be the best spec.

By the way, you english looks fine and welcome to the SDN!

Good Luck. 😉

 

[Turtle01]

Gallaudet U. all the way man, p.s. their football team is badass. Drums on the sideline for the snap counts. I think it's pretty cool that you want to do medicine, but I'm a little concerned as to how you would do with lectures/small group without an interpreter. I'm sure you will find a way though, if it's what you want. Best of luck to you.

 

[DEAF]

Gallaudet U. all the way man, p.s. their football team is badass. Drums on the sideline for the snap counts. I think it's pretty cool that you want to do medicine, but I'm a little concerned as to how you would do with lectures/small group without an interpreter. I'm sure you will find a way though, if it's what you want. Best of luck to you.

Haha. A lot of my old friends went there, but I am afraid that Gallaudet University's education is very poor and people have been saying that it's too easy for them to pass tests and others. Of course, they party a lot.
To be honestly, Galluadet University is not the right school for me.
I am very interested in human body and how it works. Surgery strongly interests me. I've been thinking by myself "Can I become a surgeon if I am completely deaf without hearing aids?"

ertraumashield - Yes, I know a lot about cochlear implant, I am pretty sure it helps a lot. But it's PRETTY LATE for me to get one right now, If I get one, it'd take a WHILE to get used to sounds, etc. Also, I am very proud to be deaf, I wouldn't let my parents beg me to speak all the time without using sign language, and I wouldn't let myself get out of the deaf community/cutlure. But I am very lucky that my parents don't do that and they are the best parents ever I have. I was born that way when my mom had a fever. My parents didn't sue OB/GB because they understood completely that I was born that way.

I do not go to a deaf school. I am currently going to the mainstreamed school, which means there is a deaf program in my school, and I go to the classes with hearing students like you. Also, I have some honors classes and I am getting Forensic Science and Anatoym classes next year, because they interest me.

I've read some articles about a few deaf people being doctors, dentists, and vets, some went to Harvard College, blind medical student got MD degree, and others. That's what totally shocked me -- when I was like 10-years-old, I had always thought that deaf people cannot become police officers, doctors, vets, dentists, FBI agents, and other fields, but somehow, I've been researching about deaf people being able to be one of those execpt police. I finally realized I was totally wrong.

I might be going to visit Rochester Hospital because there are like more than five deaf doctors, so I want to ask them some questions about medical fields, medical schools, and others.
Noted: Rochester has the highest percent of deaf people who live there.

 

[ImNotBritish]

I think that you might be pleasantly surprised with how many universities can provide the accomodations that you need. I go to a public state school with about 10,000 students, and I've known 2 students who were profoundly deaf and doing quite well. They were assigned a transcriptionist for each of their classes, who was trained a lot like a court reporter. That person would type everything that was said in class, including questions from other students, into a laptop that was connected to a laptop provided to the student. The student would read all that was being said, and then take their own notes. It seemed to work pretty well, so hopefully you could find a similar program at a school you'd like to attend. Good luck!