(Help) What books to read

[mikemike27]

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Im currently only 17, but I'm a freshman in college. I'm really interested in becoming a physician or physicians assistant and I would like to know what I should be studying now. What types of books or material should i be reading to prep for Med School?

 

[LikeClockWork]

Im currently only 17, but I'm a freshman in college. I'm really interested in becoming a physician or physicians assistant and I would like to know what I should be studying now. What types of books or material should i be reading to prep for Med School?

Don't worry so much about preping for med school as much as preping for the MCAT. In that case, I would recommend studying your bio, chem, orgo, and physics text books while you're in the classes. Once you've finished the pre-recs (or most of them), then work through the ExamKrackers books. I found them to be fantastic if you're not taking a Kaplan course.

 

[Lshapley]

It's a bit too early to be prepping for your med school classes at 17. If you are really interested in getting ahead, I would suggest working on your basic sciences...Biology, chemistry and physics. If you have trouble in high school with any of those, that is where you should start working because your mastery of those subjects, plus organic chemistry, will go a long way towards getting you into a medical school.

 

[PinkLittmann]

Hold your horses! Prepping for medical school by studying is a waste right now. First of all, I don't know how you came to the conclusion that you want to be a doctor, but participating in a wide range of activities that will help make you sure of the decision to pursue medicine is most important. Making sure you have a realistic understanding of what it will be like to be a doctor and why you want to be a doctor is imperative. A lot of people change their majors and their minds in college, so don't put the cart before the horse (wow lotsa horse references in this post). If you are interested in medicine I encourage you to peep into the world of healthcare as much as you can. Volunteer at a hospital, volunteer in general, or get involved in your local AMSA chapter or a PA related group. However, do not make the assumption that you should only be doing medical related volunteering. Do what interests you and what you feel will enrich you as a person. If you end up forcing yourself to study bio because you think that's what med schools like, or volunteering or getting a leadership position simply because that's what you need to get into med school you are doing yourself a great diservice. Remember that your time is valuable so you shouldn't do certain extracurriculars because you have to, but because you want to. I'm not saying you would do that, just keep in mind that the college experience is more than just a step towards applying to medical school. Do not worry, if you ultimately want to go to medical school there will be time to prep for MCAT in the future. I wish you the best of luck!

 

[0Complications]

I think those are good recommendations from above, but I also recommend that you read books you think you might enjoy relating to medicine, on the side, which can give you some perspective of what to expect or just open your eyes to the wonderful world and mystery of the human body.

A couple recent ones that I enjoyed were:

All the Oliver Sacks books (The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat, Anthropologist From Mars, The Island of the Colorblind, etc.)

Another Day in the Frontal Lobe - Katrina Firlik

New Guinea Tapeworms and Jewish Grandmothers - Robert Desowitz

Parasite Rex - Carl Zimmer

And so many more great books...

I would also recommend that you go to your local hospital and find out about volunteering. Oftentimes you can volunteer in a number of different departments (i.e., ED, Cardiology, etc.) to get a feel for how a hospital runs and you can meet some physicians and PA's that might be willing to allow you to shadow them. This will give you an idea of what you can expect working in Medicine and help you decide which you prefer; Physician, PA, or none at all.

Oh yeah, and don't do what so many pre-meds do, they get sooooo focused on the destination that they don't really get a chance to enjoy the journey.

 

[ChubbyChaser]

I recommend the Harry Potter Books.

 

[mikemike27]

I recommend the Harry Potter Books.

LOL I've read them all.

 

[GoldShadow]

Memorize all of Gray's Anatomy. The book, not the television show.

Most premeds have read it at least 3 or 4 times by the time they enter med school; it's relatively easy to read, mostly a picture book. I personally haven't read it but I've heard it's a gripping tale of intrigue and suspense, romance and espionage, action and explosions, heroes and villains... you know, the usual in medicine.

 

[NoUse4aName1286]

I say leave this forum and come back in 2.5 years. Until then, take the advice of your premedical advisor. Do well in your classes, but take stuff (including a major) that you enjoy A LOT (no better way to do well then to like what you are studying) and to absolute, ABOVE ALL ELSE, WITHOUT A DOUBT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I CAN SAY IS: DON"T GIVE UP (if you're sure its what you want). Many ways to do well in school. Don't freak about submerging yourself in 10million clubs and such. You are a freshman, and regardless of what you think, time management IS an acquired skill, so yes, by all means, join clubs, volunteer, take on leadership positions, research (I AM NOT AT ALL RECOMMENDING YOU DO ALL THESE!!), but ease your way into it, or you will only make your life miserable as you go throug ha crash course on multitasking/planning. I realize there is some hyprocriticism here, sorry; but by all means, don't look back regretting college,

 

[Terpskins99]

Im currently only 17, but I'm a freshman in college. I'm really interested in becoming a physician or physicians assistant and I would like to know what I should be studying now. What types of books or material should i be reading to prep for Med School?

I'd highly recommend reading up on whatever area of medicine interests you. Or even start reading up on different areas of medicine. I think this is probably one area that most pre-meds fail to address early enough. Ideally, you want to have a pretty good idea what kind of medicine you'd like to practice by the time you finish your 2nd year of medical school (this, so that you can begin to strategically organize your 3rd and 4th year clerkships in a way to maximize your chances of landing a premium residency in said specialty)... but obviously, the earlier the better. High school may be jumping the gun a bit, but I don't think its ever too early to learn about what different doctors do and what brought them into their particular field.

Then take the next step. Volunteer at a local hospital. Shadow a doctor. Get an internship and do some benchside research.

Of course, on top of all that... do well in school. Get into the very best college you can (or, if its not too late, look into 6 or 7 year BA/MD dual-degree programs... essentially getting into medical school straight out of high school).

 

[League54]

Memorize all of Gray's Anatomy. The book, not the television show.

Most premeds have read it at least 3 or 4 times by the time they enter med school; it's relatively easy to read, mostly a picture book. I personally haven't read it but I've heard it's a gripping tale of intrigue and suspense, romance and espionage, action and explosions, heroes and villains... you know, the usual in medicine.

Hahahahahaha u dope!

 

[XerxesMD]

Get yourself a subscription to the Economist and read all of it every week. It might just help you with the verbal section, but it will make you a way more knowledgeable person.

 

[LizzyM]

Don't forget to do something fun every week. Develop a hobby or an activity hat you enjoy on a regular basis (athletics, performing arts, studio arts, craft, etc).

For reading, stay current with a weekly such as the Economist (it isn't about the economy but is a British publication similar to Time & Newsweek but written at a much more sophisticated level and with a broader view of the world), the Wall Street Journal, or one of the major daily newspapers (many are available online at no charge).
Take a look at the Policy & "Sounding Board" and "Perspective" articles in the New England Journal of Medicine. You may be able to find this in your college library or online through a college subscription service. Check with your librarian. There is a good article in the 11/1/07 issue from the Congressional Budget office on the cost of health care.