What should I do, other than academics, to secure my future?

[JT91]

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I have been wanting to be a doctor for quite a while, and I am quite interested in neonatology and fetal development. My marks in school are fairly good, I am in my first semester of grade twelve, and my marks are 89-Bio 86-Math (still able to boost up, as my provincial is this week) 87- English 86- History. I have physics, chem, and calc next semester. Do you think these grades are enough for a prospective doctor?
Also, I have been trying to do a lot of extracurriculars to maintain a balance, rather than just study all the time, such as soccer, student council, serving at a homeless shelter what not.
This summer, I want to get a job, but rather than work at a fast food resturaunt, I would really like to work somewhere that would truly benifit my futures. I have been unofficially offered 2 jobs to work in a clinic, but unfortunately both are way to far away from where I live.
How would I go about finding a medical related, and is it actually an option? I know shadowing is a problem, what with the privacy issues.
Some advice would be greatly appreciated!
-Jessica

 

[gabeybaby]

1. keep in mind that anything you do in high school can't count towards med school
2. i think it will be hard for you to find a medical related jobs without prior experience and knowledge in the medical field
3. for your job, it doesn't hurt to work at a fast food restaurant. you can always try being a hostess at a local restaurant. just to scrape up some money for college
4. for shadowing, you can always contact a clinic/hospital, and express your love to be a doctor & wanting to get a little more experience.... and maybe say that you're interested in the neonatal field. i'm sure there are plenty of doctors that will let you shadow... you should shadow different types of doctors because you may find that you like some field more than others... or maybe simply hate neonatology 😉. shadowing is definitely important 🙂

 

[JT91]

1. keep in mind that anything you do in high school can't count towards med school
2. i think it will be hard for you to find a medical related jobs without prior experience and knowledge in the medical field
3. for your job, it doesn't hurt to work at a fast food restaurant. you can always try being a hostess at a local restaurant. just to scrape up some money for college
4. for shadowing, you can always contact a clinic/hospital, and express your love to be a doctor & wanting to get a little more experience.... and maybe say that you're interested in the neonatal field. i'm sure there are plenty of doctors that will let you shadow... you should shadow different types of doctors because you may find that you like some field more than others... or maybe simply hate neonatology 😉. shadowing is definitely important 🙂

Oh definitely, I didn't mean a job actually doing medical procedures, i meant one where i would be in some way associated with it, like the one job offered was measuring the babies, taking temps.

 

[236116]

Unless you have creds, you can't do much. Most vols change sheets, stock cabinets, offer water, talk to people. Stuff that's both important and boring.

You already know that HS doesn't matter at all. For your last high school summer, you really ought to just relax. You've got a while to get super neurotic. 😉 If you really want to do something, get a summer volunteer gig- anywhere- and don't worry about a medical job yet. You could maybe pick up some shadowing with your pediatrician, or through one of the local hospitals or clinics.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Oh definitely, I didn't mean a job actually doing medical procedures, i meant one where i would be in some way associated with it, like the one job offered was measuring the babies, taking temps.

Talk with the volunteer office at your hospital, they have been able to get a few volunteers actual jobs in the hospital I work at but they only pay a bit above min. wage (no big surprise) and aren't very difficult jobs. One kid works in the mail room for instance. Others work in the cafeteria. The two things you mentioned sound simple. I would just check with the hospital, honestly. The worst anyone can do to you is say no, so give it a shot.

 

[strv04]

Do something non-medically related as a summer job it will give you better memories when you old one day looking back on your life. Hard labor or annoying labor will make you appreciate what you will have later. Also pursue decent members of the opposite sex and drink some beer. (in moderation of course)

 

[JT91]

Do something non-medically related as a summer job it will give you better memories when you old one day looking back on your life. Hard labor or annoying labor will make you appreciate what you will have later. Also pursue decent members of the opposite sex and drink some beer. (in moderation of course)

So, what does persuing members of the opposite sex have anything to do with it? haha

 

[MilkmanAl]

He means you should have a good time. Most people I know consider sex a good time, so it would make sense that you'd want to at least get a little bit of that during college.

 

[JT91]

He means you should have a good time. Most people I know consider sex a good time, so it would make sense that you'd want to at least get a little bit of that during college.

Well.. having a good time is a given, i have a balanced lifestyle 😛 im not one of this girls thats all study study study no life 🙂 .

 

[CScull]

Just have fun and keep all your doors open... look for opportunities at school and ECs (and at church if you go) to join activities you think might be fun. Sports are always good, just keep busy and stay active I guess, enjoy the freedom you have now.

Drinking and sex aren't really my cup-a-tea (well not sex until marriage at least) but if it's yours just try not to get into any serious trouble... that can come back to haunt you.

 

[skubdubdu]

Sure your grades are good enough! The first 2 years of med school are 90% ambition--maybe 99%--I can't completely discount natural intelligence 😉 If you want it bad enough and are willing to work for it then you will have no problem. Continue to do everything you can to boost them, though, you want to keep as many doors as possible open. Your college grades matter. No one will care about your HS grades by the time you apply to med school.

As for the future, where you go to college matters less than whether you stand out. Continue to be involved. Join the premed club, do volunteer work that is meaningful to you, not just things you think will look good. In your interviews schools want to know what makes you special and unique. Let your CV reflect that.

Re: summer jobs--do what will make you happy. Doesn't need to be medically related. I was a kayak instructor the summer before I applied to med school. Research, clinics, and everything else will help reaffirm you really want to pursue medicine, but they are by no means requisite.

Finally, consider the options around your home. Many universities have incentives to lure and hook people into their programs. I know a college junior who will be attending my med school in 2 years. It's a special program to help keep up the local doctor population, and then it takes some of the stress out of the application process.

 

[strv04]

Join the premed club

don't do this

 

[KempDrumsalot]

don't do this

Eh, Pre-Med club isn't that bad. Many are useless, but there are a few that are actually a good time. Just don't spend a bunch of money on it.

 

[broken tibula]

Pre-Med club?

Lol. No such thing around here. But being about twenty miles away from a dental hygiene school, I can't tell you how many times I've been told, "Wow! You're really smart--you should become a dental hygienist!"

Not that there's anything wrong with dental hygiene, but it's irritating that people hold the belief that all smart people want to be dental hygienists.

And OP, get a job. Get two jobs. Don't be one of those people who thinks that fast food, amusement parks, stocking shelves, cashiering, waiting on people (blah, blah, blah) is below them. Money is money, and when it comes time to pay for college, you won't regret it.

 

[KempDrumsalot]

I personally won't work fast food, but I will take any other job out there. Luckily, my uni has ties for the UoI medical school and the hospitals in the area, so I most likely will get a good job off the bat. I have done lots of manual labor though, so its not like its my first time in the work force. Definatly just take what you can get though.

 

[MilkmanAl]

I wouldn't get a job for college money. It's extremely likely that you won't get paid enough to make your efforts worthwhile. If you want a job for some experience and spending money, great. Don't plan on $9/hr launching your 401k, though.

 

[JT91]

Just have fun and keep all your doors open... look for opportunities at school and ECs (and at church if you go) to join activities you think might be fun. Sports are always good, just keep busy and stay active I guess, enjoy the freedom you have now.

Drinking and sex aren't really my cup-a-tea (well not sex until marriage at least) but if it's yours just try not to get into any serious trouble... that can come back to haunt you.

Haha, I am currently a paid sunday school teacher.

 

[JT91]

Pre-Med club?

Lol. No such thing around here. But being about twenty miles away from a dental hygiene school, I can't tell you how many times I've been told, "Wow! You're really smart--you should become a dental hygienist!"

Not that there's anything wrong with dental hygiene, but it's irritating that people hold the belief that all smart people want to be dental hygienists.

And OP, get a job. Get two jobs. Don't be one of those people who thinks that fast food, amusement parks, stocking shelves, cashiering, waiting on people (blah, blah, blah) is below them. Money is money, and when it comes time to pay for college, you won't regret it.

Oh, i definitely do not think that those things are below me, alot of the times I do those things (serving) for free at my church.

 

[CScull]

Haha, I am currently a paid sunday school teacher.

That's awesome... I would love to do something like that if I had time; right now I'm just sticking to the Praise Team and Youth Group.