college essay on becoming a doctor

10 Successful Medical School Essays

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-- Accepted to: Harvard Medical School GPA: 4.0 MCAT: 522

Sponsored by A ccepted.com : Great stats don’t assure acceptance to elite medical schools. The personal statement, most meaningful activities, activity descriptions, secondaries and interviews can determine acceptance or rejection. Since 1994, Accepted.com has guided medical applicants just like you to present compelling medical school applications. Get Accepted !

I started writing in 8th grade when a friend showed me her poetry about self-discovery and finding a voice. I was captivated by the way she used language to bring her experiences to life. We began writing together in our free time, trying to better understand ourselves by putting a pen to paper and attempting to paint a picture with words. I felt my style shift over time as I grappled with challenges that seemed to defy language. My poems became unstructured narratives, where I would use stories of events happening around me to convey my thoughts and emotions. In one of my earliest pieces, I wrote about a local boy’s suicide to try to better understand my visceral response. I discussed my frustration with the teenage social hierarchy, reflecting upon my social interactions while exploring the harms of peer pressure.

In college, as I continued to experiment with this narrative form, I discovered medical narratives. I have read everything from Manheimer’s Bellevue to Gawande’s Checklist and from Nuland’s observations about the way we die, to Kalanithi’s struggle with his own decline. I even experimented with this approach recently, writing a piece about my grandfather’s emphysema. Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love. I have augmented these narrative excursions with a clinical bioethics internship. In working with an interdisciplinary team of ethics consultants, I have learned by doing by participating in care team meetings, synthesizing discussions and paths forward in patient charts, and contributing to an ongoing legislative debate addressing the challenges of end of life care. I have also seen the ways ineffective intra-team communication and inter-personal conflicts of beliefs can compromise patient care.

Writing allowed me to move beyond the content of our relationship and attempt to investigate the ways time and youth distort our memories of the ones we love.

By assessing these difficult situations from all relevant perspectives and working to integrate the knowledge I’ve gained from exploring narratives, I have begun to reflect upon the impact the humanities can have on medical care. In a world that has become increasingly data driven, where patients can so easily devolve into lists of numbers and be forced into algorithmic boxes in search of an exact diagnosis, my synergistic narrative and bioethical backgrounds have taught me the importance of considering the many dimensions of the human condition. I am driven to become a physician who deeply considers a patient’s goal of care and goals of life. I want to learn to build and lead patient care teams that are oriented toward fulfilling these goals, creating an environment where family and clinician conflict can be addressed efficiently and respectfully. Above all, I look forward to using these approaches to keep the person beneath my patients in focus at each stage of my medical training, as I begin the task of translating complex basic science into excellent clinical care.

In her essay for medical school, Morgan pitches herself as a future physician with an interdisciplinary approach, given her appreciation of how the humanities can enable her to better understand her patients. Her narrative takes the form of an origin story, showing how a childhood interest in poetry grew into a larger mindset to keep a patient’s humanity at the center of her approach to clinical care.

This narrative distinguishes Morgan as a candidate for medical school effectively, as she provides specific examples of how her passions intersect with medicine. She first discusses how she used poetry to process her emotional response to a local boy’s suicide and ties in concern about teenage mental health. Then, she discusses more philosophical questions she encountered through reading medical narratives, which demonstrates her direct interest in applying writing and the humanities to medicine. By making the connection from this larger theme to her own reflections on her grandfather, Morgan provides a personal insight that will give an admissions officer a window into her character. This demonstrates her empathy for her future patients and commitment to their care.

Her narrative takes the form of an origin story, showing how a childhood interest in poetry grew into a larger mindset to keep a patient's humanity at the center of her approach to clinical care.

Furthermore, it is important to note that Morgan’s essay does not repeat anything in-depth that would otherwise be on her resume. She makes a reference to her work in care team meetings through a clinical bioethics internship, but does not focus on this because there are other places on her application where this internship can be discussed. Instead, she offers a more reflection-based perspective on the internship that goes more in-depth than a resume or CV could. This enables her to explain the reasons for interdisciplinary approach to medicine with tangible examples that range from personal to professional experiences — an approach that presents her as a well-rounded candidate for medical school.

Disclaimer: With exception of the removal of identifying details, essays are reproduced as originally submitted in applications; any errors in submissions are maintained to preserve the integrity of the piece. The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this article.

-- Accepted To: A medical school in New Jersey with a 3% acceptance rate. GPA: 3.80 MCAT: 502 and 504

Sponsored by E fiie Consulting Group : “ EFIIE ” boasts 100% match rate for all premedical and predental registered students. Not all students are accepted unto their pre-health student roster. Considered the most elite in the industry and assists from start to end – premed to residency. EFIIE is a one-stop-full-service education firm.

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded." – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

The tribulations I've overcome in my life have manifested in the compassion, curiosity, and courage that is embedded in my personality. Even a horrific mishap in my life has not changed my core beliefs and has only added fuel to my intense desire to become a doctor. My extensive service at an animal hospital, a harrowing personal experience, and volunteering as an EMT have increased my appreciation and admiration for the medical field.

At thirteen, I accompanied my father to the Park Home Animal Hospital with our eleven-year-old dog, Brendan. He was experiencing severe pain due to an osteosarcoma, which ultimately led to the difficult decision to put him to sleep. That experience brought to light many questions regarding the idea of what constitutes a "quality of life" for an animal and what importance "dignity" plays to an animal and how that differs from owner to owner and pet to pet. Noting my curiosity and my relative maturity in the matter, the owner of the animal hospital invited me to shadow the professional staff. Ten years later, I am still part of the team, having made the transition from volunteer to veterinarian technician. Saving a life, relieving pain, sharing in the euphoria of animal and owner reuniting after a procedure, to understanding the emotions of losing a loved one – my life was forever altered from the moment I stepped into that animal hospital.

As my appreciation for medical professionals continued to grow, a horrible accident created an indelible moment in my life. It was a warm summer day as I jumped onto a small boat captained by my grandfather. He was on his way to refill the boat's gas tank at the local marina, and as he pulled into the dock, I proceeded to make a dire mistake. As the line was thrown from the dock, I attempted to cleat the bowline prematurely, and some of the most intense pain I've ever felt in my life ensued.

Saving a life, relieving pain, sharing in the euphoria of animal and owner reuniting after a procedure, to understanding the emotions of losing a loved one – my life was forever altered from the moment I stepped into that animal hospital.

"Call 911!" I screamed, half-dazed as I witnessed blood gushing out of my open wounds, splashing onto the white fiberglass deck of the boat, forming a small puddle beneath my feet. I was instructed to raise my hand to reduce the bleeding, while someone wrapped an icy towel around the wound. The EMTs arrived shortly after and quickly drove me to an open field a short distance away, where a helicopter seemed to instantaneously appear.

The medevac landed on the roof of Stony Brook Hospital before I was expeditiously wheeled into the operating room for a seven-hour surgery to reattach my severed fingers. The distal phalanges of my 3rd and 4th fingers on my left hand had been torn off by the rope tightening on the cleat. I distinctly remember the chill from the cold metal table, the bright lights of the OR, and multiple doctors and nurses scurrying around. The skill and knowledge required to execute multiple skin graft surgeries were impressive and eye-opening. My shortened fingers often raise questions by others; however, they do not impair my self-confidence or physical abilities. The positive outcome of this trial was the realization of my intense desire to become a medical professional.

Despite being the patient, I was extremely impressed with the dedication, competence, and cohesiveness of the medical team. I felt proud to be a critical member of such a skilled group. To this day, I still cannot explain the dichotomy of experiencing being the patient, and concurrently one on the professional team, committed to saving the patient. Certainly, this experience was a defining part of my life and one of the key contributors to why I became an EMT and a volunteer member of the Sample Volunteer Ambulance Corps. The startling ring of the pager, whether it is to respond to an inebriated alcoholic who is emotionally distraught or to help bring breath to a pulseless person who has been pulled from the family swimming pool, I am committed to EMS. All of these events engender the same call to action and must be reacted to with the same seriousness, intensity, and magnanimity. It may be some routine matter or a dire emergency; this is a role filled with uncertainty and ambiguity, but that is how I choose to spend my days. My motives to become a physician are deeply seeded. They permeate my personality and emanate from my desire to respond to the needs of others. Through a traumatic personal event and my experiences as both a professional and volunteer, I have witnessed firsthand the power to heal the wounded and offer hope. Each person defines success in different ways. To know even one life has been improved by my actions affords me immense gratification and meaning. That is success to me and why I want to be a doctor.

This review is provided by EFIIE Consulting Group’s Pre-Health Senior Consultant Jude Chan

This student was a joy to work with — she was also the lowest MCAT profile I ever accepted onto my roster. At 504 on the second attempt (502 on her first) it would seem impossible and unlikely to most that she would be accepted into an allopathic medical school. Even for an osteopathic medical school this score could be too low. Additionally, the student’s GPA was considered competitive at 3.80, but it was from a lower ranked, less known college, so naturally most advisors would tell this student to go on and complete a master’s or postbaccalaureate program to show that she could manage upper level science classes. Further, she needed to retake the MCAT a third time.

However, I saw many other facets to this student’s history and life that spoke volumes about the type of student she was, and this was the positioning strategy I used for her file. Students who read her personal statement should know that acceptance is contingent on so much more than just an essay and MCAT score or GPA. Although many students have greater MCAT scores than 504 and higher GPAs than 3.80, I have helped students with lower scores and still maintained our 100% match rate. You are competing with thousands of candidates. Not every student out there requires our services and we are actually grateful that we can focus on a limited amount out of the tens of thousands that do. We are also here for the students who wish to focus on learning well the organic chemistry courses and physics courses and who want to focus on their research and shadowing opportunities rather than waste time deciphering the next step in this complex process. We tailor a pathway for each student dependent on their health care career goals, and our partnerships with non-profit organizations, hospitals, physicians and research labs allow our students to focus on what matters most — the building up of their basic science knowledge and their exposure to patients and patient care.

Students who read her personal statement should know that acceptance is contingent on so much more than just an essay and MCAT score or GPA.

Even students who believe that their struggle somehow disqualifies them from their dream career in health care can be redeemed if they are willing to work for it, just like this student with 502 and 504 MCAT scores. After our first consult, I saw a way to position her to still be accepted into an MD school in the US — I would not have recommended she register to our roster if I did not believe we could make a difference. Our rosters have a waitlist each semester, and it is in our best interest to be transparent with our students and protect our 100% record — something I consider a win-win. It is unethical to ever guarantee acceptance in admissions as we simply do not control these decisions. However, we respect it, play by the rules, and help our students stay one step ahead by creating an applicant profile that would be hard for the schools to ignore.

This may be the doctor I go to one day. Or the nurse or dentist my children or my grandchildren goes to one day. That is why it is much more than gaining acceptance — it is about properly matching the student to the best options for their education. Gaining an acceptance and being incapable of getting through the next 4 or 8 years (for my MD/PhD-MSTP students) is nonsensical.

-- Accepted To: Imperial College London UCAT Score: 2740 BMAT Score: 3.9, 5.4, 3.5A

My motivation to study Medicine stems from wishing to be a cog in the remarkable machine that is universal healthcare: a system which I saw first-hand when observing surgery in both the UK and Sri Lanka. Despite the differences in sanitation and technology, the universality of compassion became evident. When volunteering at OSCE training days, I spoke to many medical students, who emphasised the importance of a genuine interest in the sciences when studying Medicine. As such, I have kept myself informed of promising developments, such as the use of monoclonal antibodies in cancer therapy. After learning about the role of HeLa cells in the development of the polio vaccine in Biology, I read 'The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks' to find out more. Furthermore, I read that surface protein CD4 can be added to HeLa cells, allowing them to be infected with HIV, opening the possibility of these cells being used in HIV research to produce more life-changing drugs, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PreP). Following my BioGrad laboratory experience in HIV testing, and time collating data for research into inflammatory markers in lung cancer, I am also interested in pursuing a career in medical research. However, during a consultation between an ENT surgeon and a thyroid cancer patient, I learnt that practising medicine needs more than a scientific aptitude. As the surgeon explained that the cancer had metastasised to her liver, I watched him empathetically tailor his language for the patient - he avoided medical jargon and instead gave her time to come to terms with this. I have been developing my communication skills by volunteering weekly at care homes for 3 years, which has improved my ability to read body language and structure conversations to engage with the residents, most of whom have dementia.

However, during a consultation between an ENT surgeon and a thyroid cancer patient, I learnt that practising medicine needs more than a scientific aptitude.

Jude’s essay provides a very matter-of-fact account of their experience as a pre-medical student. However, they deepen this narrative by merging two distinct cultures through some common ground: a universality of compassion. Using clear, concise language and a logical succession of events — much like a doctor must follow when speaking to patients — Jude shows their motivation to go into the medical field.

From their OSCE training days to their school’s Science society, Jude connects their analytical perspective — learning about HeLa cells — to something that is relatable and human, such as a poor farmer’s notable contribution to science. This approach provides a gateway into their moral compass without having to explicitly state it, highlighting their fervent desire to learn how to interact and communicate with others when in a position of authority.

Using clear, concise language and a logical succession of events — much like a doctor must follow when speaking to patients — Jude shows their motivation to go into the medical field.

Jude’s closing paragraph reminds the reader of the similarities between two countries like the UK and Sri Lanka, and the importance of having a universal healthcare system that centers around the just and “world-class” treatment of patients. Overall, this essay showcases Jude’s personal initiative to continue to learn more and do better for the people they serve.

While the essay could have benefited from better transitions to weave Jude’s experiences into a personal story, its strong grounding in Jude’s motivation makes for a compelling application essay.

-- Accepted to: Weill Cornell Medical College GPA: 3.98 MCAT: 521

Sponsored by E fie Consulting Group : “ EFIIE ” boasts 100% match rate for all premedical and predental registered students. Not all students are accepted unto their pre-health student roster. Considered the most elite in the industry and assists from start to end – premed to residency. EFIIE is a one-stop-full-service education firm.

Following the physician’s unexpected request, we waited outside, anxiously waiting to hear the latest update on my father’s condition. It was early on in my father’s cancer progression – a change that had shaken our entire way of life overnight. During those 18 months, while my mother spent countless nights at the hospital, I took on the responsibility of caring for my brother. My social life became of minimal concern, and the majority of my studying for upcoming 12th- grade exams was done at the hospital. We were allowed back into the room as the physician walked out, and my parents updated us on the situation. Though we were a tight-knit family and my father wanted us to be present throughout his treatment, what this physician did was give my father a choice. Without making assumptions about who my father wanted in the room, he empowered him to make that choice independently in private. It was this respect directed towards my father, the subsequent efforts at caring for him, and the personal relationship of understanding they formed, that made the largest impact on him. Though my decision to pursue medicine came more than a year later, I deeply valued what these physicians were doing for my father, and I aspired to make a similar impact on people in the future.

It was during this period that I became curious about the human body, as we began to learn physiology in more depth at school. In previous years, the problem-based approach I could take while learning math and chemistry were primarily what sparked my interest. However, I became intrigued by how molecular interactions translated into large-scale organ function, and how these organ systems integrated together to generate the extraordinary physiological functions we tend to under-appreciate. I began my undergraduate studies with the goal of pursuing these interests, whilst leaning towards a career in medicine. While I was surprised to find that there were upwards of 40 programs within the life sciences that I could pursue, it broadened my perspective and challenged me to explore my options within science and healthcare. I chose to study pathobiology and explore my interests through hospital volunteering and research at the end of my first year.

Though my decision to pursue medicine came more than a year later, I deeply valued what these physicians were doing for my father, and I aspired to make a similar impact on people in the future.

While conducting research at St. Michael’s Hospital, I began to understand methods of data collection and analysis, and the thought process of scientific inquiry. I became acquainted with the scientific literature, and the experience transformed how I thought about the concepts I was learning in lecture. However, what stood out to me that summer was the time spent shadowing my supervisor in the neurosurgery clinic. It was where I began to fully understand what life would be like as a physician, and where the career began to truly appeal to me. What appealed to me most was the patient-oriented collaboration and discussions between my supervisor and his fellow; the physician-patient relationship that went far beyond diagnoses and treatments; and the problem solving that I experienced first-hand while being questioned on disease cases.

The day spent shadowing in the clinic was also the first time I developed a relationship with a patient. We were instructed to administer the Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) test to patients as they awaited the neurosurgeon. My task was to convey the instructions as clearly as possible and score each section. I did this as best I could, adapting my explanation to each patient, and paying close attention to their responses to ensure I was understood. The last patient was a challenging case, given a language barrier combined with his severe hydrocephalus. It was an emotional time for his family, seeing their father/husband struggle to complete simple tasks and subsequently give up. I encouraged him to continue trying. But I also knew my words would not remedy the condition underlying his struggles. All I could do was make attempts at lightening the atmosphere as I got to know him and his family better. Hours later, as I saw his remarkable improvement following a lumbar puncture, and the joy on his and his family’s faces at his renewed ability to walk independently, I got a glimpse of how rewarding it would be to have the ability and privilege to care for such patients. By this point, I knew I wanted to commit to a life in medicine. Two years of weekly hospital volunteering have allowed me to make a small difference in patients’ lives by keeping them company through difficult times, and listening to their concerns while striving to help in the limited way that I could. I want to have the ability to provide care and treatment on a daily basis as a physician. Moreover, my hope is that the breadth of medicine will provide me with the opportunity to make an impact on a larger scale. Whilst attending conferences on neuroscience and surgical technology, I became aware of the potential to make a difference through healthcare, and I look forward to developing the skills necessary to do so through a Master’s in Global Health. Whether through research, health innovation, or public health, I hope not only to care for patients with the same compassion with which physicians cared for my father, but to add to the daily impact I can have by tackling large-scale issues in health.

Taylor’s essay offers both a straightforward, in-depth narrative and a deep analysis of his experiences, which effectively reveals his passion and willingness to learn in the medical field. The anecdote of Taylor’s father gives the reader insight into an original instance of learning through experience and clearly articulates Taylor’s motivations for becoming a compassionate and respectful physician.

Taylor strikes an impeccable balance between discussing his accomplishments and his character. All of his life experiences — and the difficult challenges he overcame — introduce the reader to an important aspect of Taylor’s personality: his compassion, care for his family, and power of observation in reflecting on the decisions his father’s doctor makes. His description of his time volunteering at St. Michael’s Hospital is indicative of Taylor’s curiosity about medical research, but also of his recognition of the importance of the patient-physician relationship. Moreover, he shows how his volunteer work enabled him to see how medicine goes “beyond diagnoses and treatments” — an observation that also speaks to his compassion.

His description of his time volunteering at St. Michael's Hospital is indicative of Taylor's curiosity about medical research, but also of his recognition of the importance of the patient-physician relationship.

Finally, Taylor also tells the reader about his ambition and purpose, which is important when thinking about applying to medical school. He discusses his hope of tackling larger scale problems through any means possible in medicine. This notion of using self interest to better the world is imperative to a successful college essay, and it is nicely done here.

-- Accepted to: Washington University

Sponsored by A dmitRx : We are a group of Chicago-based medical students who realize how challenging medical school admissions can be, so we want to provide our future classmates with resources we wish we had. Our mission at AdmitRx is to provide pre-medical students with affordable, personalized, high-quality guidance towards becoming an admitted medical student.

Running has always been one of my greatest passions whether it be with friends or alone with my thoughts. My dad has always been my biggest role model and was the first to introduce me to the world of running. We entered races around the country, and one day he invited me on a run that changed my life forever. The St. Jude Run is an annual event that raises millions of dollars for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. My dad has led or our local team for as long as I can remember, and I had the privilege to join when I was 16. From the first step I knew this was the environment for me – people from all walks of life united with one goal of ending childhood cancer. I had an interest in medicine before the run, and with these experiences I began to consider oncology as a career. When this came up in conversations, I would invariably be faced with the question “Do you really think you could get used to working with dying kids?” My 16-year-old self responded with something noble but naïve like “It’s important work, so I’ll have to handle it”. I was 16 years young with my plan to become an oncologist at St. Jude.

As I transitioned into college my plans for oncology were alive and well. I began working in a biochemistry lab researching new anti-cancer drugs. It was a small start, but I was overjoyed to be a part of the process. I applied to work at a number of places for the summer, but the Pediatric Oncology Education program (POE) at St. Jude was my goal. One afternoon, I had just returned from class and there it was: an email listed as ‘POE Offer’. I was ecstatic and accepted the offer immediately. Finally, I could get a glimpse at what my future holds. My future PI, Dr. Q, specialized in solid tumor translational research and I couldn’t wait to get started.

I was 16 years young with my plan to become an oncologist at St. Jude.

Summer finally came, I moved to Memphis, and I was welcomed by the X lab. I loved translational research because the results are just around the corner from helping patients. We began a pre-clinical trial of a new chemotherapy regimen and the results were looking terrific. I was also able to accompany Dr. Q whenever she saw patients in the solid tumor division. Things started simple with rounds each morning before focusing on the higher risk cases. I was fortunate enough to get to know some of the patients quite well, and I could sometimes help them pass the time with a game or two on a slow afternoon between treatments. These experiences shined a very human light on a field I had previously seen only through a microscope in a lab.

I arrived one morning as usual, but Dr. Q pulled me aside before rounds. She said one of the patients we had been seeing passed away in the night. I held my composure in the moment, but I felt as though an anvil was crushing down on me. It was tragic but I knew loss was part of the job, so I told myself to push forward. A few days later, I had mostly come to terms with what happened, but then the anvil came crashing back down with the passing of another patient. I could scarcely hold back the tears this time. That moment, it didn’t matter how many miraculous successes were happening a few doors down. Nothing overshadowed the loss, and there was no way I could ‘get used to it’ as my younger self had hoped.

I was still carrying the weight of what had happened and it was showing, so I asked Dr. Q for help. How do you keep smiling each day? How do you get used to it? The questions in my head went on. What I heard next changed my perspective forever. She said you keep smiling because no matter what happened, you’re still hope for the next patient. It’s not about getting used to it. You never get used to it and you shouldn’t. Beating cancer takes lifetimes, and you can’t look passed a life’s worth of hardships. I realized that moving passed the loss of patients would never suffice, but I need to move forward with them. Through the successes and shortcomings, we constantly make progress. I like to imagine that in all our future endeavors, it is the hands of those who have gone before us that guide the way. That is why I want to attend medical school and become a physician. We may never end the sting of loss, but physicians are the bridge between the past and the future. No where else is there the chance to learn from tragedy and use that to shape a better future. If I can learn something from one loss, keep moving forward, and use that knowledge to help even a single person – save one life, bring a moment of joy, avoid a moment of pain—then that is how I want to spend my life.

The change wasn’t overnight. The next loss still brought pain, but I took solace in moving forward so that we might learn something to give hope to a future patient. I returned to campus in a new lab doing cancer research, and my passion for medicine continues to flourish. I still think about all the people I encountered at St. Jude, especially those we lost. It might be a stretch, but during the long hours at the lab bench I still picture their hands moving through mine each step of the way. I could never have foreseen where the first steps of the St. Jude Run would bring me. I’m not sure where the road to becoming a physician may lead, but with helping hands guiding the way, I won’t be running it alone.

This essay, a description of the applicant’s intellectual challenges, displays the hardships of tending to cancer patients as a milestone of experience and realization of what it takes to be a physician. The writer explores deeper ideas beyond medicine, such as dealing with patient deaths in a way to progress and improve as a professional. In this way, the applicant gives the reader some insight into the applicant’s mindset, and their ability to think beyond the surface for ways to become better at what they do.

However, the essay fails to zero in on the applicant’s character, instead elaborating on life events that weakly illustrate the applicant’s growth as a physician. The writer’s mantra (“keep moving forward”) is feebly projected, and seems unoriginal due to the lack of a personalized connection between the experience at St. Jude and how that led to the applicant’s growth and mindset changes.

The writer explores deeper ideas beyond medicine, such as dealing with patient deaths in a way to progress and improve as a professional.

The writer, by only focusing on grief brought from patient deaths at St. Jude, misses out on the opportunity to further describe his or her experience at the hospital and portray an original, well-rounded image of his or her strengths, weaknesses, and work ethic.

The applicant ends the essay by attempting to highlight the things they learned at St. Jude, but fails to organize the ideas into a cohesive, comprehensible section. These ideas are also too abstract, and are vague indicators of the applicant’s character that are difficult to grasp.

-- Accepted to: New York University School of Medicine

Sponsored by MedEdits : MedEdits Medical Admissions has been helping applicants get into medical schools like Harvard for more than ten years. Structured like an academic medical department, MedEdits has experts in admissions, writing, editing, medicine, and interview prep working with you collaboratively so you can earn the best admissions results possible.

“Is this the movie you were talking about Alice?” I said as I showed her the movie poster on my iPhone. “Oh my God, I haven’t seen that poster in over 70 years,” she said with her arms trembling in front of her. Immediately, I sat up straight and started to question further. We were talking for about 40 minutes, and the most exciting thing she brought up in that time was the new flavor of pudding she had for lunch. All of sudden, she’s back in 1940 talking about what it was like to see this movie after school for only 5¢ a ticket! After an engaging discussion about life in the 40’s, I knew I had to indulge her. Armed with a plethora of movie streaming sights, I went to work scouring the web. No luck. The movie, “My Son My Son,” was apparently not in high demand amongst torrenting teens. I had to entreat my older brother for his Amazon Prime account to get a working stream. However, breaking up the monotony and isolation felt at the nursing home with a simple movie was worth the pandering.

While I was glad to help a resident have some fun, I was partly motivated by how much Alice reminded me of my own grandfather. In accordance with custom, my grandfather was to stay in our house once my grandmother passed away. More specifically, he stayed in my room and my bed. Just like grandma’s passing, my sudden roommate was a rough transition. In 8th grade at the time, I considered myself to be a generally good guy. Maybe even good enough to be a doctor one day. I volunteered at the hospital, shadowed regularly, and had a genuine interest for science. However, my interest in medicine was mostly restricted to academia. To be honest, I never had a sustained exposure to the palliative side of medicine until the arrival of my new roommate.

The two years I slept on that creaky wooden bed with him was the first time my metal was tested. Sharing that room, I was the one to take care of him. I was the one to rub ointment on his back, to feed him when I came back from school, and to empty out his spittoon when it got full. It was far from glamorous, and frustrating most of the time. With 75 years separating us, and senile dementia setting in, he would often forget who I was or where he was. Having to remind him that I was his grandson threatened to erode at my resolve. Assured by my Syrian Orthodox faith, I even prayed about it; asking God for comfort and firmness on my end. Over time, I grew slow to speak and eager to listen as he started to ramble more and more about bits and pieces of the past. If I was lucky, I would be able to stich together a narrative that may or may have not been true. In any case, my patience started to bud beyond my age group.

Having to remind him that I was his grandson threatened to erode at my resolve.

Although I grew more patient with his disease, my curiosity never really quelled. Conversely, it developed further alongside my rapidly growing interest in the clinical side of medicine. Naturally, I became drawn to a neurology lab in college where I got to study pathologies ranging from atrophy associated with schizophrenia, and necrotic lesions post stroke. However, unlike my intro biology courses, my work at the neurology lab was rooted beyond the academics. Instead, I found myself driven by real people who could potentially benefit from our research. In particular, my shadowing experience with Dr. Dominger in the Veteran’s home made the patient more relevant in our research as I got to encounter geriatric patients with age related diseases, such as Alzhimer’s and Parkinson’s. Furthermore, I had the privilege of of talking to the families of a few of these patients to get an idea of the impact that these diseases had on the family structure. For me, the scut work in the lab meant a lot more with these families in mind than the tritium tracer we were using in the lab.

Despite my achievements in the lab and the classroom, my time with my grandfather still holds a special place in my life story. The more I think about him, the more confident I am in my decision to pursue a career where caring for people is just as important, if not more important, than excelling at academics. Although it was a lot of work, the years spent with him was critical in expanding my horizons both in my personal life and in the context of medicine. While I grew to be more patient around others, I also grew to appreciate medicine beyond the science. This more holistic understanding of medicine had a synergistic effect in my work as I gained a purpose behind the extra hours in the lab, sleepless nights in the library, and longer hours volunteering. I had a reason for what I was doing that may one day help me have long conversations with my own grandchildren about the price of popcorn in the 2000’s.

The most important thing to highlight in Avery’s essay is how he is able to create a duality between his interest in not only the clinical, more academic-based side of medicine, but also the field’s personal side.

He draws personal connections between working with Alice — a patient in a hospital or nursing home — and caring intensely for his grandfather. These two experiences build up the “synergistic” relationship between caring for people and studying the science behind medicine. In this way, he is able to clearly state his passions for medicine and explain his exact motives for entering the field. Furthermore, in his discussion of her grandfather, he effectively employs imagery (“rub ointment on his back,” “feed him when I came back from school,” etc.) to describe the actual work that he does, calling it initially as “far from glamorous, and frustrating most of the time.” By first mentioning his initial impression, then transitioning into how he grew to appreciate the experience, Avery is able to demonstrate a strength of character, sense of enormous responsibility and capability, and open-minded attitude.

He draws personal connections between working with Alice — a patient in a hospital or nursing home — and caring intensely for his grandfather.

Later in the essay, Avery is also able to relate his time caring for his grandfather to his work with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients, showcasing the social impact of his work, as the reader is likely already familiar with the biological impact of the work. This takes Avery’s essay full circle, bringing it back to how a discussion with an elderly patient about the movies reminds him of why he chose to pursue medicine.

That said, the essay does feel rushed near the end, as the writer was likely trying to remain within the word count. There could be a more developed transition before Avery introduces the last sentence about “conversations with my own grandchildren,” especially as a strong essay ending is always recommended.

-- Accepted To: Saint Louis University Medical School Direct Admission Medical Program

Sponsored by Atlas Admissions : Atlas Admissions provides expert medical school admissions consulting and test preparation services. Their experienced, physician-driven team consistently delivers top results by designing comprehensive, personalized strategies to optimize applications. Atlas Admissions is based in Boston, MA and is trusted by clients worldwide.

The tension in the office was tangible. The entire team sat silently sifting through papers as Dr. L introduced Adam, a 60-year-old morbidly obese man recently admitted for a large open wound along his chest. As Dr. L reviewed the details of the case, his prognosis became even bleaker: hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiomyopathy, hyperlipidemia; the list went on and on. As the humdrum of the side-conversations came to a halt, and the shuffle of papers softened, the reality of Adam’s situation became apparent. Adam had a few months to live at best, a few days at worst. To make matters worse, Adam’s insurance would not cover his treatment costs. With no job, family, or friends, he was dying poor and alone.

I followed Dr. L out of the conference room, unsure what would happen next. “Well,” she muttered hesitantly, “We need to make sure that Adam is on the same page as us.” It’s one thing to hear bad news, and another to hear it utterly alone. Dr. L frantically reviewed all of Adam’s paperwork desperately looking for someone to console him, someone to be at his side. As she began to make calls, I saw that being a physician calls for more than good grades and an aptitude for science: it requires maturity, sacrifice, and most of all, empathy. That empathy is exactly what I saw in Dr. L as she went out of her way to comfort a patient she met hardly 20 minutes prior.

Since high school, I’ve been fascinated by technology’s potential to improve healthcare. As a volunteer in [the] Student Ambassador program, I was fortunate enough to watch an open-heart surgery. Intrigued by the confluence of technology and medicine, I chose to study biomedical engineering. At [school], I wanted to help expand this interface, so I became involved with research through Dr. P’s lab by studying the applications of electrospun scaffolds for dermal wound healing. While still in the preliminary stages of research, I learned about the Disability Service Club (DSC) and decided to try something new by volunteering at a bowling outing.

As she began to make calls, I saw that being a physician calls for more than good grades and an aptitude for science: it requires maturity, sacrifice, and most of all, empathy.

The DSC promotes awareness of cognitive disabilities in the community and seeks to alleviate difficulties for the disabled. During one outing, I collaborated with Arc, a local organization with a similar mission. Walking in, I was told that my role was to support the participants by providing encouragement. I decided to help a relatively quiet group of individuals assisted by only one volunteer, Mary. Mary informed me that many individuals with whom I was working were diagnosed with ASD. Suddenly, she started cheering, as one of the members of the group bowled a strike. The group went wild. Everyone was dancing, singing, and rejoicing. Then I noticed one gentleman sitting at our table, solemn-faced. I tried to start a conversation with him, but he remained unresponsive. I sat with him for the rest of the game, trying my hardest to think of questions that would elicit more than a monosyllabic response, but to no avail. As the game ended, I stood up to say bye when he mumbled, “Thanks for talking.” Then he quickly turned his head away. I walked away beaming. Although I was unable to draw out a smile or even sustain a conversation, at the end of the day, the fact that this gentleman appreciated my mere effort completely overshadowed the awkwardness of our time together. Later that day, I realized that as much as I enjoyed the thrill of research and its applications, helping other people was what I was most passionate about.

When it finally came time to tell Adam about his deteriorating condition, I was not sure how he would react. Dr. L gently greeted him and slowly let reality take its toll. He stoically turned towards Dr. L and groaned, “I don’t really care. Just leave me alone.” Dr. L gave him a concerned nod and gradually left the room. We walked to the next room where we met with a pastor from Adam’s church.

“Adam’s always been like that,” remarked the pastor, “he’s never been one to express emotion.” We sat with his pastor for over an hour discussing how we could console Adam. It turned out that Adam was part of a motorcycle club, but recently quit because of his health. So, Dr. L arranged for motorcycle pictures and other small bike trinkets to be brought to his room as a reminder of better times.

Dr. L’s simple gesture reminded me of why I want to pursue medicine. There is something sacred, empowering, about providing support when people need it the most; whether it be simple as starting a conversation, or providing support during the most trying of times. My time spent conducting research kindled my interest in the science of medicine, and my service as a volunteer allowed me to realize how much I valued human interaction. Science and technology form the foundation of medicine, but to me, empathy is the essence. It is my combined interest in science and service that inspires me to pursue medicine. It is that combined interest that makes me aspire to be a physician.

Parker’s essay focuses on one central narrative with a governing theme of compassionate and attentive care for patients, which is the key motivator for her application to medical school. Parker’s story focuses on her volunteer experience shadowing of Dr. L who went the extra mile for Adam, which sets Dr. L up as a role model for Parker as she enters the medical field. This effectively demonstrates to the reader what kind of doctor Parker wants to be in the future.

Parker’s narrative has a clear beginning, middle, and end, making it easy for the reader to follow. She intersperses the main narrative about Adam with experiences she has with other patients and reflects upon her values as she contemplates pursuing medicine as a career. Her anecdote about bowling with the patients diagnosed with ASD is another instance where she uses a story to tell the reader why she values helping people through medicine and attentive patient care, especially as she focuses on the impact her work made on one man at the event.

Parker's story focuses on her volunteer experience shadowing of Dr. L who went the extra mile for Adam, which sets Dr. L up as a role model for Parker as she enters the medical field.

All throughout the essay, the writing is engaging and Parker incorporates excellent imagery, which goes well with her varied sentence structure. The essay is also strong because it comes back full circle at its conclusion, tying the overall narrative back to the story of Dr. L and Adam, which speaks to Parker’s motives for going to medical school.

-- Accepted To: Emory School of Medicine

Growing up, I enjoyed visiting my grandparents. My grandfather was an established doctor, helping the sick and elderly in rural Taiwan until two weeks before he died at 91 years old. His clinic was located on the first floor of the residency with an exam room, treatment room, X-ray room, and small pharmacy. Curious about his work, I would follow him to see his patients. Grandpa often asked me if I want to be a doctor just like him. I always smiled, but was more interested in how to beat the latest Pokémon game. I was in 8th grade when my grandfather passed away. I flew back to Taiwan to attend his funeral. It was a gloomy day and the only street in the small village became a mourning place for the villagers. Flowers filled the streets and people came to pay their respects. An old man told me a story: 60 years ago, a village woman was in a difficult labor. My grandfather rushed into the house and delivered a baby boy. That boy was the old man and he was forever grateful. Stories of grandpa saving lives and bringing happiness to families were told during the ceremony. At that moment, I realized why my grandfather worked so tirelessly up until his death as a physician. He did it for the reward of knowing that he kept a family together and saved a life. The ability for a doctor to heal and bring happiness is the reason why I want to study medicine. Medical school is the first step on a lifelong journey of learning, but I feel that my journey leading up to now has taught me some things of what it means to be an effective physician.

With a newfound purpose, I began volunteering and shadowing at my local hospital. One situation stood out when I was a volunteer in the cardiac stress lab. As I attached EKG leads onto a patient, suddenly the patient collapsed and started gasping for air. His face turned pale, then slightly blue. The charge nurse triggered “Code Blue” and started CPR. A team of doctors and nurses came, rushing in with a defibrillator to treat and stabilize the patient. What I noticed was that medicine was not only about one individual acting as a superhero to save a life, but that it takes a team of individuals with an effective leader, working together to deliver the best care. I want to be a leader as well as part of a team that can make a difference in a person’s life. I have refined these lessons about teamwork and leadership to my activities. In high school I was an 8 time varsity letter winner for swimming and tennis and captain of both of those teams. In college I have participated in many activities, but notably serving as assistant principle cellist in my school symphony as well as being a co-founding member of a quartet. From both my athletic experiences and my music experiences I learned what it was like to not only assert my position as a leader and to effectively communicate my views, but equally as important I learned how to compromise and listen to the opinions of others. Many physicians that I have observed show a unique blend of confidence and humility.

What I noticed was that medicine was not only about one individual acting as a superhero to save a life, but that it takes a team of individuals with an effective leader, working together to deliver the best care.

College opened me up to new perspectives on what makes a complete physician. A concept that was preached in the Guaranteed Professional Program Admissions in Medicine (GPPA) was that medicine is both an art and a science. The art of medicine deals with a variety of aspects including patient relationships as well as ethics. Besides my strong affinity for the sciences and mathematics, I always have had interest in history. I took courses in both German literature and history, which influenced me to take a class focusing on Nazi neuroscientists. It was the ideology of seeing the disabled and different races as test subjects rather than people that led to devastating lapses in medical ethics. The most surprising fact for me was that doctors who were respected and leaders in their field disregarded the humanity of patient and rather focused on getting results from their research. Speaking with Dr. Zeidman, the professor for this course, influenced me to start my research which deals with the ethical qualms of using data derived from unethical Nazi experimentation such as the brains derived from the adult and child euthanasia programs. Today, science is so result driven, it is important to keep in mind the ethics behind research and clinical practice. Also the development of personalized genomic medicine brings into question about potential privacy violations and on the extreme end discrimination. The study of ethics no matter the time period is paramount in the medical field. The end goal should always be to put the patient first.

Teaching experiences in college inspired me to become a physician educator if I become a doctor. Post-MCAT, I was offered a job by Next Step Test Prep as a tutor to help students one on one for the MCAT. I had a student who stated he was doing well during practice, but couldn’t get the correct answer during practice tests. Working with the student, I pointed out his lack of understanding concepts and this realization helped him and improves his MCAT score. Having the ability to educate the next generation of doctors is not only necessary, but also a rewarding experience.

My experiences volunteering and shadowing doctors in the hospital as well as my understanding of what it means to be a complete physician will make me a good candidate as a medical school student. It is my goal to provide the best care to patients and to put a smile on a family’s face just as my grandfather once had. Achieving this goal does not take a special miracle, but rather hard work, dedication, and an understanding of what it means to be an effective physician.

Through reflecting on various stages of life, Quinn expresses how they found purpose in pursuing medicine. Starting as a child more interested in Pokemon than their grandfather’s patients, Quinn exhibits personal growth through recognizing the importance of their grandfather’s work saving lives and eventually gaining the maturity to work towards this goal as part of a team.

This essay opens with abundant imagery — of the grandfather’s clinic, flowers filling the streets, and the village woman’s difficult labor — which grounds Quinn’s story in their family roots. Yet, the transition from shadowing in hospitals to pursuing leadership positions in high schools is jarring, and the list of athletic and musical accomplishments reads like a laundry list of accomplishments until Quinn neatly wraps them up as evidence of leadership and teamwork skills. Similarly, the section about tutoring, while intended to demonstrate Quinn’s desire to educate future physicians, lacks the emotional resonance necessary to elevate it from another line lifted from their resume.

This essay opens with abundant imagery — of the grandfather's clinic, flowers filling the streets, and the village woman's difficult labor — which grounds Quinn's story in their family roots.

The strongest point of Quinn’s essay is the focus on their unique arts and humanities background. This equips them with a unique perspective necessary to consider issues in medicine in a new light. Through detailing how history and literature coursework informed their unique research, Quinn sets their application apart from the multitude of STEM-focused narratives. Closing the essay with the desire to help others just as their grandfather had, Quinn ties the narrative back to their personal roots.

-- Accepted To: Edinburgh University UCAT Score: 2810 BMAT Score: 4.6, 4.2, 3.5A

Exposure to the medical career from an early age by my father, who would explain diseases of the human body, sparked my interest for Medicine and drove me to seek out work experience. I witnessed the contrast between use of bone saws and drills to gain access to the brain, with subsequent use of delicate instruments and microscopes in neurosurgery. The surgeon's care to remove the tumour, ensuring minimal damage to surrounding healthy brain and his commitment to achieve the best outcome for the patient was inspiring. The chance to have such a positive impact on a patient has motivated me to seek out a career in Medicine.

Whilst shadowing a surgical team in Texas, carrying out laparoscopic bariatric procedures, I appreciated the surgeon's dedication to continual professional development and research. I was inspired to carry out an Extended Project Qualification on whether bariatric surgery should be funded by the NHS. By researching current literature beyond my school curriculum, I learnt to assess papers for bias and use reliable sources to make a conclusion on a difficult ethical situation. I know that doctors are required to carry out research and make ethical decisions and so, I want to continue developing these skills during my time at medical school.

The chance to have such a positive impact on a patient has motivated me to seek out a career in Medicine.

Attending an Oncology multi-disciplinary team meeting showed me the importance of teamwork in medicine. I saw each team member, with specific areas of expertise, contributing to the discussion and actively listening, and together they formed a holistic plan of action for patients. During my Young Enterprise Award, I facilitated a brainstorm where everyone pitched a product idea. Each member offered a different perspective on the idea and then voted on a product to carry forward in the competition. As a result, we came runners up in the Regional Finals. Furthermore, I started developing my leadership skills, which I improved by doing Duke of Edinburgh Silver and attending a St. John Ambulance Leadership course. In one workshop, similar to the bariatric surgeon I shadowed, I communicated instructions and delegated roles to my team to successfully solve a puzzle. These experiences highlighted the crucial need for teamwork and leadership as a doctor.

Observing a GP, I identified the importance of compassion and empathy. During a consultation with a severely depressed patient, the GP came to the patient's eye level and used a calm, non-judgmental tone of voice, easing her anxieties and allowing her to disclose more information. While volunteering at a care home weekly for two years, I adapted my communication for a resident suffering with dementia who was disconnected from others. I would take her to a quiet environment, speak slowly and in a non-threatening manner, as such, she became talkative, engaged and happier. I recognised that communication and compassion allows doctors to build rapport, gain patients' trust and improve compliance. For two weeks, I shadowed a surgeon performing multiple craniotomies a day. I appreciated the challenges facing doctors including time and stress management needed to deliver high quality care. Organisation, by prioritising patients based on urgency and creating a timetable on the ward round, was key to running the theatre effectively. Similarly, I create to-do-lists and prioritise my academics and extra-curricular activities to maintain a good work-life balance: I am currently preparing for my Grade 8 in Singing, alongside my A-level exams. I also play tennis for the 1st team to relax and enable me to refocus. I wish to continue my hobbies at university, as ways to manage stress.

Through my work experiences and voluntary work, I have gained a realistic understanding of Medicine and its challenges. I have begun to display the necessary skills that I witnessed, such as empathy, leadership and teamwork. The combination of these skills with my fascination for the human body drives me to pursue a place at medical school and a career as a doctor.

This essay traces Alex's personal exploration of medicine through different stages of life, taking a fairly traditional path to the medical school application essay. From witnessing medical procedures to eventually pursuing leadership positions, this tale of personal progress argues that Alex's life has prepared him to become a doctor.

Alex details how experiences conducting research and working with medical teams have confirmed his interest in medicine. Although the breadth of experiences speaks to the applicant’s interest in medicine, the essay verges on being a regurgitation of the Alex's resume, which does not provide the admissions officer with any new insights or information and ultimately takes away from the essay as a whole. As such, the writing’s lack of voice or unique perspective puts the applicant at risk of sounding middle-of-the-road.

From witnessing medical procedures to eventually pursuing leadership positions, this tale of personal progress argues that Alex's life has prepared him to become a doctor.

The essay’s organization, however, is one of its strengths — each paragraph provides an example of personal growth through a new experience in medicine. Further, Alex demonstrates his compassion and diligence through detailed stories, which give a reader a glimpse into his values. Through recognizing important skills necessary to be a doctor, Alex demonstrates that he has the mature perspective necessary to embark upon this journey.

What this essay lacks in a unique voice, it makes up for in professionalism and organization. Alex's earnest desire to attend medical school is what makes this essay shine.

-- Accepted To: University of Toronto MCAT Scores: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems - 128, Critical Analysis and Reading Skills - 127, Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems - 127, Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior - 130, Total - 512

Moment of brilliance.

Revelation.

These are all words one would use to describe their motivation by a higher calling to achieve something great. Such an experience is often cited as the reason for students to become physicians; I was not one of these students. Instead of waiting for an event like this, I chose to get involved in the activities that I found most invigorating. Slowly but surely, my interests, hobbies, and experiences inspired me to pursue medicine.

As a medical student, one must possess a solid academic foundation to facilitate an understanding of physical health and illness. Since high school, I found science courses the most appealing and tended to devote most of my time to their exploration. I also enjoyed learning about the music, food, literature, and language of other cultures through Latin and French class. I chose the Medical Sciences program because it allowed for flexibility in course selection. I have studied several scientific disciplines in depth like physiology and pathology while taking classes in sociology, psychology, and classical studies. Such a diverse academic portfolio has strengthened my ability to consider multiple viewpoints and attack problems from several angles. I hope to relate to patients from all walks of life as a physician and offer them personalized treatment.

I was motivated to travel as much as possible by learning about other cultures in school. Exposing myself to different environments offered me perspective on universal traits that render us human. I want to pursue medicine because I believe that this principle of commonality relates to medical practice in providing objective and compassionate care for all. Combined with my love for travel, this realization took me to Nepal with Volunteer Abroad (VA) to build a school for a local orphanage (4). The project’s demands required a group of us to work closely as a team to accomplish the task. Rooted in different backgrounds, we often had conflicting perspectives; even a simple task such as bricklaying could stir up an argument because each person had their own approach. However, we discussed why we came to Nepal and reached the conclusion that all we wanted was to build a place of education for the children. Our unifying goal allowed us to reach compromises and truly appreciate the value of teamwork. These skills are vital in a clinical setting, where physicians and other health care professionals need to collaborate as a multidisciplinary team to tackle patients’ physical, emotional, social, and psychological problems.

I hope to relate to patients from all walks of life as a physician and offer them personalized treatment.

The insight I gained from my Nepal excursion encouraged me to undertake and develop the role of VA campus representative (4). Unfortunately, many students are not equipped with the resources to volunteer abroad; I raised awareness about local initiatives so everyone had a chance to do their part. I tried to avoid pushing solely for international volunteerism for this reason and also because it can undermine the work of local skilled workers and foster dependency. Nevertheless, I took on this position with VA because I felt that the potential benefits were more significant than the disadvantages. Likewise, doctors must constantly weigh out the pros and cons of a situation to help a patient make the best choice. I tried to dispel fears of traveling abroad by sharing first-hand experiences so that students could make an informed decision. When people approached me regarding unfamiliar placements, I researched their questions and provided them with both answers and a sense of security. I found great fulfillment in addressing the concerns of individuals, and I believe that similar processes could prove invaluable in the practice of medicine.

As part of the Sickkids Summer Research Program, I began to appreciate the value of experimental investigation and evidence-based medicine (23). Responsible for initiating an infant nutrition study at a downtown clinic, I was required to explain the project’s implications and daily protocol to physicians, nurses and phlebotomists. I took anthropometric measurements and blood pressure of children aged 1-10 and asked parents about their and their child’s diet, television habits, physical exercise regimen, and sunlight exposure. On a few occasions, I analyzed and presented a small set of data to my superiors through oral presentations and written documents.

With continuous medical developments, physicians must participate in lifelong learning. More importantly, they can engage in research to further improve the lives of their patients. I encountered a young mother one day at the clinic struggling to complete the study’s questionnaires. After I asked her some questions, she began to open up to me as her anxiety subsided; she then told me that her child suffered from low iron. By talking with the physician and reading a few articles, I recommended a few supplements and iron-rich foods to help her child. This experience in particular helped me realize that I enjoy clinical research and strive to address the concerns of people with whom I interact.

Research is often impeded by a lack of government and private funding. My clinical placement motivated me to become more adept in budgeting, culminating in my role as founding Co-President of the UWO Commerce Club (ICCC) (9). Together, fellow club executives and I worked diligently to get the club ratified, a process that made me aware of the bureaucratic challenges facing new organizations. Although we had a small budget, we found ways of minimizing expenditure on advertising so that we were able to host more speakers who lectured about entrepreneurship and overcoming challenges. Considering the limited space available in hospitals and the rising cost of health care, physicians, too, are often forced to prioritize and manage the needs of their patients.

No one needs a grand revelation to pursue medicine. Although passion is vital, it is irrelevant whether this comes suddenly from a life-altering event or builds up progressively through experience. I enjoyed working in Nepal, managing resources, and being a part of clinical and research teams; medicine will allow me to combine all of these aspects into one wholesome career.

I know with certainty that this is the profession for me.

Jimmy opens this essay hinting that his essay will follow a well-worn path, describing the “big moment” that made him realize why he needed to become a physician. But Jimmy quickly turns the reader’s expectation on its head by stating that he did not have one of those moments. By doing this, Jimmy commands attention and has the reader waiting for an explanation. He soon provides the explanation that doubles as the “thesis” of his essay: Jimmy thinks passion can be built progressively, and Jimmy’s life progression has led him to the medical field.

Jimmy did not make the decision to pursue a career in medicine lightly. Instead he displays through anecdotes that his separate passions — helping others, exploring different walks of life, personal responsibility, and learning constantly, among others — helped Jimmy realize that being a physician was the career for him. By talking readers through his thought process, it is made clear that Jimmy is a critical thinker who can balance multiple different perspectives simultaneously. The ability to evaluate multiple options and make an informed, well-reasoned decision is one that bodes well for Jimmy’s medical career.

While in some cases this essay does a lot of “telling,” the comprehensive and decisive walkthrough indicates what Jimmy’s idea of a doctor is. To him, a doctor is someone who is genuinely interested in his work, someone who can empathize and related to his patients, someone who can make important decisions with a clear head, and someone who is always trying to learn more. Just like his decision to work at the VA, Jimmy has broken down the “problem” (what his career should be) and reached a sound conclusion.

By talking readers through his thought process, it is made clear that Jimmy is a critical thinker who can balance multiple different perspectives simultaneously.

Additionally, this essay communicates Jimmy’s care for others. While it is not always advisable to list one’s volunteer efforts, each activity Jimmy lists has a direct application to his essay. Further, the sheer amount of philanthropic work that Jimmy does speaks for itself: Jimmy would not have worked at VA, spent a summer with Sickkids, or founded the UWO finance club if he were not passionate about helping others through medicine. Like the VA story, the details of Jimmy’s participation in Sickkids and the UWO continue to show how he has thought about and embodied the principles that a physician needs to be successful.

Jimmy’s essay both breaks common tropes and lives up to them. By framing his “list” of activities with his passion-happens-slowly mindset, Jimmy injects purpose and interest into what could have been a boring and braggadocious essay if it were written differently. Overall, this essay lets the reader know that Jimmy is seriously dedicated to becoming a physician, and both his thoughts and his actions inspire confidence that he will give medical school his all.

The Crimson's news and opinion teams—including writers, editors, photographers, and designers—were not involved in the production of this content.

Healing with Heart: Essay About My Plans to Becoming a Doctor

Becoming a doctor has been my lifelong dream. Since childhood, I have been fascinated by the medical field and inspired by stories of doctors saving lives and helping people in need. As I have grown up, my passion for medicine has only increased. Helping others is an integral part of who I am, and becoming a doctor would enable me to do just that on a daily basis. Here are the reasons why becoming a doctor is my ultimate goal and why I am writing this essay published on custom essay paper writing service Edusson.

Why I Want to Be a Doctor Essay 

Becoming a doctor requires dedication and hard work, but it is also immensely rewarding. Helping people in need brings me joy, and being able to make an impact on someone’s life is something that cannot be put into words. 

By the way, a career in medicine also will give me the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing people in the world — doctors. Working alongside dedicated professionals will give me the chance to learn from their experiences and gain valuable insight into this field. And lastly, medicine will allow me to use both my scientific knowledge and creative problem-solving skills every day. 

My Desire to Help Others 

Every day, there are countless opportunities to make a difference in people’s lives – from donating money to local charities, volunteering at homeless shelters, or simply offering words of encouragement when someone is feeling down. To me, it’s more than just an opportunity; it’s an obligation. 

When I become a doctor, I will be able to take that sense of responsibility even further by being at the forefront of healthcare and providing direct help to those in need. It’s not just about treating patients; it’s about truly understanding what they are going through and offering comfort as well as physical healing. 

My Love for Medicine 

My interest in medicine goes beyond my desire to help others; I also genuinely enjoy learning about the human body and its various functions. In high school, biology was one of my favorite subjects because it opened up so many intriguing possibilities for exploration. Now that I am studying pre-med courses in college, my fascination with medicine continues to grow as I learn more about how the body works on both microscopic and macroscopic levels. From anatomy and physiology to biochemistry and pharmacology, each course provides a fascinating insight into the world of medicine that reinforces my passion for this field. 

What Skills a Good Doctor Should Have

I think it’s important to have good communication skills, especially when it comes to dealing with patients. The patients need someone who is able to understand their needs and feelings and then explain to them clearly what they should do next. 

The most important part of being a doctor is also patience because you need to be patient with your patients if they don’t understand something or if they are having trouble with something simple like taking their medication correctly or following your instructions on how to take care of themselves better.

What Role a Doctor Plays in Society

Furthermore, doctors are very important people who save lives every day around the world – they help us live longer and healthier lives! When we go to see our doctors, we trust that they know exactly what is wrong with us or how we can get better again. This trust comes from knowing that doctors are highly educated professionals who study hard for many years before becoming certified as physicians!

The Challenges Ahead 

Nevertheless, becoming a doctor involves many years of hard work – including undergraduate studies, medical school applications, licensing exams, residency programs, and internships. Each step presents unique challenges but also incredible rewards, such as gaining knowledge that can be applied directly into practice or building relationships with patients that can last a lifetime. With each challenge comes growth both personally and professionally, which makes me even more eager to pursue this path despite its complexity.  

I want to be a doctor because it offers me the opportunity to make an impact on people’s lives while doing something meaningful with my life — something that will give me personal fulfillment now and for years down the road. It requires hard work but comes with a tremendous reward, and ultimately fulfills my dream of helping others through medicine. For these reasons, becoming a doctor remains my ultimate goal in life!

Becoming a doctor is a lifelong aspiration for many people, and the reasons why someone might choose to pursue a career in medicine are as varied as they are compelling. In the following table, we’ve outlined some of the most common reasons why individuals might want to become a doctor, along with a brief description of each reason.

Note: The reasons listed in the table are not exhaustive, and there are certainly other factors that might motivate someone to become a doctor. These are simply some of the most common and compelling reasons.

Crafting an Essay on Why You Want to Be a Doctor – Tips and Tricks 

Are you looking for tips on writing an essay on why you want to become a doctor? Writing personal statement format essays can be a daunting task, but with the right advice, it doesn’t have to be. Here are some tips that will provide you with all the information you need to write an effective and compelling essay. Read on to learn more. 

Understand Your Audience 

Before you even begin writing, it’s important to understand who your audience is. Understanding its perspective will help shape the content of your essay. 

Write From Personal Experience 

Your essay should be written from personal experience and not from research or facts that you have gathered from other sources. It should focus on why you personally want to become a doctor and how this profession will enable you to make positive changes in the world or in people’s lives. Using real-life examples of experiences that have shaped your interest in medicine can help make your essay more powerful and memorable. 

Add Specific Details That Showcase Your Understanding of Medicine 

In order to make sure that your essay stands out from the rest, it is important to include specific details related to medicine that show off your knowledge of the field. These details can help demonstrate that you understand what is required of someone who wishes to pursue a career in this field, and why it appeals so strongly to you as an individual.

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Why I Want to Be a Doctor: A Personal Purpose and Impact

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“So, why medicine? Why do you want to be a doctor?”

“Why do you want to be a doctor?” It’s a question that many medical applicants are urged to have an answer for as they prepare to be interviewed for entry into medical school. In our 50th episode of Sharp Scratch, host Nikki Nabavi was joined by two past Sharp Scratch hosts, Laura Nunez-Mulder and Anna Harvey, as well as expert guest Declan Hyland, a consultant psychiatrist who is involved with medical schools admissions at the University of Liverpool, to discuss their own motivations for wanting to study medicine, and how this might change throughout medical school and life as a doctor. The team also heard from some very special guests about why they chose medicine.

The episode kicked off by discussing some of the “cliches” associated with answering the question of “why study medicine?” Nikki cited themes she had come across on Twitter , including the statements all medical applicants are advised to avoid such as “wanting to help people” and “being interested in science.” But why shouldn’t these be excellent reasons for wanting to become a doctor? Laura agreed that when she was applying to medical school, these were big reasons for her own interest in medicine as a career, but felt that “they weren’t good enough reasons,” and that to stand out in applications and interviews, she had to come up with “something that was still true, but was a bit different.” Many of our expert guests agreed that these two “cliches” were still true for them, with BMJ Editorial Registrar and surgical trainee Clara Munro reflecting that part of what keeps her in clinical medicine is “having a real curiosity and genuinely caring about patients, and enjoying engaging with them on a human level.”

Another theme Nikki raised from responses on social media was another “cliche,” of medical students “wanting to be a doctor since they came out of the womb.” Portfolio GP and media doctor Zoe Williams wanted to be a doctor since her third birthday, when she was bought a toy doctor’s kit by her grandmother, who was a midwife. “One of the reasons I wanted to be a doctor is because I found the human body fascinating.” But those dreams weren’t realised until many years later, when Zoe was one of the first students to have the opportunity to transfer from her Biomedical Sciences degree to Medicine. Declan discussed his similar pathway, highlighting that medicine isn’t just for those who learnt the brachial plexus before they could walk!

So with applications for medical courses up by nearly 5000 in the 2020-21 application cycle , what are admissions tutors looking for when asking applicants these questions at interview? The panel turned to Declan, who has had experience interviewing potential medical students, for his take. “Enthusiasm is one of the key things, and that usually comes across pretty quickly,” he said, continuing, “[applicants should] justify why medicine is more suited to your interests, rather than any other particular career within the health service.” 

The variety of work that is available to those with a medical degree is another factor that guided our panel members towards medicine, with Laura explaining that one of the reasons she chose medicine over other careers she considered was that “there’s not just one job within being a doctor that would interest me, there’s lots of jobs, and I would leave that choice open for longer.” Anna agreed, remembering comments she had received when applying for medical school from people concerned that making such a decision during her last years of school meant she was boxing herself into medicine, and not leaving enough options open. “But I don’t think I could have picked something at the age of 18 that could have given me more options.” Declan, speaking on his own career, said: “I’m fortunate that I have a lot of involvement with Liverpool medical school, which is entirely different and separate from my clinical work. It’s something like that that keeps you really inspired, refreshed and stops you burning out.” 

Anna also spoke about her desire to be part of something that is bigger than just herself: “I think a big part of it for me was wanting to have that community, and that agency; because you do have agency as a doctor that you might not in other professions.” Declan agreed: “It goes without saying that it’s still a very respected profession.” And it can’t be ignored that, for all the debate over hours and training, the career is one that can be lifelong, and provides reasonable stability in terms of salary.

For our final reflections, we turned to perhaps the most famous doctor in the UK – the Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty. Reflecting on his career, he said: “like many others, I have changed my mind multiple times, and the only thing that ran through all of it was clinical practice, which I still do. I’ve done various jobs, all of which I have enjoyed, many of which I would only do once, but I enjoyed that once.” He continued, “the reason to do a job is because you wish to do it, and if you manage to do that, medicine is a fantastic career.”

As Zoe highlighted, being a doctor is not just about the skills and knowledge you acquire throughout your career, but also how you feel: “It’s not just what I do, it’s who I am.”

To readers and listeners: why did you want to study medicine? Have your reasons changed throughout your career? We’d love to hear from you on social media using the hashtag #SharpScratch

Anna Harvey is a final year medical student and soon-to-be junior doctor in North Cumbria. She is a past Editorial Scholar at the BMJ and sits on the Steering Committee of the MedEd Research Collaborative , where her interest in identity is indulged through qualitative clinical education research.

Listen to the episode on spotify or apple pods .

The Sharp Scratch Panel:

Nikki Nabavi, The BMJ, University of Manchester

Anna Harvey , Final year medical student, King’s College London, past editorial scholar, The BMJ.

Laura Nunez-Mulder, Final year medical student, Cambridge University, past editorial scholar, The BMJ. 

Follow us on Twitter: 

Panel: @nikkixnabavi   @a_c_harvey @lnm_rugby  

Guest: @HylandDeclan

Brought to you by: @bmj_latest @BMJStudent

Sponsored by: @MPS_Medical

Brought to you by: @BMJ_Student

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BMJ Opinion provides comment and opinion written by The BMJ's international community of readers, authors, and editors.

We welcome submissions for consideration. Your article should be clear, compelling, and appeal to our international readership of doctors and other health professionals. The best pieces make a single topical point. They are well argued with new insights.

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Why Do You Want To Be A Doctor? [+ Example Interview Answers]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Many students fall into the trap of providing a vague answer about enjoying science, wanting to help people, or always wanting to be a doctor. What they don’t realize is that most (if not all) applicants to medical school share these characteristics!

What differentiates you in answering the question is unique to your situation, so you’ll want to incorporate memorable specifics into your answer to help paint a better picture of you as an applicant. Answering this question provides you with a unique opportunity to put your journey to applying to med school into a coherent narrative. With a little thought, tailoring your answer can be a great way to highlight the strengths in your application or to shore up weaknesses. Here are a couple of thoughts on how to answer the question, and some pitfalls to avoid: 

Share Your Resume, But Don’t Just Rehash It

Use your answer to highlight not only your interest in medicine but how you came to develop that interest. Applicants often highlight the origins of their desire to be a doctor but are short on details as to how their resume relates to the journey to applying to med school. It’s not enough to say you “always wanted” to be a doctor; show through stories what you did along the way to understand more about yourself and that desire.

Vague answer: “I always knew I wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a kid. I did some shadowing in high school and I volunteered in college at a hospital too, so I basically felt like I understood what doctors did every day and knew I wanted to be one.” 

This answer doesn’t provide much information about the applicant beyond what could already be found on their resume. Your interviewers will want to hear more about you as a person that they couldn’t find out by reading the rest of your application. 

Better answer: “I didn’t come from a family of doctors, but my parents say it was always something I was interested in. After one of my friends told me about how their dad, who is a doctor, used to be on call all the time and would sometimes miss holidays or birthdays from getting called to the hospital, I decided it would be a good idea to try to get a better sense of what it was actually like being a doctor. I asked to shadow him in high school, and it really opened my eyes to the fact that if I was going to do this, I needed to be really sure I was ready to handle the demands of the job. I started volunteering at our local emergency department in college to try to prepare myself even more. I learned a lot from being in the ED – not just about being a doctor, but about all the other roles it takes to successfully care for a patient. Now that I’m better informed, I want to be a doctor because there’s no other job where the sacrifice seems so worth it – you can make an immediate, life-changing difference for people, as I saw time and again when patients came in with strokes, heart attacks, and injuries.” 

This answer adds detail that might not be evident elsewhere in the application. It shows that the applicant understands some of the demands of being a doctor (missing holidays and birthdays, acknowledging  personal sacrifice) as well as highlighting an attempt to grow personally and gain clinical skills as a motivation for volunteering (rather than “checking a box” to show they volunteered). It also opens the possibility of the interviewer asking follow-up questions about what they saw in the emergency department that they liked or disliked, or what they learned from that experience. 

Answer Why Medicine, Rather Than Another Career In The Sciences

There are many jobs where you can use science to help people other than being a doctor, and there seem to be more every day. This might have been your initial motivation for exploring becoming a doctor, but interviewers will want to know how you built on that motivation and decided on medicine specifically. Liking science and wanting to help people are great initial motivations, but interviewers will want to see more than that in an application. Be sure to use your answer to expand on why medicine specifically, versus another career in the sciences.

Vague answer: “I really enjoyed science in high school, and I knew I wanted to help people, so I decided to major in biology in college. I wasn’t really sure whether or not to apply to med school right away, so I took a gap year after college and worked as a scribe.” 

This answer doesn’t sound as if the interviewee has put much thought into addressing the question. It might also invite some unwelcome questions about why the interviewee took a “gap year,” and prompt the interviewer to ask whether they’ve applied to medical school before and failed to get in, or about their academic record, which could present a problem if it is not stellar.

Better answer: “As a high school student, I was fascinated with my science classes. Someone suggested I consider biology as a major in college, so I gave it a shot. Even though I loved my classes and the research lab that I worked in, I wasn’t completely satisfied with how I was applying what I knew. Rather than trying to apply to med school right away, I decided to spend a year working with patients to see if it was right for me. I took a job as a medical scribe, and it really confirmed my suspicion that medicine was a better fit for me than benchwork would have been. Seeing the way the doctors in our clinic utilized their knowledge to help people every day in a tangible way showed me  that medicine was the way I wanted to apply my skills. Having some patient contact scratched that itch of what I needed that I wasn’t getting from my benchwork: the chance to directly apply scientific principles to a person to help them in real time.” 

This answer is actually from the same student, with more detail. It sounds more confident, explains the gap year coherently, and illustrates personal growth. An interviewer would be much more likely to follow up with a question about the applicant’s research background or clinic experience next, rather than trying to get more details about a gap year. 

Consider Why You Want To Be A Physician Specifically

For some interviewers, it’s not good enough to say you want to go into medicine alone. Interviewers will want to know why you want to be a doctor specifically versus a nurse, physician assistant, physical therapist, or any other number of healthcare professionals who care directly for patients. Your answer should explain that you’ve been exposed to these possibilities and have a specific reason for choosing to pursue one over another. 

Vague answer: “I spent a lot of my career as an operating room nurse, but after a while, I really wanted to prescribe medicines, call the shots, and make more money. That’s when I decided to apply to med school.” 

Although this answer is somewhat exaggerated, it isn’t far off from real answers given by less-than-savvy applicants. This answer shows a lack of understanding of the roles of various health professions. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants can often prescribe medications, and in an increasingly team-based world, doctors aren’t the sole decision-makers when it comes to patient care. If autonomy were a big motivator for this applicant, there are better ways to express this. 

Better answer: “As an operating room nurse, I loved the patient care contact, and I found myself fascinated by what surgeons did on a daily basis. As time went on, I realized I wasn’t going to be satisfied in my career unless I was able to actually perform surgery independently on a patient. While some of my colleagues went on to become nurse practitioners or physician assistants, I wanted to go the physician route because I knew I wanted to be performing surgery in the OR independently. I want to be a doctor because I want to be a surgeon, and there isn’t another way for me to achieve that dream.”

This answer shows a better understanding of team roles and scope of practice than the previous one. It still gets at the idea of autonomy, while showing an understanding of team roles. A followup question might include a discussion of the applicant’s nursing experience or desire to be a surgeon specifically. 

Related videos

In summary….

There are as many ways to answer the “why do you want to be a doctor” question as there are applicants to medical school, so it pays to prepare an answer ahead of time. Use the fact that the question is virtually guaranteed to your advantage, and highlight elements of your application that aren’t immediately obvious on review of your resume. With some careful planning, your answer can set you up for success in the rest of your medical school interview!

Dr. Brennan Kruszewski is a practicing internist and primary care physician in Beachwood, Ohio. He graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in 2018, and recently completed his residency in Internal Medicine at University Hospitals/Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. He enjoys writing about a variety of medical topics, including his time in academic medicine and how to succeed as a young physician. In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist, lover of classical literature, and choral singer.

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What to Bring to a Medical School Interview–And What to Expect

Preparing for Medical School

How to Get Into Medical School: Preparing a Strong Application

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Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 7 steps to becoming a doctor: a complete guide.

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Medicine is one of the most challenging yet rewarding fields a student can enter. But before you decide whether becoming a doctor is right for you, it's important that you know every step you'll have to take along the way.

Here, I'll walk you through exactly how to become a doctor, starting with high school . This career is definitely not for everyone—it requires huge investments of time, money, and effort—but if this path is right for you, this guide is what you should read to start preparing yourself early for a successful career as a doctor.

What Is the Career Outlook for Medical Doctors?

Medicine is a super competitive and rigorous field: doctors have a lot of responsibility and must spend tons of time and money on their training. Healthcare is also a growing field , which means that the demand for doctors will continue to increase in the coming years.

As long as you do all the necessary steps below, you shouldn't have an issue finding a job as a doctor.

Let's take a look at the career outlook for physicians and surgeons using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics :

• 2020 Median Pay: Greater than or equal to $208,000 per year
• Job Growth Rate (2020-30): 3%, which is slower than average

Note that pay and job outlook can vary depending on what type of doctor you want to be , so if you have a particular specialty in mind (such as dermatology or rheumatology), I encourage you to do your own research on that field's projected career outlook.

To lend you a hand, we've created the following chart, which presents the median salaries and job outlooks for various types of doctors (arranged in order of highest salary to lowest ):

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics

As you can see from the chart, all of the above medical specialties make six figures a year. They do have some differences in terms of job growth, however. The job growth rate for psychiatrists is expected to be a well-above-average 14% in the next ten years, but specialties such as surgeons and pediatricians are expected to shrink slightly. There are a lot of jobs in each of these fields though, so don't think there won't be a need for them in several years, even if their numbers are expected to contract a bit.

How to Become a Doctor: 7-Step Career Path Overview

Becoming a doctor is a pretty complex, multi-step process. Here are the seven major steps we'll be covering in more detail below (you can skip around by clicking the links to each step):

Step 1: Do well in high school Step 2: Get into a great college Step 3: Take the MCAT (and get a good score) Step 4: Apply and get into medical school Step 5: Attend medical school and pass your boards to become a licensed doctor Step 6: Choose your specialty and complete your residency Step 7: Take and pass your final boards to practice independently

Still interested in how to become a doctor? Time to get into the nitty-gritty of each major step.

Step 1: Do Well in High School

If you're serious about becoming a doctor, you'll do yourself a big favor by getting focused in high school . As mentioned, this is a pretty competitive field, so the earlier you start distinguishing yourself as a great student, the easier the process will be.

Here's what you can do in high school to help prepare you for later steps.

Focus on Science and Math

To fulfill all pre-med requirements in college (I'll get to that in a bit), you'll have to take quite a few science and math classes. Lay a solid foundation by taking a science and math course every year, and make it a priority to take advanced and/or AP courses . You'll also want to keep your GPA (in these classes and all others) as high as possible .

This is an important step because it gives you a tiny glimpse into what college and medical school will be like. If you don't enjoy science and math courses in high school, it's unlikely you'll enjoy them later on. Use this as an opportunity to think critically about whether you'd like to pursue this career.

Do Plenty of Community Service

Being a good doctor isn't just about being a science and math whiz—it's about being invested in caring for other people. Show how you care about helping others by volunteering consistently in high school.

It's best if you can do volunteer work that's at least somewhat related to healthcare. You might see whether there are any opportunities at a nearby hospital or clinic (for example, I had friends in high school who helped escort people who were visiting family members in the hospital). These volunteer opportunities can also help you decide fairly early whether a career in medicine is something you're actually interested in pursuing.

Of course, you don't have to volunteer exclusively in healthcare environments—any community service opportunity in which you're helping other people is a good fit. Read more about the benefits of community service , and then check out our list of the best places to volunteer .

Is working in healthcare a good fit for you? Volunteering in the field is a great way to find out.

Get a Great Score on the ACT/SAT

To get into a great medical school, it helps to go to a great college. And to get into a great college, it helps to get a high score on the SAT/ACT .

Plan on taking your first test by the end of your junior year—this gives you time to take your test of choice again if you want to try to raise your scores.

Read these guides for more info on how to get a great SAT/ACT score:

• What counts as a good, bad, or average ACT or SAT score?
• How can you get a perfect score on the ACT or SAT ?
• How long should you study for the ACT or SAT ?

Submit Stellar College Applications

Your senior fall will be all about researching and applying to colleges. You don't necessarily need to go to a school with a dedicated pre-med program, but it'll be better if your college or university has strong science and math programs , since these will be more helpful in preparing you for the MCAT and med school.

If you want to go to a top-tier private school, you'll have to submit applications with the following:

• Impressive SAT/ACT scores
• Strong letters of recommendation
• Polished and thoughtful personal essays

Some great public schools might not require letters of rec or applications essays. Nevertheless, it's wise to start preparing these materials early on in the college application process if you think you'll apply to any colleges that do require them.

If you're still working on college research, I suggest checking out these guides:

• The best pre-med schools for becoming a doctor
• The best college ranking lists and whether you should trust them
• Whether it matters where you go to college
• How to decide where to go to college

Step 2: Get Into a Great College

College is where you really start focusing your studies and preparing for a career in medicine . Here's everything you should do as an undergraduate to prepare yourself for the next major step in becoming a doctor: medical school.

Meet All Pre-Med Requirements

Most medical schools require students to have taken a series of courses as undergraduates. This ensures that they have strong foundational knowledge in math and science and will be well prepared for the more advanced courses they'll have to take as med students.

Here are the core classes that most medical schools require :

• Two semesters of biology with laboratory
• Two semesters of inorganic chemistry with laboratory
• Two semesters of organic chemistry with laboratory
• Two semesters of math (at least one in calculus)
• Two semesters of physics with laboratory
• Two semesters of English and/or writing

This comes to 12 course requirements at minimum, which doesn't give you a ton of wiggle room if you also have to meet requirements for a major without much pre-med overlap (e.g., foreign languages or studio art). Because of this, many pre-med students choose related majors such as biology or chemistry —this makes it much easier to meet both pre-med requirements and the requirements for your major.

If you decide later in college that you'd like to apply to medical school but you know you don't have time to fit in all these requirements, don't panic. It's fairly common for people to wrap up pre-med requirements by taking an extra semester or two in college (some schools call these students "super seniors").

You might also look into full-time post-bac programs if you have more than a few requirements left to fulfill. These options mean extra time and extra expenses, but they're helpful (and sometimes necessary) steps to take before applying to med school.

Keep Your Grades Up

Your transcript will be a very important part of your med school applications, so your academic performance should really be your #1 priority as you work your way through college.

Build Relationships With Professors and Mentors

You'll need a few strong letters of recommendation from respected faculty members when you submit your med school applications—use this fact to motivate you to network with as many people as possible.

Develop relationships with professors and mentors by going to their office hours, actively participating in class, and taking opportunities to work on research projects.

Your nerdy professors will prove to be invaluable resources when you're applying to med school, but only if you have relationships with them!

Get Some Research Experience

Having some research experience under your belt is a big plus for med school applications , especially if you can squeeze in a publication or two. Working in a biology or chemistry lab would probably be most helpful for medical school.

There are a couple ways you can get research experience as an undergraduate:

• Work as a research assistant (paid or unpaid) in an on-campus lab or at an off-campus research institute. Look at campus job postings or approach specific professors in your department about potential lab openings. If you don't have time during the semester to take on extra work, consider summer opportunities.
• Complete an undergraduate thesis, which involves research work. This usually requires a professor to officially take you on as their student. Each school (and each department within a school) will have its own procedures and policies for undergraduate theses, so educate yourself early on (i.e., during freshman year) if you're interested in this track.

Continue With Community Service

Medical schools are going to look at your community service record as an important part of your application. You should make time for volunteer work in college just as you did in high school.

The good news is that it should be easier to find relevant advocacy and community service clubs and organizations in college. Here are a few example activities you might be interested in (although this list is by no means exhaustive):

• Volunteering at a homeless shelter
• Joining a public health advocacy society or organization
• Volunteering at a nursing home or engaging in other forms of elder care (e.g., Meals on Wheels)
• Joining a peer counseling organization

It's better to stick with a few clubs or activities over the long term , as opposed to jumping around between activities year after year. This demonstrates that you're consistent and reliable; it also opens up opportunities for leadership roles, which will prove to be a big plus for your med school applications.

Step 3: Take (and Ace!) the MCAT

The Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT, is used as a predictor of your success in med school, and as such is weighted pretty heavily when compared to other parts of your application.

Most students take the MCAT their junior year—this is arguably the most optimal time to take the test. Why? Because by this point you will have gone through many of your pre-med courses, making studying for the MCAT a lot easier.

MCAT Scoring and Logistics

In total, it takes seven and a half hours to complete the MCAT. The sections on the test include the following:

• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills

Each section is scored on a range from 118 to 132, with a median score of 125. You'll receive an individual score for each section in addition to an overall score. Total scores range from 472 to 578 , with the average score sitting at about 500.

This scoring system is still relatively new (since 2015), so there isn't much historical data available we can use to predict what a good or "safe" MCAT score will be for med school admissions. Current percentiles indicate that around 50% of test takers score 500, and 74% score 508, or what MCAT-Prep.com calls a "good" MCAT score . As such, the new MCAT encourages admissions officers to look favorably upon students who score around 500 or above .

The MCAT is administered 30 times per year , so you have quite a bit of flexibility when it comes to scheduling the test. Be prepared for some hefty expenses— it costs $325 to register for the test . There are Fee Assistance Programs available for students who might not be able to shoulder these expenses.

After your scores are calculated, they're automatically released to the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS); you won't have to submit them separately to any schools unless they don't use AMCAS .

If you're adequately prepared the first time you take the MCAT, you could save yourself the cost of an extra registration fee.

Studying for the MCAT

Plan on studying 200-300 hours if you want to do well on the test. Since it's a seven-and-a-half-hour exam, you really don't want to have to take it twice.

There are several different ways you can prep for the MCAT:

• Independent study: This might work for students at schools with strong pre-med support who are also performing well in their classes. Solid foundational knowledge is the most important factor that affects performance on the MCAT, but students would still, of course, need to spend significant time preparing.
• MCAT prep course: Pre-med students commonly take prep courses when they want a solid review schedule to keep them on track. There's a lot of material to cover, and a good course helps ensure that there aren't any major gaps in your content knowledge or strategy. They can be very expensive, unfortunately, with most costing several thousand dollars . Kaplan and The Princeton Review are a couple of the most popular options.
• Online prep: Online resources can offer a great combination of structure and flexibility when you're working to cover a lot of material. Khan Academy provides some free study material if you're looking for a place to start, though it won't suffice if you're putting together a full study plan. Dr. Flowers Test Prep is another, more comprehensive resource for online prep.
• Private tutor: Students whose grades aren't up to par or who have done poorly on the MCAT before might want to consider this option . If you decide to hire a tutor, pick someone with glowing recommendations and years of tutoring experience. They won't come cheap, but they're also less likely to waste your time and money.

You can also buy an official practice test for the MCAT through the Association of American Medical Colleges for $35, in addition to other official study guides and prep materials.

Step 4: Apply and Get Into Medical School

The medical school application process is extremely long . If you want to start med school the fall after you graduate from college, you'll have to start your applications your junior year.

Research Medical Schools

The average student applies to about 13 schools to optimize their chances of getting in —I wouldn't recommend that you put together a list much smaller than that.

The Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) website is one of the best tools for looking into important medical school information. For a $28 year-long subscription, you can easily access the following:

• Acceptance rates
• Average MCAT and GPA of applicants and accepted students
• Numbers of out-of-state students
• Application requirements
• Application deadlines

As with any school or program, there are med school ranking lists . Because US medical schools' admissions criteria and curricula are so stringent and rigorous, though, admission to any school in the country should be considered an accomplishment . If you end up in medical school and follow through with a residency at a good hospital, you'll have no trouble finding work as a doctor.

Know the Different Types of Medical Schools

There are two types of physicians in the US:

• Allopathic physicians (MDs)
• Osteopathic physicians (DOs)

Both types are fully licensed physicians and are often very similar in the way that they practice medicine—they just receive degrees from slightly different types of programs.

We're most used to hearing about doctors with MDs, so if you're not familiar with DOs, I encourage you to do more research on these types of programs. DOs receive additional specialty training in certain areas, including using the hands to diagnose/treat illnesses and injuries.

You can read more about osteopathic medicine on the American Osteopathic Association site .

Allopathic or osteopathic: which type of med school is right for you?

Put Together Your Med School Application

There are three parts of the med school application process.

Part 1: Primary Application

You send in your primary application by June the year before your first year of med school. Most med schools use AMCAS, which is like a Common Application for med schools.

This application includes official transcripts, a personal statement, your resume/CV, and your MCAT scores. Start preparing these materials a few months before submission.

Part 2: Secondary Application

This usually happens in July-August on a typical application timeline (i.e., one on which you submit the primary application in June). At this point, a school will either reject your primary application or ask you to complete its secondary application.

The secondary application will differ for each school you apply to. Sometimes, schools just ask you to submit an application fee to continue with the application process. Other times, though, schools send fairly extensive lists of essay prompts (e.g., "Why are you interested in attending this medical school?") for you to answer.

If the medical school is happy with your primary and secondary applications, you'll move on to the next part.

Part 3: Interview

If a school definitely does (or definitely does not ) want to interview you, you'll hear back from them pretty quickly. Some students are left in limbo for a while as schools deliberate over what to do with them.

Interviews are the final decision-making phase. Your interview will either make or break your application. Preparing for interviews is tough because each school (and each interviewer) will have its own priorities and questions.

Overall, you want to come off (1) committed to the medical track, (2) confident in your abilities, (3) eager to learn, (4) warm and empathetic, and (5) grateful for the opportunity to be there.

Step 5: Attend Medical School and Pass Your Boards

After fulfilling all the pre-med requirements and submitting all those applications, you finally arrive here: medical school. You'll spend four years here , but that doesn't mean the experience will be very similar to that of your undergraduate education—there are more decisions to be made, more opportunities for hands-on experiences, and more professional licensing requirements to worry about.

Here's an overview of what these four years of med school will look like:

• Years 1-2: Primarily classroom-based courses
• Year 3: Training in each major medical specialty (also known as rotations)
• Year 4: Primarily elective courses based on preferred specialty

There are some other important steps along the way, such as board exams, that I'll address in this section as well.

Years 1-2: Classroom Work

You won't have much say in what courses you'll take during your first two years of medical school. Your education during this time will be an extension of your pre-med requirements —you'll take many advanced courses that will give you the important biological, anatomical, and chemical foundations you'll need to work as a physician.

These courses will obviously have an important impact on your GPA, which will affect how competitive you are when you're matched for your residency/internship (we'll get to that shortly). As such, it's important to keep your grades up—your future self will thank you!

At the end of your second year, you'll take the United States Medical Licensing Examination , or the USMLE-1. This test assesses your medical competency to see whether you should continue with your education and medical licensure (another name for the USMLE exams is "Boards").

At most med schools, you need to pass this exam in order to progress to your third year of school.

Year 3: Rotations

In your third year, you'll start working with patients in a medical setting (under a supervisor) within different medical specialties. This helps you gain hands-on experience as a physician, but, perhaps more importantly, you'll learn more about what sort of specialty you may be interested in.

After the bulk of your rotations experiences in your third year, you'll have to decide what sort of medicine you'd like to pursue . This decision will dictate what kinds of elective courses you'll take in your fourth and final year of med school, as well as how long you'll spend in your residency (we give more information on this in the Residency section below).

Med school rotations are a bit more productive than the one the hamster's doing on this wheel.

Year 4: Pursuing Your Specialty

As you now know, your fourth year of med school is dedicated mainly to taking elective courses to prepare you for your preferred specialty and continuing gaining hands-on experience. You'll also take the USMLE Level 2 (which is similar to the first examination, except that it simply tests more advanced knowledge); this exam includes a clinical knowledge part and a clinical skills portion.

Step 6: Complete Your Residency

Residencies, also known as internships, are supervised positions at teaching hospitals. You will be matched to an available residency position through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).

You'll be able to note your preferences, but you won't have ultimate decision-making power over your matches. Once the NRMP sets you up, you sort of have to take what you're given.

You will spend at least three years in your residency program but may spend more time there depending on your specialty. In your first year, you'll be known as an intern and will be at the bottom of the totem pole—but not for long.

During your residency, you'll also need to pass your final licensing exam (USMLE-3). The third and final licensing exam is taken during the first year of your residency. It tests your ability to utilize your medical knowledge and provide care in an unsupervised setting, which is what you will have to do as a licensed physician.

You'll get a salary as a resident, but it won't be much. The average resident earns about $48,000 a year , which should cover living expenses and your minimum medical school loan payments.

Here are some example specialties and their respective residency requirements:

• Anesthesiology: 4 years
• Dermatology: 4 years
• Emergency Medicine: 3-4 years
• General Surgery: 5 years
• Internal Medicine: 3 years
• Neurology: 4 years
• Obstetrics and Gynecology: 4 years
• Pathology: 4 years
• Pediatrics: 3 years
• Psychiatry: 4 years
• Radiology: 4-5 years

Step 7: Take and Pass Your Final Boards

Once you've finished your residency and passed all your boards, you can officially practice independently as a licensed physician! It probably won't take you long to find work. You might want to practice in a hospital, clinic, or private practice.

You'll have to keep up with Continuing Medical Education in order to practice as a physician, no matter your specialty; this ensures that you stay educated and up-to-date on the latest research and best medical practices.

Your education doesn't end here—you'll be working to keep up with new information and best practices for the rest of your medical career.

Summary: The 7 Critical Steps to Becoming a Doctor

This is a ton of information to take in at once, especially if you're at the beginning of this process or if you're still unsure about entering the medical field.

To recap, here are the seven major steps you must take to become a doctor :

• Do well in high school
• Get into a great college
• Take the MCAT (and get a good score)
• Apply and get into medical school
• Attend medical school and pass your boards to become a licensed doctor
• Choose your specialty and complete your residency
• Take and pass your final boards to practice independently

You should also keep in mind two important takeaways:

• You don't have to decide at the beginning of college that you want to become a doctor (although it does make it easier to fulfill pre-med requirements). The path to becoming a physician isn't completely rigid, especially if you're interested in other biological and physical science careers.
• You don't have to think about all these steps at the same time. Once you're in medical school, your peers will be thinking about (and worrying about) the same things—there's no way you'll forget any important steps!

Becoming a doctor is definitely not for everyone—getting into medical school is really tough, and you still have a lot of training to complete even after you graduate. But if you decide you want to enter the medical profession, you now have the info you need to start off on the right foot!

What's Next?

If you want more info on what to do to prepare for med school while you're in high school , you're in the right place. Check out these great medical programs for high school students and our list of the best books every pre-med student should read .

Starting to research different college or med school options? Start off with this complete list of BA/MD and BS/MD programs in the United States . You might also be interested in our step-by-step guide on how to get into a BS/MD program .

Thinking of having a different medical career? Learn how to become a dentist or a veterinarian with our in-depth guides.

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Medical School Examples

Craft a Winning Medical School Essay with Examples and Proven Tips

Published on: May 8, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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Are you dreaming of becoming a doctor or a health care professional? 

The first step towards achieving that goal is to get accepted into a top-tier medical school. 

But with so many other qualified medical students competing for the same spot, how do you stand out from the crowd? 

It all starts with your medical school essay. 

Your essay is your opportunity to your unique qualities, experiences, and aspirations. 

In this blog, we'll provide you with examples that will help you catch the attention of admissions committees. 

From purpose to common mistakes to avoid, we'll cover everything you need to get accepted into the medical school of your dreams. 

So, let's dive in!

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Types of Medical School Examples 

Medical school essays come in many different forms, each with its own unique requirements and purpose.

In this section, we'll discuss some of the most common types of medical school essays and what you need to know to write them successfully.

Personal Statements 

Personal statements are the most common type of medical school essay. They are usually a one-page essay that introduces you to the admissions officers. 

It explains why you want to pursue medicine as a career. Personal statements should be engaging, and memorable, and show off your unique qualities.

An outline offers a framework to help you craft a compelling narrative that showcases your strengths and experiences.

Check out this personal statement example that can help future physicians getting into the schools of their dreams.

Medical School Personal Statement Examples pdf

Secondary Essays 

Secondary essays are additional essays that some medical schools require in addition to the personal statement. 

They often ask specific questions about your background, experiences, or interests. They give you an opportunity to show off your future patient care and problem-solving skills.

Here is a brief example of a secondary application medical school essay:

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Diversity Essays 

Diversity essays ask you to write about your experiences with diversity and how they have influenced you to pursue a career and your interest in medicine. 

These essays are becoming increasingly common in medical school applications as schools strive to build a more diverse and inclusive student body.

Good Medical School Essay Examples 

Are you struggling to write a standout medical school essay? They say that the best way to learn is by example. That's especially true when it comes to public health school essays. 

We'll provide you with some of the best examples to help you craft an essay that will help your career in medicine.

Medical College Essay Examples

Personal Statement Medical School Examples Pdf

Medical School Covid Essay Examples

Challenging Medical School Essay Examples 

Writing a medical school essay is more than just telling a story about yourself. It's an opportunity to demonstrate your critical thinking and analytical skills. 

In this section, we'll highlight some of the challenging medical school essay examples. This will give you a sense of what admissions committees are looking for. You can learn how to exceed those expectations by writing a successful medical school essay.

Greatest Challenge Medical School Essay Examples

Successful Medicine Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Scholarship Essay Examples

Medical School Essay Examples for Different Schools 

Each medical school has its own unique mission, values, and admissions criteria, and your essay should reflect that. 

In this section, we'll explore how to tailor your medical school essay for different schools and showcase some examples of successful essays.

Let’s explore these Stanford and Harvard medical school essay examples:

Medical School Personal Statement Examples Harvard

Medical School Personal Statement Examples Stanford

Tips on Crafting an Excellent Medical School Personal Statement 

The medical school personal statement is your opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and experiences. 

Here are some tips to help you craft an excellent personal statement:

Start Early 

Don't wait until the last minute to start writing your personal statement. Give yourself plenty of time to brainstorm, write, and revise your essay. Starting early also allows you to get feedback from mentors, professors, or peers.

Focus on Your Story 

Your personal statement should tell a story that showcases your journey to medicine. Highlight the experiences and qualities that have led you to pursue a career in medicine. Tell them how you plan to use your skills to make a difference.

Be Specific 

Use specific examples to illustrate your experiences and achievements. Don't just list your accomplishments, but show how they have prepared you for a career in medicine. Use concrete details to make your essay more engaging and memorable.

Show, Don't Tell 

Instead of simply stating your qualities, show them through your experiences and actions. For example, don’t say you're a team player. Describe a time when you worked effectively in a team to achieve a goal.

Tailor Your Essay to the School 

As mentioned earlier, each medical school has its own unique mission and values. Tailor your personal statement to each school to demonstrate your fit with their program and values.

Mistakes to Avoid in a Medical School Personal Statement 

When it comes to your medical school personal statement, there are some common mistakes you should avoid:

Avoid using cliched phrases and ideas that are overused in personal statements. Admissions committees want to see your unique perspective and experiences. They do not want generic statements that could apply to anyone.

Negativity 

Don't focus on negative experiences or aspects of your life in your personal statement. Instead, focus on your strengths and how you have grown from challenges.

Lack of Focus 

Make sure your personal statement has a clear focus and theme. Don't try to cover too many topics or experiences in one essay. Instead, focus on one or two experiences that are meaningful to you and illustrate your journey to medicine.

Too Formal or Informal Tone 

Make sure your personal statement strikes the right tone. Avoid being too formal or using overly complex language. Also, avoid being too informal or using slang.

Plagiarism 

Never copy someone else's personal statement or use a template to write your own. Admissions committees can easily spot plagiarism, and it will result in an immediate rejection.

Grammatical and Spelling Errors

Proofread your personal statement thoroughly for grammatical and spelling errors. Even a few small errors can detract from the overall quality of your essay.

Lack of Authenticity 

Be true to yourself in your personal statement. Don't try to present an image of yourself that is not authentic or that you think the admissions committee wants to see. Be honest and genuine in your writing.

In conclusion, crafting a winning medical school essay is a crucial step toward securing admission to the medical school of your dreams. 

This blog has provided examples of essays along with tips to craft an excellent medical school personal statement. By avoiding mistakes, you can increase your chances of standing out from the crowd and impressing the admissions committee. 

Struggling with your medical school essays or college papers? Look no further!

Our college paper writing service specializes in crafting exceptional papers tailored to your academic needs, including medical school essays. And for an extra boost in your writing tasks, don't forget to explore our AI essay generator .

Elevate your academic performance with our medical school essay writing service and unlock the potential of our AI essay tools.

Get started today!

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

What is the ideal med school personal statement word limit.

There is no set length for a medical school personal statement, but most schools typically require a personal statement of 500-800 words.

How do I choose a topic for my medical school essay?

Choose a topic that showcases your unique perspective and experiences, and illustrates your journey to medicine. Consider what makes you stand out and what you are passionate about.

Should I mention my grades and test scores in my medical school essay?

It is not necessary to mention your grades and test scores in your medical school essay as they are already included in your application. Instead, focus on showcasing your unique qualities, experiences, and perspective.

Can I get help with writing my medical school essay?

Yes, there are various resources available to help you with writing your medical school essay. Consider seeking help from a writing tutor, career services office, or professional writing service like ours.

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Becoming a Doctor: Reflections of First-Year Medical Students

Book and Media Reviews Section Editor: John L. Zeller, MD, PhD, Contributing Editor.

This compilation of 41 short essays tackles the question of “how and why does one ‘become a doctor’ in the 21st century?” (p 5). The perspectives are unique in that rather than being authored by seasoned physicians, each essay was written by a first-year medical student from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine after the completion of 2 courses comprising the Introduction to Clinical Medicine (ICM) program. The ICM experience couples classroom didactics and group discussions with clinical field work at preceptor sites scattered throughout the New York metropolitan area. The program's curriculum aims to complement the basic science coursework typical of the preclinical years of medical school with first-hand clinical practice in addressing such topics as medical communication, professionalism, ethics, and patient-centered medicine. The essays comprising Becoming a Doctor speak to a variety of the students' memorable experiences that contributed to their understanding of the patient-physician relationship and to the transformation that takes place as students become physicians and professionals.

Eagen K. Becoming a Doctor: Reflections of First-Year Medical Students. JAMA. 2007;298(9):1065–1070. doi:10.1001/jama.298.9.1067

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Tips for Writing the Medical School Application Essay

Written by Lauren DiProspero on June 16th, 2022

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Work one-on-one with a mentor from a top research institution to develop a college-level research project.

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College Essay: Dreams of Being a Doctor

I was 11 years old. My sister and I had just finished our homework and my mom had just got home from work. She had checked the mailbox, and I was preparing to translate all those complicated words to my mom. English isn’t her first language. I opened the first letter, a hospital letter, and the first thing that caught my eye was, “IMPORTANT MESSAGE, READ IMMEDIATELY.”  My heart felt a cold wave hit.  My mom had stage 3 cancer. I froze.  

“¿Qué dice la carta? (What does it say?)” my mom asked impatiently. 

“No se como decirle. (I don’t know how to tell you.)” I was 11 years old, trying to find the right words to explain to my mom what was going on inside of her body. My heart and mind knew, but I couldn’t accept it.  My heart crumpled up like a piece of paper about to be tossed into the trash. I hugged my mom; I wanted to wake up from what I wished was a nightmare.  

I knew there was no cure for cancer, but I also knew miracles exist. I wished one could come my way. After some stressful days and appointments, the doctors had told us only a miracle could save my mom. They were going to do as much as they could. I realized I had to prepare myself and my younger sister, and support and help my mom as much as I could. With work, treatment and not feeling well, she was stressed. I knew I had to step up.

Being a middle schooler, having a younger sister to look out for and finding out my mom could be taken away any day was hard.  By the age of 12, I dropped my after-school activities, took care of my sister, cleaned the house, helped my sister with her homework and, of course, went to school. I was challenged to work harder and become more independent. 

My mom is my hero and role model. It was just the three of us, so I had  to grow up fast, take care of myself and my family. Most importantly, I had to make mom feel like she had someone by her side. Ultimately, this situation taught me how to value every second of life. 

My mom always tells me to push forward, stay strong and become someone who can make a change in this world. I dream bigger now and am focused on becoming a doctor. I know I have to work hard and get good grades to be the person I want to be; my mom and our courageous experience inspire me every day. 

I hope someday I will be able to show my mom how thankful I am for every sacrifice she’s made. Miraculously, she’s better now, and she will see me graduate high school, go to college and pursue my dreams. I will make her proud. The skills, compassion and example she’s brought to my life help me now; they will make me a better student at the University of Minnesota; and someday they’ll help me be a caring, capable doctor.

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From High School to Doctor in 6 Steps

• By Med School Insiders
• November 4, 2023
• Doctor Journey , High School

If you’re a high school student dreaming of becoming a doctor, there’s plenty you can do right now to prepare yourself for the long road ahead. In this video we share 6 steps you MUST be taking right now as well as a costly mistake to avoid.

1 | Determine if Medicine Is Right for You

First, determine if medicine is right for you. As a high school student, there’s still so much to learn about the profession and the day-to-day experience of being a doctor. Without this knowledge, you can’t make an informed decision about whether to dedicate your life to medicine.

Medical school is far too expensive and difficult to get into to find out once you arrive that it’s not for you.

Fortunately, you can begin your research right from the comfort of your home by watching our Day in the Life series , which follows attending doctors on the job, and our So You Want To Be series , which breaks down what it’s actually like to pursue various different medical specialties.

The next step is getting involved in a clinical setting by volunteering at a hospital or clinic and shadowing physicians. This gives you a first-hand view of what it’s like to work in a clinical setting, as well as what to expect in a physician’s day-to-day life.

Learn from your shadowing experiences , but understand there will be aspects you don’t like about the job, no matter what specialty you pursue. When I was young and naive about what being a doctor would be like, I imagined myself doing procedures all day, but guess what: even procedural specialists or surgeons have to work in the clinic and complete less glamorous tasks. If that’s a deal breaker for you, becoming a doctor may not be the ideal fit.

At the same time, keep in mind that watching someone else talk to patients is far less engaging, interesting, or meaningful than when you’re in the driver’s seat.

Be honest with yourself. If the reality of the profession isn’t as glamorous or exciting as you expected, medicine may not be the right path for you. Becoming a doctor isn’t for everyone, and it’s certainly not worth pursuing if you’re in it for the money alone.

As a high school student, be open to other possibilities, as you can pursue a career in healthcare through many other avenues, such as becoming a nurse practitioner , physician assistant, physical therapist, dentist , optometrist, paramedic, and more.

You do not want to invest tens of thousands of dollars into something you’re not truly passionate about, so take the time to do your research early on, and keep an open mind about where your career path could take you.

Take time to learn what it’s actually like to be an attending physician since this career path is not for everyone. Our video 7 Signs You Shouldn’t Become a Doctor is one every student considering medicine should watch. Do any of these warning signs apply to you?

2 | Hone Active Study Strategies

Step number two is to hone your study strategies. We’ve spoken about the importance of active learning techniques on this channel over and over again because they are essential to excelling in medical school.

Active learning includes strategies such as active recall, interleaving, and desirable difficulties. If these sound challenging, that’s because they are. And that’s the point. Studying should not be casual. Passively browsing the notes you copied down in class while Netflix plays in the background is not an effective way to study. Studying must be active in order to be effective.

To learn how to hone these techniques , check out our active learning guides .

Far too many students wait until it’s too late to change their approach to studying because they can get by in high school and college using passive study methods, like rereading notes or textbooks.

But the sooner you adopt effective study strategies, the better. Active study strategies are a lead domino in your life. You’ll get better grades, which will boost your GPA , and make you more attractive to both college and medical school admissions committees. Plus, utilizing these strategies early means it won’t take you as long to acclimatize to the heavier workload in college and again in medical school.

But the real beauty of being effective at studying early on in your education is that it frees up your time—time you can spend on other key areas of your life, such as your passion for scrolling through cat TikToks, gaining clinical experience, or building strong relationships .

3 | Start Building Relationships

Which brings us to step number three: Start building relationships and honing your interpersonal skills as soon as possible.

Whether it’s fair or not, so many opportunities come down to who you know. Hard metrics are not the sole determinant of medical school acceptance. Do not underappreciate how valuable your connections are.

Knowing the right person, and having a good relationship with them, is often just as important as how well you perform on a test. Having the right connections and a wide variety of strong relationships will help you tremendously as you become a doctor and throughout your future career.

That said, relationships take time to build, and so do the skills it takes to become an interesting person people want to spend time with.

You need four to five strong letters of recommendation from professionals you’ve worked closely with in order to apply to medical school. While the connections you make in high school likely won’t write your letters of recommendation, learning how to cultivate relationships early on is a valuable skill that will pay off every step of the way to becoming a doctor .

Don’t wait for others to reach out to you. Put yourself out there and build authentic relationships by making an effort and showing enthusiasm.

It’s very easy to be memorable to teachers and mentors in high school since most students don’t try that hard. Many don’t uphold integrity, are not reliable, and act unprofessionally. If you’re able to show up, be intentional, be professional, and put in the effort, you will absolutely stand out.

Keep in mind that effort and enthusiasm aren’t just traits that come naturally—they are skills you can build. The more you practice, the easier it will become and the more people will be drawn to your positive energy. As you get more skilled, a snowball effect will occur where more and more opportunities come your way because mentors and the people around you want to invest in you and see you succeed.

That said, don’t be pushy. No one owes you anything. Show your value by being helpful to others, whether that’s actively participating in class, volunteering , taking on more responsibility, or starting a club to bring people together.

A practical tip you can begin applying today is to remember people’s names. We are all deeply connected to our own name and feel seen by those around us when it’s used. Go out of your way to use people’s names, and make an effort to remember small anecdotes about them. This shows your genuine interest in growing the relationship.

4 | Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Next, intentionally step outside of your comfort zone. While this can be unpleasant or even scary, it’s crucial to building your resilience and adaptability. Working through those feelings of discomfort will make you stronger in all aspects of your life.

Try something new and get comfortable being uncomfortable. Take a dance or improv class, try a new sport, learn an instrument, go on a trip, start a club at school, or try a food you’ve always thought you disliked.

If this is something you struggle with, read our guide: How to Step Outside Your Confort Zone .

These are the types of experiences that will make you a more interesting candidate down the road. Admissions committees want applicants who will add diversity and spark to a student body. The more diverse your experiences, the more you’ll have to talk about on your application and during interviews. This makes you a more appealing and engaging candidate.

Keep an open mind, and don’t be too rigid in your beliefs. If you have not changed your mind about anything in the past year, reflect on whether or not you are truly being open minded to other viewpoints.

The sign of a great thinker and an excellent prospective doctor is someone who is able to be inquisitive, curious, and keep an open mind. Great doctors are adaptable, willing to change their minds, and are open to new possibilities.

5 | Prioritize Financial Literacy

Step number five is to prioritize your financial literacy. The average medical student graduates with over $250,000 in debt, and contrary to what you might think, making a 6-figure income does not solve all of your financial problems. There are many doctors who live paycheck to paycheck, and you don’t want to be one of them.

Learn more: Why Are So Many Doctors Broke?

Your financial future starts day one of college. If you don’t understand how the loans work that you’re taking out, you hinder what you are able to accomplish once your education is complete. Interest can quickly get out of control if you’re not careful.

The best thing you can do is educate yourself. You don’t have to be the next Graham Stephan of finance and investing, but knowing the basics can make or break your financial future. Understand the different types of loans, how interest works, and how to spend wisely. These decisions compound over time, so the sooner you start the better off you’ll be.

Too many medical students and doctors are bad with their money because it’s something they never took the time to learn, and they justify this because of the intense commitment of medical training. You will only get busier the later you are in your education, so put in the work now.

Remember the compounding effect. You likely don’t have much money to invest right now, but you do have expenses. If you are able to minimize your expenses, be intelligent with your loans, and build healthy financial habits now, this will compound and make tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars of difference in the future.

Check out our Money, Investing, and Finances playlist to get started today.

6 | Choose Your Premed Major

The last step is to choose your premed major. Premed is not actually a major in itself; it’s a term that describes your path before medical school. Students planning to apply to medical school must complete several prerequisite courses, but the major you choose is up to you. You can major in film studies and still be a premed as long as you fulfill your prerequisites.

Biological sciences are the most common and straightforward path, but it’s not the only one. What matters more is choosing something you’re passionate about. That said, if you plan on applying to medical school, enjoying biology is a must. If you detest all biological science majors, deeply consider why you want to be a doctor.

You will have the rest of your education and career to study biology and the human body. If you have another passion, this is the time to pursue it. You won’t have much time to do so in medical school or residency. If you’re passionate about history, art, math, or economics, pursue the major you’re most interested in. After seeing thousands of biological science majors, your application will certainly stand out to admissions committees. Just know that it will be an uphill battle to also fulfill your med school prerequisites.

On the other hand, if you are genuinely passionate about biological sciences, rest assured that this is the most straightforward and streamlined path to medical school. The major requirements will overlap well with your med school prerequisites, so you won’t have to go out of your way to fulfill them.

This decision will come much sooner than you think. Take time to thoroughly research your options, so you can go into college confident in your path. Even if you go in undeclared, you’ll still need to choose a category of majors to commit to, such as undeclared life sciences. Not sure which major is right for you? We have detailed guides and videos on choosing the best and easiest premed major for you.

When entering college, it’s okay to keep your options open. I knew that I loved biology, but I didn’t know what type of biological science interested me most. I was able to choose an undeclared life sciences major for two years while covering many of my prerequisites. It was in these two years I developed a passion for neuroscience, and I ultimately declared that my major.

You don’t need to have it nailed down right away, but having a general area of interest will help you a great deal. Play to your strengths and passions. The most detailed and boring class for one person could be something that you absolutely love.

I took a class on how memory works, which examined how sea slugs learn and store information using a rudimentary neural network, as they don’t have brains. This information could be extrapolated to better understand how our more complex human brains store information, and I loved every minute of it.

Obscure topics can be challenging, but the more interested you are in the subject matter, the more you’ll apply yourself, and the better you will perform.

If you’re interested in becoming a doctor, nailing your premed college experience is pivotal. Check out our Premed Roadmap to Medical School Acceptance Course, which covers everything you need to know as a premed with step-by-step guidance from freshman through senior year.

It was built from the ground up by our team of physicians and is the guide we wish we had in college ourselves.

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• Medical School Interview

“Why do You Want to Become a Doctor?”: What Real MDs Say

Featured Expert: Dr. Monica Taneja, MD

Everyone gives a different answer to the question, “why do you want to become a doctor?” but funnily enough, they also give the same answer. Students invariably share some kind of desire to help people, early childhood encounter with a doctor or illness, that medicine is in the family, their love science, their sacred calling, etc. The fact that people usually have the same reason for entering medicine is what makes answering “why do you want to become a doctor?” so difficult during medical school interviews or when writing a medical school personal statement . But the important thing to remember about knowing how to answer “why do you want to become a doctor?” is, according to our expert Dr. Monica Taneja, MD and graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, to create “a clear timeline” of your path to medical school. This blog will explore further what Dr. Taneja means, and show you a path to how to answer “why do you want to become a doctor?” based on our work with premeds and conversations with practicing physicians. 

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 15 min read

Why do you want to become a doctor creating a clear timeline.

What does Dr. Taneja mean by creating a “clear timeline”? She means that you have to create a narrative with a beginning, middle and end, with the beginning being your initial motivation for pursuing medicine; the middle being everything you did – “all the highlights”, in Dr. Taneja’s words – to get to the end, which is the interview stage of the medical school application process. Your interviewers want to hear about your journey to this point and how different it is from every other applicant’s – this is the central motivation behind why admissions committees ask “why do you want to become a doctor?”; they want to hear the whole story.

Like I tell students I work with, when telling your story during interviews or in your personal statement or your medical school secondary essays , you want to almost entertain your audience; you want them to sympathize with you, and you want them to root for you. If you or your loved ones becoming ill isn’t your story, then talk about whatever it was that drew you to medicine. Talk about your interest in science. Talk about how, if your parents or other family members are doctors, watching them work inspired you. Maybe it wasn’t even a childhood experience. Maybe, if you’re a non-traditional medical school applicant , you chose to become a doctor later in life.

Christopher Czarnecki was five years out of university when he realized that he wanted to pursue medicine, so there are many paths to becoming a doctor. Fang Wang, who eventually became an MD/MPH first “decided to go to public health school to learn the skills for chronic disease prevention and management,” to gain a better understanding of how to care for a specific patient demographic. Megana Varma, who took the PA to MD path worked as a physician assistant before being accepted to two DO schools. She decided on this path because:

"When I worked as a medical assistant, I saw myself assimilate with the workflow, how the care team operated together, and patient-centered interactions."

Megana does not only talk about helping people, but she gives specific examples, such as “how the care team operated together” and “patient-centered interactions” as her reasons for becoming a doctor. She had to explain that decision, and you should do the same. What was behind that decision? And, more importantly, what did you do after?

Did you learn how to study for the MCAT? Did you talk to a medical school advisor to gauge your chances of getting into medical school and make sure you meet medical school requirements ? These questions apply to everyone, in every demographic, who wants to get into medical school, because showing what you’ve done to get to the point where you’re one step away from getting into medical school is the key to answering “why do you want to become a doctor?” 

One example of how to answer “why do you want to become a doctor?” by telling a story with a clear timeline is Dr. Neel Mistry. A graduate of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Mistry backed up Dr. Taneja’s advice by presenting his story with a clear beginning, middle and end. When he was asked “why do you want to become a doctor?”, Dr. Mistry “talked about a childhood experience that drew me to medicine.” He then “reflected on my core values and interests,” and rather than simply stating his values and general interest in medicine, Dr. Mistry then “tied that into why medicine was the best fit” for him.

This last part is especially important since you want to be able to show your interviewers why you think becoming a doctor is the best way for you to manifest your desire to help people, if that is your reason for wanting to become a doctor. Wanting to help people is all well and good, but there are many professions you can enter to help people – lawyer, paramedic, police officer, teacher – so, an important aspect of answering “why do you want to become a doctor?” is making the case that medicine is the only way for you to achieve this goal.

Using Dr. Taneja’s advice, and inspired by Dr. Mistry’s example, here are three important points to remember when thinking about how to answer “why do you want to become a doctor?” 

• The beginning: communicate the event or events that triggered your curiosity about the field
• The middle: explain what you did after to learn more about the field
• The end: explain what solidified your decision to choose medicine and identify your specific reasons

These are general points so they can be used by anyone to fit any story. For many, including Dr. Mistry, the beginning might have been during childhood; the beginning of his timeline was a “childhood experience”, which, as I said above, is what many premeds talk about when asked “why do you want to become a doctor?”. For example, Kathryn Carbajal, who applied to medical schools in the US , said that she wanted to become a doctor “after watching my grandfather suffer complications of Type 2 diabetes.”

This experience is unique to Kathryn, and you might have a completely different story or beginning, but whatever it is, you have to start there for the sake of creating a “clear timeline”. You don’t want to confuse your interviewers with a shifting timeline, where you jump back and forth between your childhood, high school and undergraduate years.

In Kathryn’s case, she started with her grandfather’s experience with diabetes and then she could have gone on to talk about what she did to follow-through on her motivation; she could’ve started volunteering with diabetes support groups as an extracurricular for medical school; or she could’ve gone the academic route by talking about taking elective undergraduate courses in fields related to the disease, such as physiology, biochemistry or genetics. 

At this point, I want to remind you that your reason for wanting to become a doctor is not as important as the actions you have taken to make that dream a reality. Everyone has a different (or similar) reason for wanting to become a doctor, but what will distinguish you during the application process, or interview, is showing what you’ve done personally to follow-through on this desire, much more than simply stating this desire.

Taking everything we’ve talked about up until now into account, we now can start looking at how you can start thinking about your answer “why do you want to become a doctor?”. Your reason for wanting to become a doctor may jump out at you right away, crystal clear. Or maybe it was a series of choices or events in your life which led you to an interest in medicine. Regardless of where you fall, if you don’t have a ready answer, it’s time to dig deep and start asking yourself some self-reflective questions.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to get started on creating your personal narrative:

• What were the defining moments in your life?
• What were your early experiences with the medical profession? Which ones made an impression on you?
• When was the moment you decided to apply to medical school? What spurred your decision?
• Is there someone in your life who inspires you? Why?
• What qualities do you have that you think would make a good doctor?
• What started your curiosity or interest in medicine?
• What experiences do you have that have grown your interest in medicine?
• What about the medical profession most appeals to you? Why do you want to become a doctor over another related profession?

These are good questions to start brainstorming the content of your answer. You don’t have to have an answer to all of these questions, but you can choose one or two that stick out to you and then use as the foundation to build a longer, but concise narrative. But even though I talked about how you have to be entertaining, or have a compelling story, you should not in any way make up a story or outright lie about your past. Our expert MD and a graduate of the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine , cautions “straight lying or overly unrealistic situations should be avoided.” However, in the service of hooking in your audience, Dr. Cazes does say “it is OK to slightly embellish some details of your story to make it more interesting.”

You shouldn’t create a fantasy about what you’ve done – anyway, as Dr. Cazes says, “it is easy for reviewers to spot a fake story or an overly unrealistic one” – because you feel your background is lacking in achievement or experience. But you should remember that one of your goals in answering “why do you want to become a doctor” is to be interesting, which you can do by making certain details, or circumstances more high-stakes and vivid without telling a lie about yourself.

For guidance, Dr. Cazes uses the example of talking about “the time your friend was smashed up against the boards in hockey and you, with your limited first aid experience helped.” The embellishment here is “your limited first aid experience” if you indeed had first-aid certification at the time, since saying you had no experience makes the story more interesting. A lie would be saying you played hockey, when you never played hockey. To summarize, you shouldn’t lie about having an experience, but you can adjust some details to highlight your best qualities.

Want more tips on how to answer this question? Watch this!

Highlighting Your Best Qualities

Your “best qualities” is something I want to get back to, since I quoted Dr. Taneja about using “all the highlights” in the middle of your answer to “why do you want to become a doctor”. Your highlights – all the places where you stand out or achieved something exemplary (awards; publications; participation in groundbreaking clinical research) - are something your answer should definitely include, especially if they are the culmination of hard work and initiative.

Your highlights should be the icing on the cake, but since you don’t want your answer to be overly long (if you’re in an interview) or if you want to talk about various experiences (in a personal statement), you should limit yourself to talking, or mentioning, only a few – 1 to 3 experiences tops, to be exact. You’ll talk a lot about important experiences in your AMCAS work and activities section or AMCAS most meaningful experience section, as they are ommon medical school requirements , you should focus on the experiences that can be put together into an engaging and impactful story of how you decided to pursue medicine.

You don’t want to be overly boastful and talk about all your highlights – as Dr. Jaime Cazes points out “it is very easy to come off as being braggy” but you want to pick one or two that best highlights something unique about you or, as Dr. Mistry says, touch upon “major themes” about your story. “Major themes” and “highlights” are connected because you can establish something about yourself early on – for example, Dr. Mistry’s themes were “lifelong learning, intellectual complexity, and ability to lead while making a tangible difference in patients’ lives” - which you can then book-end with a “highlight”.

Using “lifelong learning” as an example, you can talk about anything from volunteering as an academic tutor, learning a new language, sport, or hobby, attending important conferences or joining specific student clubs. But don’t just list the activities. You want to find something within this experience that taught you something new or helped push you toward medicine, which is what Dr. Taneja did. She not only talked about “key points in my initial decision-making process” but followed that with “the highlights that show (emphasis added) that I validated the path.” “Validated the path” is another great quote from Dr. Taneja and it gets to the heart of how to build the best responses to “why do you want to become a doctor?”

Validate Your Path

I think what Dr. Taneja means by “validating your path” is something that I’ve talked about throughout this article, which is that your reasons for wanting to become a doctor are not as significant as the actions you’ve taken to become one. Why?

Because being a doctor is incredibly difficult. There is both no “ easiest doctor to become ” nor an easiest doctor to be; regardless of the medical specialty you choose, each comes with its own unique challenges and triumphs. Your interviewers want to see that you’ve put in the time and energy (both mental and physical) to prepare yourself for the long and arduous journey of becoming a doctor, which, on average, can take up to eight or ten years. 

In general, medicine is not a career for people who do not see themselves working more than 50 hours per week and on holidays. This is not a career for people who prefer to move around a lot or travel. This is not a career for people who aren't responsible and focused. Medical school admissions committees ask applicants this question because first, they want to learn more about you and your motivations for studying medicine, and they want to see if you have given serious thought to your future as a doctor.

“Why do you want to become a doctor?” may seem like it has an obvious answer, but it requires deep reflection, self-awareness and thoughtfulness to answer it. And since everyone’s answer to this question will be different, this is also an opportunity for you as a medical school applicant to forge a connection with the reader or the interviewers and make yourself stand out.

Since we’ve covered what you should talk about in your answer and where you should draw your inspiration from, I’ll go over them one more time and then present a sample answer to “why do you want to become a doctor” written according to the guidelines given to us by real MDs.

1. Establish a Clear Timeline

We started this article with Dr. Taneja’s advice about creating a timeline, and that is the best way to approach crafting an answer to “why do you want to become a doctor?” If you’re unsure about what to talk about and are having a hard time organizing your thoughts, do what Dr. Cazes did and “start with a story”. Give yourself a beginning, middle and end so you can fill in those key moments with your experiences, thoughts, reflections, and most important, your actions. To do this, you’ll really have to dig deep and be honest with yourself about what started your fascination with medicine and wanting to become a doctor. You can use the questions we posted above as a starting point to do this, and then, when you have your reason for wanting to become a doctor, you have to move to the next point, which is what you’ve done to, in Dr. Taneja’s words, validate your path. Conversely, in the beginning of your answer, if you don’t have a specific moment or event that sparked your interest in medicine, but you’re more interested in the academic or scientific aspect, you can mention that as your desire, or “major theme” as Dr. Mistry put it, that has attracted you to medicine and then follow up with actions you’ve taken.

2. Talk about Your Highlights

Once you’ve settled on your reason to become a doctor, you then have to show what actions you’ve taken to prepare yourself for medical school and the medical profession. Desire alone is not enough to get you through anything let alone the gauntlet that is four years of medical school, five or more years of residency and any number of years in a medical fellowship to specialize in a specific field, so, your highlights should show that you possess the qualities that medical associations in both the US and Canada have published as the ideal qualities any prospective physician should have. Among the seventeen different AAMC’s Core Competencies for premeds you’ll find: cultural awareness; cultural humility; empathy and compassion; interpersonal skills; oral communication skills; and critical thinking, so your “highlights” should be any instance in your past where you embodied any of these competencies. In Canada, the CanMEDS Framework lists seven “roles” a competent and professional physician should embody, which include: scholar; health advocate; professional; leader. The same applies to these roles, in that you should, in Dr. Cazes words, “always give specific examples” for how you have lived up to these roles, “as opposed to broad statements about yourself.”

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3. Finish with “Why Medicine?”

After you’ve established your reasons for wanting to become a doctor, and have given concrete examples of what you’ve done to develop the qualities of a competent, future physician, you then need to talk about what specifically made you decide on medicine. This can be tricky, as everyone will arrive at this decision differently. And, again, there may not be a singular event that occurred, but more an amalgamation of different experiences that helped you decide. If you’re having trouble finding a specific reason or cause behind choosing medicine, you can, according to Dr. Cazes, “look back on your CV/experiences and think about a specific moment or thing that happened that formulated who you are as a person.” You should show a natural progression from your initial desire, or let’s say, your flirtation, with the idea of becoming a doctor to a time when you became certain that you wanted to become a doctor.

My journey to become a doctor began when my father lost his foot to diabetes. He didn’t even know he had diabetes, until it was too late. We lived on the Glebe Farm reservation outside of Brantford, and there were no preventative medicine doctors or any outreach to prevent any disease, let alone diabetes. Seeing how my father struggled to adjust to life as an amputee, and later finding out it could have been prevented left me with a profound awareness of the healthcare shortages and disparities in Indigenous communities.

I started to research online for any organizations or groups involved in preventative healthcare, which led me to the Kingston Aboriginal Community Information Network (KACIN), a Facebook group in Kingston. Through this online community, I had the opportunity to connect with the Indigenous Diabetes Health Circle (IDHC), through which I gained my first experiences in education and preventative medicine. 

We initiated a program that offered online seminars and webinars about mindful movement, designed to help people in remote areas prevent diabetes through physical activity and healthier lifestyle choices. But, despite our efforts, many people continued to be diagnosed with diabetes, which made clear to me that going into medicine was the path I needed to follow. My personal experience with my father and my experience with KACIN, and the IDHC, have solidified my determination to become a doctor. It is my calling to start helping people, and I am ready to take the necessary steps to make this dream a reality.

Terrible Reasons for Wanting to Become a Doctor

I wanted to finish with a list of terrible reasons to become a doctor. While some of these may be a small part of why you want to pursue medicine, they cannot be your main reason, so avoid sharing these at all costs!

• To make money: You will, but there are way easier and more profitable ways. The dream to become the highest paid doctor is not going to impress the admission committees.
• Because your parents are doctors: If you're doing this to earn someone else's respect or love, this will never work. Medicine is not a birthright. However, the skills and aptitudes for medicine can be socially and environmentally influenced. Either way, you have to want it independently of your parents or grandparents.
• To hold power over people: An obviously bad answer.
• To launch a career in politics: See #1. Wanting to use your cultural authority as a doctor to be a sociopolitical advocate and an agent of progressive change is, however, different from wanting to be a career politician.
• To make a name for yourself: You can, but see #1. And also you shouldn't be building a personal brand off of another's pathology.
• To prove your self worth: Medicine can be esteem-crushing. You will fail harder in medicine, and with terrible consequences, than in any other profession before you start to figure it out. So save your ego the bruises.
• Because your current career is terrible: You have to be driven from a positive place, not from a deficit.

To answer this interview question can be tricky, since it is open-ended and everyone’s answer will be different. To answer it, you need to identity the primary reason why YOU want to become a doctor and how you came to this realization. Take some time to brainstorm and reflect on your past experiences which have led you to pursue a career in medicine, then turn this into a short, personal narrative you can deliver as an interview answer. 

Medical school interviewers ask this question because they want to get to know you on a deeper level, but they also want to know your motivations for pursuing a career in medicine. They want to admit students who have a genuine, passionate interest in medicine. 

Some good reasons for becoming a doctor include helping others, of course, and there are many professional benefits of being a doctor. Medicine is also a diverse, stimulating and interesting field which is constantly evolving and has many career avenues for practitioners to explore. 

A good answer to this interview question will be different for each applicant, but a strong answer will be genuine, self-reflective, well-structured and passionate. Present your personal reasons for pursuing medicine as a career as more than just a desire to help people or because medicine is an interesting field. Use a personal narrative to explain what has drawn you towards medicine.

Yes, your answer to this question is extremely important. Medical school interviewers are expecting a strong and clear answer. Any uncertainty or insincere reasons you give for wanting to be a doctor may lead to you being rejected as a candidate.

Start by sharing what sparked your initial interest in medicine, then explain what you did to deepen your interest in becoming a doctor. Finally, explain what the defining moment was or what solidified your decision to become a doctor.

There are many resources to help you prepare for medical school interviews. One of the best ways is to use mock medical school interviews, as they are the closest simulation to the real deal. You can also seek help from medical school advisor or medical school admission consultants, who can give you personalized feedback on your interview answers and interview performance.

Avoid naming money, prestige or job security as reasons why you want to be a doctor. If your parents were doctors or pushed you to become a doctor, this will not be viewed as a good reason by admission committees, either.

There are many qualities that make a good doctor, but above all, doctors need to be excellent listeners and communicators and empathetic and caring to their patients. Doctors need to be advocates for their patients, be able to work well as part of a medical team, and have a desire for lifelong learning.

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Thanks alot , this was really helpful to me especially now that I am facing hard time with my HSC biology course. I realise that my perseverance to the hardship could be another strength to make me an outstanding doctor.

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How to Become a Doctor: A Step-by Step Guide

Becoming a physician is a lengthy process that requires years of hard work and tremendous patience.

How to Become a Doctor: A Guide

Getty Images

A young person who dreams of becoming a doctor should investigate the profession as much as possible before embarking on this arduous career path.

There are few professions with higher stakes than the field of medicine. The consequences of a doctor's decisions can be enormous, leading to either marvelous or disastrous results.

Premeds and Compassion in Medicine

Ali Lotfi, M.D. Nov. 17, 2020

Becoming a physician in the U.S. is a time-consuming endeavor , and anyone who intends to pursue a medical career in this country should expect medical training to last at least seven years beyond college.

Doctors are typically well compensated. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary among U.S. doctors in May 2019 exceeded $200,000.

Here is a list of the rungs on the ladder into the U.S. medical profession.

• Explore your options.
• Take premed classes and earn good grades.
• Participate in meaningful extracurricular activities.
• Prep for the MCAT and ace it.
• Prepare applications to multiple medical schools.
• Impress med school interviewers and get at least one acceptance letter.
• Enroll in the right type of medical school for you.
• Pass the first two portions of the allopathic or osteopathic national medical licensing exam.
• Apply for and match with a residency program.
• Graduate from medical school.
• Start your residency and get a general medical license.
• Achieve board certification within your medical specialty or subspecialty.

Step 1: Explore Your Options

A young person who dreams of becoming a doctor should investigate the profession as much as possible before embarking on this arduous career path, experts say. Aspiring physicians should conduct informational interviews with doctors and gain some clinical experience so they can gauge whether they would excel at and enjoy the practice of medicine.

Potential doctors should also take demanding science classes to assess their personal affinity for technical fields of study, since those academic disciplines aren't right for everybody, experts say.

College hopefuls who are contemplating a career in medicine should look for undergraduate institutions with high-quality premedical student advisers and significant student research options. High school juniors and seniors who are determined to become doctors should investigate baccalaureate-M.D. programs , which can allow them to earn both a college degree and medical degree within seven years, experts suggest.

Step 2: Take Premed Classes and Earn Good Grades

Because medical schools have a significant number of academic prerequisites , premeds need to consult with their academic advisers to ensure that they take all of the necessary undergraduate courses, according to experts. Individuals who discover their desire to become doctors after they receive their college degree may opt to enroll in a post-baccalaureate premed program so that they can complete all of the required premed classes.

Petros Minasi Jr., senior director of premed programs at Kaplan, says a college's premed or prehealth adviser should be able to tell a premed precisely which undergraduate courses he or she needs to take. Premeds should not overload themselves with multiple extremely difficult classes in a single semester, Minasi warns, but they should take challenging classes as a general rule.

Solid academic performance in premed coursework is the norm among competitive med school applicants, and a stellar undergraduate GPA is a big plus.

Step 3: Participate in Meaningful Extracurricular Activities

A premed who does well in his or her courses but does nothing else is unlikely to get noticed by and admitted into top medical schools. So it's important that prospective med students do something besides study, experts say.

However, the quality of a person's activities outside the classroom matters much more than either the quantity of activities or the number of hours devoted to those activities.

Substantive scholarly research or a job as either a medical scribe or a medical assistant tends to be viewed positively in the admissions process, med school admissions officers say. They also suggest that accomplishments in nonscientific or nonmedical endeavors such as music or athletics are an asset, since they make a candidate appear to be well-rounded and suggest that he or she is an interesting person.

Dr. Mark Rosenberg, vice dean for education and academic affairs at the University of Minnesota Medical School , says that premeds should not focus on maximizing the amount of extracurricular experience they possess, since what really counts is the valuable lessons from extracurricular activities.

Rosenberg, a professor of medicine and a nephrologist, says that his med school looks for evidence of an inclination toward serving others, "socio-cultural humility" and reliability.

Dr. Megan Boysen Osborn, associate dean for students at the University of California—Irvine School of Medicine , emphasizes that it is OK to take a break between college and medical school, since that extra time can allow premeds to gain additional research and clinical experience beyond what they could get as an undergraduate.

Step 4: Prep for the MCAT and Ace It

The Medical College Admission Test is one tool that med schools use to screen applicants, so it is important for premeds to perform well on this exam. The multihour test requires extensive content knowledge; it is not a test that anyone should attempt to cram for, experts warn.

Perfect MCAT scores are rare, since the test is very hard. Premeds should research the median MCAT scores at the med schools they are most interested in, and they should take the MCAT only when they are consistently capable of reaching their target score on practice exams, experts recommend.

Step 5: Prepare Applications to Multiple Medical Schools

Because medical schools generally have lofty standards, prospective med students should take extreme care when crafting their personal statement and when drafting their secondary, school-specific application essays , according to med school admissions officials.

Osborn, an emergency medicine physician, warns med school hopefuls not to rush through the completion of their secondary application forms, since the information that med schools request is often pivotal during the selection process.

Premeds should think strategically about which extracurricular activities they include in their application and how they describe those activities, since admissions officers will scrutinize the activities list , experts suggest. Also, given the low acceptance rates at most medical schools, premeds should plan on applying to numerous schools to increase their odds of admission, experts warn, noting that it is better to err on the side of excess rather than restraint.

Step 6: Impress Med School Interviewers and Get at Least 1 Acceptance Letter

Candidates who look good on paper will be invited to medical school interviews so that admissions committees can gauge if the person is truly as outstanding as they appear on paper, so it is important to thoroughly prepare for those interviews, experts suggest.

Anyone who receives an interview invitation should bear in mind that this is a positive sign about their candidacy, experts say.

Step 7: Enroll in the Right Type of Medical School for You

Aspiring physicians can elect to attend either a research-oriented academic institution or at a school that focuses on primary care .

They also have a choice between two types of medical degrees : the Medical Doctor, or M.D., degree and the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, or D.O., degree. Both programs involve a mix of medical science courses and clinical rotations. However, one key difference is that D.O. schools teach numerous hands-on healing techniques that are distinctive to the practice of osteopathic medicine.

Step 8: Pass the First 2 Portions of the Allopathic or Osteopathic National Medical Licensing Exam

Allopathic and osteopathic medical students at U.S. medical schools typically take two of the three parts of their national licensing examinations during medical school, experts say. M.D. students take the United States Medical Licensing Examination, or USMLE, while D.O. students are required to take the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination of the United States, or COMLEX-USA. D.O. students may elect to take the USMLE in addition to the COMLEX-USA.

Dr. Chris Cimino, a vice president with Kaplan Medical – the unit of Kaplan that prepares aspiring doctors for the USMLE licensing exams – says the vast majority of U.S. medical students pass the licensing exams they take during med school.

Step 9: Apply for and Match With a Residency Program

Fourth-year medical students generally attempt to match with a residency program within the medical specialty they find most interesting. Most medical students participate in the National Resident Matching Program, though some get involved with specialty-specific matching programs such as those for aspiring urologists and ophthalmologists. Some medical specialties, such as orthopedic surgery , are highly competive so usually only the highest-achieving medical students are able to match.

Step 10: Graduate From Medical School

Once someone has earned a medical degree and graduated from medical school, he or she is officially a doctor. However, even after a person obtains a medical degree, he or she typically needs to complete a medical residency within a particular medical specialty, such as pediatrics or radiology , in order to practice medicine independently in his or her community.

There are some regions of the U.S. where med school grads who have not obtained residencies can work as health care providers, such as Missouri, Utah and Arkansas. The intention behind this accommodation for individuals with a medical degree but without a residency is to address doctor shortages.

Step 11: Start Your Residency and Get a General Medical License

Medical residencies vary in length, usually ranging from three to seven years depending on the specialty. Residencies allow medical school grads to learn the art and science of a particular area of medicine, whether it is obstetrics-gynecology or dermatology .

Toward the beginning of their residency, medical residents take the last part of either the USMLE or the COMLEX-USA, which makes them eligible for a general medical license that allows someone to practice medicine without being supervised by another doctor.

However, they still need to apply for a medical license in their jurisdiction, since medical licensing boards not only evaluate licensing exam scores but also conduct background checks. Licensure candidates should plan on submitting their curriculum vitae or resume to their licensing board, since one reason for the licensure procedure is to ensure that candidates are technically qualified.

Residents who want to develop extraordinary expertise within a particular niche of medicine, such as cardiology or hand surgery , may opt to pursue a medical fellowship within that field.

Step 12: Achieve Board Certification Within Your Medical Specialty or Subspecialty

After someone has completed the necessary residency and fellowship training, they must pass the applicable board exam. Then they can apply for board certification within their discipline through the American Board of Medical Specialties.

What to Consider Before Trying to Become a Doctor

Since it takes many years to become a board-certified doctor, it's foolish to pursue a career in medicine solely out of desire for prestige or money, experts say. Medicine is a demanding profession, so once someone becomes a doctor, the struggle isn't over.

Employment as a physician often requires irregular hours and sometimes involves significant stress, according to experts, and it often necessitates a degree of selflessness since there are numerous inconveniences involved in health care professions. However, there is something exhilarating about helping patients through dark times in their lives, doctors say, adding that they take pride in their work and receive gratification from improving the well-being of others.

"It's a long journey and it's a hard journey," Osborn says to aspiring doctors, "and so I hope that you enjoy each step."

Searching for a medical school? Get our complete rankings of Best Medical Schools.

Should You Become a Doctor?

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Dream Career — Dreem Career: My Aspiration to Be a Doctor

My Future Career: Why I Choose to Be a Doctor

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Published: Jun 10, 2020

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Essay on Being A Doctor

Students are often asked to write an essay on Being A Doctor in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Being A Doctor

The role of a doctor.

A doctor is a person who heals sick people. They study a lot to learn about diseases and how to cure them. They use their knowledge to help people feel better. Being a doctor is a big job that needs hard work and dedication.

Helping People

Doctors play a key role in our lives. They help us when we are ill. They give us medicine to make us better. Doctors also give us advice on how to stay healthy. They tell us what to eat and how to exercise.

Challenges of Being a Doctor

Being a doctor is not easy. They work long hours and often have to make tough decisions. They also need to keep learning about new medicines and treatments. Despite the challenges, many doctors find their job rewarding.

The Reward of Being a Doctor

Doctors feel good when they help people. They feel happy when their patients get better. They know they are making a difference in people’s lives. Being a doctor is a job that can bring great joy and satisfaction.

Also check:

• Advantages and Disadvantages of Being A Doctor

250 Words Essay on Being A Doctor

What is a doctor.

A doctor is a person who helps us when we are sick. They use their knowledge about the human body to find out what is wrong with us. They also give us medicine or treatments to make us feel better. Some doctors work in hospitals, while others have their own offices where patients come to see them.

The Journey to Become a Doctor

Becoming a doctor is not easy. It takes many years of study and hard work. First, you have to finish high school and then go to college. After college, you have to go to medical school for four years. After medical school, you have to work in a hospital for a few more years to get more experience. Only then can you become a full-fledged doctor.

Doctors play a very important role in society. They are responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses. They also give advice on how to stay healthy. They work long hours and often have to deal with emergencies. But despite the challenges, being a doctor can be very rewarding.

The Rewards of Being a Doctor

Being a doctor is not just about treating sick people. It’s also about making a difference in people’s lives. When a doctor helps a patient recover from an illness, it brings a lot of joy and satisfaction. Doctors also earn respect from the community for their important work.

In conclusion, being a doctor is a noble profession. It requires dedication, hard work, and a desire to help others. Despite the challenges, the rewards of helping people and making a difference in their lives make it a fulfilling career.

500 Words Essay on Being A Doctor

Choosing the path of a doctor.

Becoming a doctor is a brave decision. It is not just a job, but a calling. It involves years of study and hard work. After finishing school, one must study medicine in college for many years. Then, they must work as a trainee or intern in a hospital. Only after this can one become a fully qualified doctor.

The Work of a Doctor

A doctor’s job is to help people who are sick or hurt. This can be in many different ways. Some doctors work in hospitals where they see many patients each day. They might carry out tests, give medicines, or even do operations. Other doctors might work in a local clinic, where they see people from their community. They help people stay healthy by giving advice on things like diet and exercise.

The Challenges of Being a Doctor

Being a doctor can be hard. They often work long hours and sometimes have to make difficult decisions. They might have to tell someone that they are very sick, or that a loved one has passed away. This can be very sad. Doctors also need to keep learning throughout their career. Medicine is always changing, with new treatments and methods being discovered. So, a doctor must always be ready to learn and adapt.

Despite the challenges, being a doctor is also very rewarding. Doctors have the power to change people’s lives for the better. They can help someone recover from an illness or injury. They can give hope to people who are scared or in pain. And they can help people live healthier, longer lives. There is a great sense of satisfaction in knowing that you have made a difference.

The Importance of Doctors in Our Society

Doctors play a vital role in our society. They are there when we are born, and they are there when we are sick. They help us when we are at our most vulnerable. Without doctors, our society could not function. They keep us healthy and safe. They are heroes in white coats.

To conclude, being a doctor is a noble and rewarding profession. It requires dedication, hard work, and a genuine desire to help others. It is a career that can bring both challenges and rewards. But most importantly, it is a career that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

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Essay on Doctor for Students and Children

500+ words essay on doctor.

Doctors all over the world are given the stature next to God. It happens so mostly because they are lifesavers who work tirelessly for mankind. Moreover, being a doctor is considered one of the most sought-after professions. People want their kids to become doctors and they instill this dream in them from an early age.

Doctors have a very noble profession. In addition, they are equipped with comprehensive knowledge and devices that enable them to diagnose and treat their patients with correct procedures. Doctors require medical staffs that help them in performing their treatment. They are very proficient and have proved their importance time and again for mankind.

The Medical Scenario of India

The medical scenario in India is renowned all over the world. The doctors originating from India are reaching new heights globally abroad. However, when we talk about the medical scenario within the country, we see how it’s quite worrying.

In other words, all capable and talented doctors are moving abroad in search of better job opportunities and facilities. Therefore, we see there is a lack of doctors in the country to cater to the ever-growing population.

But if we see on the bright side, we will notice how Indian doctors are very charitable in comparison to doctors of other countries. As India has been a country of tradition, the qualities are deeply rooted in our culture. This reflects in the medical scenario of the country as well.

Aside from the allopathic doctors, India also has doctors who practice Ayurvedic , Unani as well as Homeopathic system of medicine. These are very famous practices which do not have any side effects. This is so because they are completely herbal making them very popular.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

The Degradation of Doctors

Although the medical field is evolving, there are still immoral practices in the field which makes it tough for patients to get the right treatment. Corruption has not spared this field as well.

India suffers from a high illiteracy rate which results in people fooling the citizens for money. There are many wrongs and unethical medical practices prevalent in India which brings a bad name to the country.

Moreover, the greed for money has resulted in various losses of lives of patients. The hospitals diagnose the patients wrongly and give them the wrong treatment. This results in even more worse results. The public is losing its faith in the medical field and its doctors.

As a result, this impacts the reputation of the medical field. Doctors must be more responsible and vigilant with the lives of their patients. The government must provide the public with good medical facilities which can bridge this gap. In addition, we must also come together to help doctors do their job better.

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