Should I pursue a medical career?

If you are willing to get going in the grade department and have the stamina for the future. Only you truly know the answer to your question as we don’ t have enough information about your personal self…determination, etc.

I really want to, I just don’t think my high school properly prepared me, is there anything I could do on my own to better prepare myself?

3.3 is not a down and out GPA…you certainly could knuckle down starting now to make a go of it. If you haven’t already, you should be applying to schools and you should map out your plan B’s if you can’t get accepted right off. Most schools could allow you to get credits at other schools and then enter their programs with improved and proven GPA’s once you hit your stride with your school work!

One thing you have to be absolutely clear on is these are YOUR grades…grades you get from YOUR efforts and not the school!! The blame for your GPA falls all on your shoulders here on out!! Good luck!

To clarify, are you a junior in high school or college?

If you don’t think you are smart enough, take a career aptitude test and see how you do. I agree that your GPA (if you are college junior) will not cut it.

There are many jobs in the medical field that don’t require becoming a doctor. While this is not to say that you cannot become one, I strongly feel that people should seek out careers that suits them. If diseases/disorders is something you are passionate about, please pursue it. Humanity could use your help.

My SO’s 15 year-old nephew is fascinated by airplanes. His dream would be to be a pilot, but because of his eyesight, it will never happen. Based upon his talents though, he could become many other things affiliated with the field.

I urge you to seek what you desire to do and learn about all of the options to accomplish your dreams.

There are many reasons NOT to pursue a medical career including:
1) You don’t like people
2) You don’t like being around sick, injured and/or suffering people
3) You faint at the sight of blood
4) You don’t like to get personal with people and get offended when people talk about things like their difficulty urinating
5) You don’t like being told you have to work at night, on weekends, on holidays or other such times
6) You don’t want to have huge school debts
7) You don’t like the smell of hospitals
8) You don’t like paperwork, spending half of your time fighting with insurance companies over what is or is not covered

There are good and legitimate reasons to want to become a doctor, but I don’t hear you mentioning any of those. Don’t focus on the grades focus on the meaning of your career and the quality of life that you want, then decide how to get there from where you are.

@pnl and perspicacious: I’m in high school(age:16 and 10 months)

Also , Ill be a senior this school year

You should be doing serious aptitude testing to determine what you are best suited for. If you do not have the aptitude for being a doctor, then you will fail or be mediocre at it.

My career is something I love to do just for the pleasure of doing it and I have been doing it for many years. But I got my focus through very good aptitude testing that gave me a clear view of what I am good at and what I am very poor at.

It’s good to remember that while you may have an interest in the medical field, your talents in that area may really suck. If they do, best to find out before you spend years of your life and beaucoup dollars on it.

BTW….Your high school is not responsible for your 3.3 GPA. You are.

@Welcome24 Since you are still in high school you have plenty of time to decide what you want to do. If you do decide on medical school, it’s very important to raise you high school GPA as much as you can, and once in college—you must really shine. There are more medical schools and they all accept more students than they did when my husband applied years ago. At that time, unless you had a physician father, as well as dealing with affirmative action in place at the time, your application was trashed if you had less than a 4.0 GPA. It’s not quite that competitive now, but I advise you to shoot for a 4.0. If you need to take an independent class on study skills, do. I’m sure you are “smart” enough, but this route takes dedication and perfection. You have to be among the best.

@perspicacious says “It’s not quite that competitive now.” I disagree. The circumstances might be different, but I would say medical school is even more competitive now. Due to the recession, lots of people have realized the need to be in a career with more security. Application rates have risen up and medical schools have been stricter and choosier.

That said, high school is not the end all. Finish up high school with the best gpa possible, you might have to go to a less impressive college, but as long as you kick ass there and do amazing on your MCATs, you should be fine. All of this requires the utmost hardwork, dedication and motivation, so be sure you’re up to the goal. If you like biology stuff, do a related major in college and then by your junior year in college, you’ll know whether you like it enough to pursue medicine, or while taking other courses in college you might find another career you love much more. Bottom line – you have time, don’t set yourself for one career quite yet, keep an open mind, do good in whatever you study.

@PnL is right. But don’t forget the apptitude testing (by a professional) before you even start sinking time and effort into medical related studies if you are not suited for it.

@PnL I’m right about the competitiveness. I know medical schools which at one time accepted 30 incomings a year and now the number is more like 140. Add in affirmative action requirements of the 70s and today it is nowhere as competitive. That’s a good thing.