GlenMD.com

What is the Best Pre Med Course?

By: Glen Item, MD

www.GlenMD.com

Essential Lessons and Stories Not Taught in the Medical School

GlenMD.com

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International

License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

If you find it useful, please share it to anyone who might find it useful. You can embed it in your

blog, share it in the social networks, or email it to your friends. As long as cite the source

(www.glenmd.com). This article should not be sold and not be used in commercial purposes.

© 2015 Glen Item, MD

GlenMD.com

Once upon a time, when I was just newly licensed physician, every time a person would seek my advice on what was the best premed course to take, I would hastily reply, “Any science-related course will do.”

I was guilty of being lazy of talking about it. But other physicians are more cruel. They would give this harsh reply:

“It does not matter. Because in the medical school you will all suffer.”

Then it was often accompanied by the “bwahahaha” devilish laugh.

But nowadays, when an aspiring physician asks me that question, I would ask him or her first,

“The best premed for what?”

Because there is a big difference between studying to become a doctor and working as a doctor.

If you ask me what is the best premed course to have a relatively easier life in the medical school, then the answer would be either a course in Physical Therapy (PT) or Medical Technology.

I am saying with all due respect to those who are taking up Biology, Chemistry (my premed), Physics and other basic sciences, as well as Clinical sciences like Nursing.

Why?

This may be just a personal opinion, but the reason why they are the recommended premed courses is because you would have less difficulty in adjusting to the daily grind of the medical school.

If you are a PT graduate, you will have less effort in studying Anatomy, even if you are more accustomed to just the Gross Anatomy.

Of course, you may still have to study, but at least you will have less headaches in memorizing every detail, including the origin and insertion of muscles and everything else.

GlenMD.com

If you study in a school with a traditional curriculum, at least you are already used to working beside cadavers.

Anatomy and Surgery are arguably the toughest subjects in the medical school and the boards.

So having a good background in Anatomy would surely come in handy.

Med Tech also considered a recommended course for a better med school life, as the subjects you will take also closely correlate the subjects in Medicine, especially in Pathology and Biochemistry.

Graduates of Medical Technology are also acquainted with the laboratory work ups often requested by physicians.

But as what I mentioned, studying to become a doctor and working as a doctor are two totally different things.

So if you ask me what is the best premed course to become a successful physician, the answer to can be more complicated.

GlenMD.com

It depends on what “success” means to you.

Does it mean being fully equipped with the knowledge and skills in Medicine, including board certications in whatever specialization?

Does it mean having a “big time” private practice? Does it mean you attract patients like magnet?

Does it mean being able to prioritize your time with your loved ones even with a busy life in Medicine?

Because all the certifications and awards would mean nothing if you do not know how to get your patients into your clinic.

All the big bucks you earn in private practice would mean nothing if you manage your personal finances poorly.

All the expertise you acquired in the medical school and residency training mean nothing when you do not have a good relationship with your colleagues.

Everything you consider as “success” in Medicine would mean nothing, when your life at home is in shambles because you do not get along with your spouse and your children.

GlenMD.com

In summary, there are premed courses that can give you an advantage to surviving medical school.

Just do not expect that everything you learned in your premed and Medicine proper is all what you need to help you in your clinical practice and in other areas of your life.

Have you found this article helpful? Click here to subscribe and get notified of the latest updates and news delivered to your email inbox from Glen MD.

You will also receive a Free Ebook, “The Best and Worst Reasons to Become A Doctor”

You can also share this to your friends who might find this article useful in these social networks:

Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | LinkedIn