Choosing a healthcare career that suits you By Aaron
With the copious amount of healthcare career options, it can be overwhelming to know which one to choose that is right for you. There are an array of questions you should ask yourself before choosing, and extensive research should be done prior to committing to pursue a particular healthcare career as this potentially affects what courses you should plan to take in college, how long you will be in school, what setting you should volunteer in, and what clubs and extracurriculars you should be involved in. Here are a few tips to help you narrow down your decision!
1. Ask yourself the right questions How long are you willing to go to school? What setting do you want to work in? Do you want to work hands-on with patients or in the support of those who do? What salary range are you looking for? Ultimately, what is the purpose/goal you are trying to achieve in this career? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself as it makes a significant difference in your choice. Every career and specialization in the health field demands a different set of skills and personality traits. The goal is to find the career that compliments your set of interests, goals, and personality traits.
2. Do your research Educating yourself is one of the most important parts of this process. Once you have a general idea of your interests, learn everything there is to know about those fields. Websites like https://explorehealthcareers.org are extremely helpful because it includes what the different careers entails, average salaries, years of education/degree necessary, as well as projected job outlooks. Additionally, one of the best types of research you can do is interview and ask questions to people that are working in the field so you can get an insight of what daily life is truly like.
3. Get exposure During your free time on weekends and over breaks, volunteering in settings that you are interested in is a great way to gain exposure to what a day in the life of a certain profession is. Personally, I was not able to choose my field of interest until I volunteered at an outpatient clinic over the summer going into my first year of college. This is truly the best way to gain exposure in a variety of fields as you will get to see first-hand what the occupation is actually like and what patient and provider interactions are like.
4. Make a plan Once you have decided what career best suits you, devising a plan is the next step. This includes what type of volunteering you should be involved in, what clubs and extracurriculars you may want to be part of, and what classes you should take. Luckily, most healthcare professions require the same core classes that consist of chemistry, biology, anatomy, and physiology to name a few. Taking these classes during your first year or two of college while you finalize what career is best for you is ideal just in case you change your mind on what you want to pursue. Deciding what healthcare career that best suits you can be an overwhelming process, but you will eventually figure it out with time. The best advice I have received on this topic is to choose something that will ultimately make you happy, not anyone else. Your intrinsic drive and motivation to achieve your goals will be much higher when what you’re doing is out of your own interest. At the end of the day, this is your future and what you do every day for your career plays a huge role in your happiness.
Navigating the Pre-Med requirements for medical schools By PeiChung
The requirements to apply to medical school are often vague and change depending on the school that you are applying to. For high school students that have yet to be subjected to any sort of guidance regarding this process, here are some tips and general guidelines to help on your way to your career goals. General Requirements While every medical school has different requirements, the general consensus is that the requirements are: ●1 year of biology with lab ●1 year of general chemistry with lab ●1 year of organic chemistry with lab ●1 semester of biochemistry ●1 year of physics with lab ●1 year of English Some medical schools may have greater or fewer requirements, so make sure to check the individual websites for the schools that you might be interested in applying to.
This might seem confusing at first (What does "with lab" mean? How does this work with the quarter system?), but these concerns can be addressed by your future college’s academic counselors. Many of these requirements are pretty flexible, and so you do not need to completely stress over following them to the letter.
Undergraduate Pre-Med Tips Remember that the major you choose in undergraduate has almost no effect on your medical school chances as long as you do well GPA-wise, score well on the MCAT (medical school entry exam), have good extra-curriculars, and meet the application requirements. Personally, I would focus on choosing a major that is of the most interest to you personally. Being involved in academics that you actually enjoy will make the GPA-grind much more enjoyable and achievable. Quickly figure out which methods of studying are the most effective for you. Personally, blatant memorization and reading the textbooks help me a lot, but that is definitely not the case for everyone. Some people might prefer tutoring others, using flashcards, or other such tactics. The method is unimportant as long as it is effective for you. Finally, make sure to balance your academic life with your social life and other such activities. Focusing 24/7 on your academics will only serve to add stress and burn you out. Being able to balance everything out is a skill that is super important in your undergraduate career, and let you stay relatively stress-free. Undergraduate college, while stressful, is an experience that you will only be able to go through once in your life. Make sure to take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you and meet new people. While yes, the academics are largely the most important aspect of college, the connections that you will make throughout your career can be of much more significance.
How to navigate the health industry in college by Sean
High school seniors, and even college freshmen, oftentimes don’t know exactly what they want to do in the future. However, for the students that have a general idea that they want to do something related to healthcare, this is a guide to how you can make yourself prepared and stand out early on! 1. Join health-related clubs Similarly to undergraduate school, medical and graduate schools want to see that you have engaged and expand your knowledge and experiences beyond just the classroom setting. This can best be done by joining, participating, and possibly even assuming a leadership position in clubs! Although it is beneficial to join health-related clubs, don’t limit yourself to just those clubs. What’s more important is that you are passionate about the activities you are involved in, and demonstrate dedication to those programs.
2. Volunteer at a hospital or health center It is possible that the college you attend has a hospital or other healthcare facility nearby. This is a great opportunity for you to engage with your community while expanding your experiences in the health field. More than just taking health-related classes, it is a great hands-on learning experience to volunteer at a healthcare setting for you to see for yourself if you enjoy doing the work you plan on doing in the future! Also, it’s a great subject to put on your application or resume!
3. Prepare your 4-year undergraduate plan Students do not have to be a pre-med or pre-health major in order to be able to apply to medical school, graduate school in health, or other health-related jobs. In order to apply, students must only be eligible by completing all necessary classes, exams, and experiences. There are a specific set of classes that students must take during their undergraduate years in order to be eligible to apply and prepared to take health-related exams like the MCAT. Be sure to speak with a counselor, upperclassmen who have finished their courses, or even look online to map out how you want to spread out your pre-health courses. Remember that there are several ways you can go about taking your classes, and your journey does not have to look like anyone else’s!
4. Acquire research lab opportunity It is likely that graduate students or professors at your college are working on research studies or projects related to healthcare. Many times, they are looking for undergraduate students who can help them, and this is the perfect opportunity for you to acquire a great learning experience! Apply to as many research opportunities either by meeting with graduate students or professors in person, attending research conventions, or mass-applying via email. There are several ways to acquire lab opportunities, and it can be an amazing asset for your applications. Remember that most of the things listed above are not mandatory, but rather recommendations that can make your undergraduate learning experience better! Your pre-health journey does not have to look like your friend’s journey, and make sure that above all, have fun with it! Although navigating all of these activities may be overwhelming at times, make sure to make the most out of your undergraduate years while having fun!
How to choose a college major for a career in healthcare By Tamlyn
When senior year comes along and it’s time to apply for colleges, you may come across one important question: what should I major in? This can be a rather daunting task, as the multitude of majors to choose from may leave you feeling overwhelmed. If you have dreams of pursuing a career in healthcare, you may be tempted to major in biology by default. However, biology is not your only option! Here are a few tips on how to navigate this decision that will play a large role in shaping your college years.
1. Consider your career goals College is very expensive and tuition fees only continue to rise. In order to ensure your time and money aren’t going to waste, it is crucial to consider where your degree will take you after graduating from college. If you plan on later pursuing a career in healthcare, majoring in a life science may help you fulfill prerequisite courses, while also preparing you to succeed in your graduate program. However, like I stated before--biology is not your only option! At UCLA, there are several majors besides biology that fulfill most graduate school prerequisites such as neuroscience, psychobiology, and physiological science, just to name a few. Many colleges offer a similar variety of life science majors, so do your research and see if any of them pique your curiosity.
2. Think about your interests Since your major will determine what you will spend the majority of your time studying throughout your college career, it is important to choose something that aligns with your passions. If you find yourself captivated by literature and poetry, consider a possible major in English or something of the sort. A skilled violinist who loves entertaining an audience? Majoring in music performance may interest you. If your goal is to one day own a private medical practice, a business degree might prepare you to do so. It is completely possible to major in something besides science while fulfilling your prerequisite coursework. It may even help you stand out amongst graduate school applicants!
3. Seek guidance Don’t be afraid to ask for help. All college upperclassmen have been through the decision process and are willing to offer their two cents. Reaching out to seniors may be especially beneficial, as they have mostly completed their degree requirements and can offer the most insight on their majors. 4. Explore You may see that there is an option to select “undecided” as your major on your college applications. This is a suitable option if you have absolutely no idea what you want to major in and are afraid to commit to something right off the bat. Going into college with an undecided major is actually very common and will not hurt your chances of being admitted to a school. Your first semester schedule will likely be filled with general education classes, so use this time to explore the multitude of opportunities your college has to offer. These are just a few tips I have to offer based on my experience as a junior in college hoping to pursue a career in medicine! College is all about self-growth and discovery, so don’t be afraid to choose a major that may seem out of your comfort zone. Best of luck and have fun!