Determining if Medical School Is Right for You
Deciding to become a doctor is one of the noblest professions. Doctors selflessly help many people every day, curing illnesses, researching potential cures for illness or instructing future doctors. Choosing a profession such as a doctor requires one to always think on their toes and be quick to react. Work as a doctor means that no two days in the office are ever the same. The patients, nurses and medical staff impact and inspire a doctor’s life every day. The opportunity to help people all over the world is also a very selfless aspect of the job. However, the rewards of being a doctor only come after a very costly and time consuming education that requires strict time management and self discipline.
Deciding if medical school is the right fit for a prospective student takes a lot to consider. There are many commitments a prospective doctor must adhere to in order to become a doctor. These commitments are financial, time and discipline commitments that should all be heavily weighed before making this life changing decision.
The Commitment to Years of Schooling that is Required to Become a Doctor
Almost immediately, during a first year of undergraduate studies, a prospective medical student should take courses in biology and mathematics. Next step would be to declare a major that will coincide with medical studies such as pre-med, biology or medical engineering to name a few. Throughout your undergraduate career, be sure to volunteer and participate in medical related extracurricular activities in order to build your resume. Upon graduation from undergraduate studies, the prospective student must begin studying for the MCAT exam, which is a standardized test to get accepted to medical school. Research medical schools and practice for your interviews for medical school acceptance.
Once accepted to medical school, a medical student must be mentally prepared for the tough course load that is upon them. There are lectures, labs and extracurricular activities medical students must participate in. The areas of study change year to year. The first year of medical school has a focus on the human body and human anatomy. A review of basic anatomy and other biology studies are covered during this year. An example of required reading during this first year is the Atlas of Human Anatomy and other human anatomy books. The second year consists of courses on disease and treatment. reading this year can consist of the study of pathology books. During the second year, students are required to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination to ensure they are fit to study and practice medicine. The third and fourth year of medical school consist of rotations within various departments within the hospital. During the fourth year, students also have the opportunity to focus on their specialty and begin residency, which can last three to five years and a minimal salary is paid.
The Financial Commitment of Medical School
Eight years of schooling can be expensive and is something worth considering when applying to medical school. While undergraduate expenses differ from university to university, the Association of American Medical Colleges has put the median cost of attending medical school in 2010-2011 medical school in 2010-2011 was $58,141. The cost of attendance includes tuition, books, dorms, et cetera.
While many people in medical school receive financial aid and scholarships it is important to know that the cost of attendance is still high and that the average medical school graduate in 2010 had approximately $160,000 in debt.
The Social Commitment of Medical School
Long hours of studying and reviewing course material do not coincide with a wild social life. You must realize that going to wild frat parties and spring breaks are unrealistic for a successful medical student. Late nights in the library studying almost every day are more realistic. Success in medical school does not allow for many skipped classes and last minute cramming, but rather, consistent studying and dedication to your studying.
Elsevier Health is a leading publisher of medical textbooks used in universities around the world. Elsevier Health provides textbooks for all medical fields, including nursing books, veterinary books, dentistry books and radiology books.
How to Decode Your Military Resume for Your New Civilian Life
It can often be difficult to transition from military to civilian life. The military is a sub-culture that bears a unique code of conduct and, in many ways, it’s very own language. When trying to enter the civilian workforce, it is this language that is peculiar to the military that needs to be abandoned in order to effectively communicate the skills and traits achieved during a veteran’s time of service. A civilian employer will not be able to interpret the terminology used by the military, so it is very important to make the adjustment to a more universally approachable style of speech. This holds true when writing a resume because this is the first impression a potential employer has and if the terminology is not understood then there is no way for that employer to gauge the level of experience or expertise a prospective employee has. Here are a few key things to consider when decoding a military resume for the civilian workforce:
1.) Get rid of acronyms and abbreviations.
Military personnel swim in a sea of acronyms and abbreviations, but no one else really does. The only rule to remember when considering abbreviating or writing an acronym in your resume is: don’t. Write things out in their entirety.
2.) Avoid using military rank.
One of the first things taught to new recruits in boot camp is military rank and it takes a long time for everyone to learn the various and sundry ranks and what those ranks mean, so it is highly unlikely that a civilian will understand the names and meanings of military rank. Instead of using the terms E-6 or First Class Petty Officer, for example, it is better to say manager or supervisor. Saying that you were a manager in charge of 20 personnel will be understood by a civilian employer; saying that you were an E-6 with several subordinates will simply sound strange.
3.) List achievements rather than listing medals.
Most people aren’t going to understand what your medals mean so it is a better practice to list the qualifications or achievements that those medals represent.
4.) Focus on the skills learned that are relatable to the job.
The military offers outstanding vocational training. An employer doesn’t need you to be a hero; but rather, just qualified. The most important thing to remember is that an employer is looking for a training and on-the-job background that suits the job being applied for. Make sure that the job experience you received in the military lines up with the job you are looking for and emphasize and reemphasize that relevant experience.
A military background is always looked fondly on by potential employers. No employer is going to look disapprovingly on time spent in the service and conveying what you garnered during your time spent clearly is to your greater advantage. If you follow this basic guideline you will effectively communicate exactly what you achieved and experienced in the service and how those achievements and experiences qualify you as a civilian employee.
If you are preparing your resume take advantage of a powerful grammar checker to ensure your future employer is nothing but delighted by the quality of your writing style.
Internships Boost Your Employment Chances
College graduates are finding they require a little work experience to boost their educational qualifications. With the current market place being so tough, recent grads have had to find new ways of getting ahead. This enviroment has led to internships becoming available to all users. They are now a central and vital element of the graduate jobs marketplace. Internships typically help with satisfying employer required work experience. This has meant that a lot of people have chosen them as thier first step on to the work ladder.
It should be pointed out that the development of internship programmes in the UK is definitely a new trend. They can, therefore, vary in the type of experience they provide to the intern. You need to make sure you get the most out of the opportunity. Therefore, it is crucial that you acquire all the the details on any internship position you’re thinking about. Choosing the right company prior to starting is important. Talk it over with your graduate internships agency in more detail regarding your selected position. Here’s an example of the kind of quesiton you should be asking:
• Precisely what are the prospects of a full time position after the internship? Your host organisation should know whether there is a job available after the internship. Often employers will provide a job if the candidate completes the internship to a satisfactory level of work. Therefore it’s essential that you take every opportunity to exhibit your potential and talent throughout the internship. If you do this they’ll have no choice but to higher you!
Once you have begun an internship you’ll want to be certain the working experience is advantageous, assisting you on your path to a full time job. Here is a tip to assist someone develop a prosperous internship:
• Look for for guidance and feed-back! Don’t let your shyness get in the way of asking fellow employees for guidance. You can ask them for information on your work or on their experience in the industry or on their responsibilities within the company. You are there to learn so get to know people. If you are after everyday ideas about how exactly to build up what you can do then consult the folks you are working with. They will be capable of deliver lots of useful suggestions. They’ll enjoy someone showing a genuine interest in what they do and it will also benefit you knowing people in the industry.
Hi my name is Patrick. I like blogging on how people can advance their careers. This particular post is focused on internships and how they can help you get a job. Find out more at http://www.inspiringinterns.com/