Starting high school can feel like walking in a room full of people you don’t know and it is hard to figure out what you are passionate about. Luckily, that is what high school is for. High school gives you countless opportunities, classes, activities, clubs to figure out what YOU enjoy. Someone leaning towards the medical field can certainly find many activities and classes in a high school geared towards medicine.
For starters, in my high school experience, I took many classes and activities that are helpful for someone looking at a profession in the medical field. In my freshman year, I took Biology and joined the Health and Fitness Club. In my opinion, you don't need to get everything sorted out your freshman year, but it can certainly help! Then in my sophomore year, it was very similar except I had thoughts about volunteering at a hospital, shadowing my physician and for science I took chemistry. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic ruined my chances of volunteering at a hospital and shadowing my physician. I remain hopeful that eventually I will be able to but my chances are not looking too good. Currently, I am in my junior year of high school and I managed to pack my schedule with things that will greatly benefit me if I am shifting towards a medical profession. I am the Secretary of the Health and Fitness Club, I wrote an article for a student newspaper about the COVID-19 vaccination, I am currently taking AP Biology and Psychology, for my senior year I am enrolled in Anatomy and Physiology, and I am writing this blog post! I am trying my hardest to schedule a shadowing opportunity with my physician but it is very challenging amidst the pandemic. For college, I am leaning towards a Biology Major or a Biomedical Engineering Major at several universities.
It is very important to show your interests in a certain profession within your schedule. If you are still unsure what you want to do, that is okay! You do not need to have everything sorted out by the time you get to high school or even by college! If you are someone who is leaning towards a career in the medical field, definitely start exploring the science and math classes in your school, and extracurriculars that involve “science.” For instance, make sure to enroll in Biology and Chemistry in school, because that will benefit you in the future. Moreover, if your high school offers Anatomy, I would 100% recommend taking that class because not only is it super beneficial for the medical field, but it is an interesting class! Furthermore, look for clubs like Science Olympiad, Health and Fitness Club, Chemistry Club, Biology Club, etc. In addition to clubs and classes, try to look for extracurricular activities outside of school to get involved in. For instance, writing a blog post for ClubMed, writing an article in a newspaper related to medicine, volunteering at a hospital or doctor’s office, or shadowing your physician, etc. Maybe consider getting a part-time job at a doctor’s office or hospital. Anything that can increase your exposure to the medical field will greatly benefit you in the long run and give you a little taste test of certain careers you are thinking about.
Regarding AP classes for science, I have only taken AP Biology but I have exposure to other AP classes that are not related to science. In my opinion, I would say AP Biology is a very challenging course and it requires you to work very hard. As of now, I am doing well in the class but that could be because we are partly online at the moment. Nevertheless, it is still a challenging course but it is super fascinating and is great exposure. If you are considering taking an AP course in the science department, do not fear! With lots of help, studying and your undivided attention, you could excel in the class and learn lots of new information.
Concerning SAT Prep, I am not the most knowledgeable about the SAT because I am currently studying for the ACT. My summer going into junior year I got a reference for a tutor that my friend and all of her friends were using to prep for their SAT or ACTs. Everything was going well, but I got to a point where I realized this specific tutor was not a good fit for me. Thus, my Dad and I went on the hunt for another tutor that would help me reach my goals in a timely fashion. I went around to friends and people at my school to see what tutor they were using and most of the people I talked to were using Premier Edge Prep. They had a lot of good reviews and people have had great experiences with them. Next thing you know, I am signed up and I have been taking proctored, full length, practice ACTs every Sunday and I meet with my tutor every Tuesday for 90 minutes. There are different levels of tutoring for different prices and for me, each session with my tutor is about 130 dollars. Not only does Premier Edge Prep help you with the SAT or ACT, they also assist students in the college application process, college selection, essays and more. So far, I see lots of improvement in my scores and they have been a huge help. If you live in Montgomery County located in Pennsylvania, I recommend this tutoring program. Then again, each student is unique and different, so it might not be the best for you and your family. In addition to studying for the standardized tests, there are lots of free programs you can indulge in while going through this process. For example, I have heard lots of great things about Khan Academy in regards to studying for the SAT. There are also lots of books and studying material on Amazon that are costly but it would be cheaper than hiring a tutor. Furthermore, lots of schools for the 2021-2022 school year are test optional at the moment and are not requiring students to submit an SAT or ACT for their applications.
In brief, don’t get too stressed about trying to find something you like because at the moment, you aren’t married to anything. There is always room for change and it is okay to change your mind. You will get to high school and college and realize you want to do everything and can’t decide, or you might find yourself not knowing at all and that is just fine. Although taking these steps in high school can help you get prepared for your future. Regarding this specific post with this information, taking those particular steps in your adolescent years can prepare you for a future in the medical field, and help you in the long run. Take my advice when I say that it goes by so fast, and that you should take a second to breathe, and take it all in.
- By Alexa Marks
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