GoBlog

No one's pathway to medicine is ever the same. Learn from a third year of medical school Student who just went through it.
ReadyEdgeGo

Want to be a Doctor? Your Pathway to Medicine

Your Pathway to Medicine

No one’s pathway to medicine is ever the same. Hello everyone, my name is Pranshul and I am one of the Biological and Health Sciences mentors at ReadyEdgeGo. I am currently in my third year of medical school and have recently started doing my clinical rotations, which is where I get to go to the hospital and practice medicine in a highly supervised environment.

I knew I always wanted to go into medicine from a young age and stuck with that during my grade school and undergraduate years. Since medicine is a constantly evolving field, I would never stop learning, which is exactly what I wanted. I have already spoken to a few of you students and love hearing the passion you have for the health sciences field. I would like to share my background from grade school, undergraduate, and what the process for getting into medical school entails (and what to expect in your future if that is what you choose!). A huge disclaimer I want to give is that every person has their own path to medicine, which I will speak more about.

Before I started my path to Medicine

In high school, I was an average student grade-wise. I was focusing more on my extracurricular activities which consisted of the band, Boy Scouts, and sports (mainly rugby). The classes I enjoyed the most in school at that time were biology, psychology, and music. Going into college, I knew that I would want to take classes that explored these topics more. So I decided to do a major in biological psychology. I graduated high school in 2014 and thought that a 4-year college is where I would thrive, so I started at Ohio State University.

However, I soon realized that classes with 1,500 students were not a great learning environment for me and so I transferred back to community colleges in California after just 1 semester. I spent 1 ½ years in community colleges, bouncing between 3 colleges to make sure I finished my pre-requisite classes in time. I transferred to UC Davis and majored in psychology with an emphasis in biology. 

During my time in college, I decided to explore different jobs before I began medical school. Some of them just for money and others to help me explore various career paths. Some of the ones for money included a landscaper for a golf course and pizza delivery driver. My favorite job was being a music instructor at my previous high school, where I taught for 5 years until I started medical school. The reason for me sharing this with you is to let you know that your life does not need to revolve around school and studies. Go and explore your interests, do what you love, have fun!

My Advice On Your Pathway To Medicine

Historically, there have been 2 main routes to medical school, the traditional and non-traditional route. The traditional route consists of 4 years of undergraduate. All while beginning medical school applications during the beginning of your senior year and starting medical school right after you graduate college. Recently, more students have begun taking what is known as “non-traditional.” This usually consists of students not beginning medical school right after finishing undergrad. Many students take what is called a gap year after their 4-year college and this allows them to accomplish other life goals before starting their long journey of medical school.

The pathway to medicine that I took is considered non-traditional, and of my 94 current colleagues in my medical school, only 5 of them followed the “traditional” pathway. I am not advocating that one or the other is better, however, many students began burning-out by the time they began medical school because they never took a break from school! My path consisted of graduating college in 4 years and then taking 1 gap year before starting medical school. This 1 year allowed me to study for the MCAT (think of this as the medical school equivalent of the SAT/ACT), spend time applying to schools, and also work and save money. 

What Do I Need To Do In High School And Undergrad To Get Into Medical School?

So “what do I need to do in high school and undergrad to get into medical school?” How do you make your pathway to medicine easier? There is no one right answer, but, at the minimum, I would recommend the following.

  1. Finish high school, get into whichever college you want to go to, and major in whichever major you want
    1. NO! You do not need to major in a science related field (one caveat will be mentioned later)
  2. Meanwhile, do well in college. If you weren’t a star student in high school, don’t worry. (Medical school will not even look at your high school grades). But do your best in your classes at college. It is good to have a GPA of >3.5 in undergrad will increase your chances of getting into a medical school.
  3. Take your medical school’s prerequisite courses (here is the caveat to majoring in whatever you want). For medical school, you must take the following classes during college:
    1. One year of general biology
    2. A year of physics
    3. One year of general chemistry
    4. And 1 year of biochemistry
    5. Add a year of organic chemistry
    6. At least 1 year of math (including one semester each of calculus and statistics)
    7. 1 year of writing

**As you can see, there are a lot of science related courses. If you major in a biology or science related field, these courses will most likely be incorporated into your normal work load.

Most importantly, work on the required courses and build a profile towards your MD program.

What If I Major In Something Else On My Pathway To Medicine?

If you major in anything else (such as music, or English) you will most likely need to take these courses on top of your normal classes. Which means you might need to take an extra year to graduate or take a full course load every semester. 

  1. Do extracurricular activities; such as research, hobbies, shadowing, volunteering, community service, etc.!
    1. Medical schools look to see that you are a well-rounded person. That is both academically inclined and also has interests outside of school. 
  2. Do well on your MCAT. This is a huge test and many schools will use this as a screening tool for applications.
  3. Don’t be discouraged!! There will be many times during your college and application process where you will feel overwhelmed. Don’t let this discourage you, think of your end goal. This is just a small hurdle to climb over before you become a doctor!

To summarize, build a holistic profile and work on all your core courses, general education and electives that serve your passion to become a doctor.

We specialize in youth mentorship and college counseling. From 8th grade to 12th, we have you covered for any stage in your high school career. Schedule a free consultation with us here.

We are always posting more helpful tips and tricks to help reduce the stress of college application season. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn

See you soon!

My Pathway to Medicine
My Pathway to Medicine

Pranshul Goel
ReadyEdgeGo Mentor – Biological and Health Sciences

Ariana Lee

Senior Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing their stories. There's so much to discover about a person. It's very rewarding when my students get comfortable and know that I'm there for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Swim, read, write, sing, enjoy nature, and play with my two crazy boys.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do what you love, and everything else will fall into place.

Julian Hoffman

Special Programs Manager

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Hearing each student's unique stories, guiding them in discovering their passions, and helping find their voice!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I am a figure skater, world traveler, dessert aficionado, and devotee of the Pioneer Woman, the Barefoot Contessa, and Maneet Chauhan!

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Work hard now -- procrastinate later!

Sarah Gooch

Essay Editor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: I have five years' experience in coaching student writing, but this is my first year with ReadyEdgeGo.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love helping students find depth and meaning in their own stories—but I also just love it when they make me laugh!

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In theory, I enjoy painting and writing poetry, but these days I actually spend most of my free time socializing or watching movies with my husband.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't just focus on achieving top grades and credentials because they look good on applications, or your education will be meaningless. The numbers and awards have their place, but stay connected to your sense of curiosity, discovery, excitement, and wonder so that the content you're learning is constantly transforming you—it's something you care about, something you remember after the final exam. Work on the aspects of yourself no one can measure, like integrity, wisdom, kindness, and compassion, so that you're not only developing your academic and career potential but also investing in the type of adult you're going to be, the person you'll have to live with after you clock out every day for the rest of your life.

Doing the hard inner work of building your character and learning deeply instead of just earning grades will set you up for a satisfying, well-rounded life. Strange as it sounds, it will also put you ahead in your academic and career goals, because colleges and hiring managers aren't looking for an empty set of data on a spreadsheet; they want a fully fleshed-out person marked by passion, creativity, and a story no one else has lived.

So go on studying hard for tests, but also spend some time asking yourself what matters in life and who your role models are. Read up on topics that amaze you, and build something incredible just for fun. Cultivate that spark of joy you feel when you're immersed in a subject that fascinates you. If you can hit that balancing act of doing your homework and meeting deadlines but also investing in the kind of person you want to be, then trust that all the rest will follow: schools will recognize you as a dynamic, all-star person, and you will also build a life of happiness, close relationships, and peace.

Bernie Nguyen

Admissions Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 5 years high school mentoring experience. I was heavily involved in it all throughout college and after graduating.

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing about their passions and what they genuinely love to do. It also makes me extremely happy to.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: I recently picked up the electric guitar! I also have multiple aquariums, and founded a company that built body armor.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Don't go down a path just because you think that's "what you're supposed to do." Life is more diverse and unexpected than any of us could ever know.

Joanna Yang Yowler

Senior Essay Editor & Program Specialist

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 15

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love hearing students' stories and seeing their faces light up when they talk about their passions and dreams.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Cook, write, draw, save Azeroth .

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Pursue dreams that matter to you and don't be afraid of forging your own path to where you want to go.

Graham Traylor

Senior Applications Advisor

Q:How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 7 years

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: One of my favorite experiences working with students is opening student's eyes to possibilities they didn't know would be an option for them.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to stay active playing sports / running, but most of the time I am hanging out with my wife and daughter (usually with college sports on in the background).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's possible there could be several colleges that are a good fit for you. Don't lock in on just one preferred option, and work toward finding places you can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

readyedgego

Tylar Pendgraft

Director of Programs

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 12

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: I love how open students are to learning and trying new things. As mentors, we get to see so much growth simply because our students are so open to new experiences and are looking forward to applying their learning and other skills.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time I like to read and write. I also spend a lot of time just watching--my dogs, birds, trees. I also enjoy baking and cooking (even though I'm terrible at baking).

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: It's never too early or late to start practicing self-care. Build moments of joy and celebration into your week. Give yourself a treat for working hard. It's important to have things to look forward to. If you can get into the habit now, you'll have a much more balanced college experience.

readyedgego

Anika Sharma

Essay Editor

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 2

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: As a major advisor for students interested in the humanities, I’ve found it immensely rewarding to offer an outlet for students to explore ideas that they often don’t get to delve into at school. Watching a student light up when they realize that there is in fact a community around their specific interests is easily the best part of the job.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: In my free time, I love to be outdoors - I've been hiking around the Bay Area and recently started biking again. I also volunteer at community gardens and trail restoration projects in San Francisco. When I'm not outside, you can find me reading visionary fiction, practicing yoga and qigong, or cooking.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: My advice for high school students is to focus on the present! Use this time to learn more about yourself and the world around you. Solid values and a sense of self will allow you to make challenging decisions for the future and create the life you want.

readyedgego

Tushar Singla

Chief Technology Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 4

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Watching them accomplish great things.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Watch Formula 1, play ice hockey, and watch TV.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Spend time exploring different things -- you have a long time to become an expert.

readyedgego

Dan Zhou

Chief Executive Officer

Q: How many total years of experience do you have in your current role, including but not limited to ReadyEdgeGo?

A: 16

Q: What about working with students do you most enjoy?

A: Inspiring a student towards self discovery, and wanting to learn about everything there is in the world. Reaching this moment can take time, but it's what makes it worth it every time.

Q: What do you like to do in your free time?

A: Outdoors hiking, photography, gardening, and reading.

Q: What is your one piece of advice for high schoolers?

A: Do the thing that moves you, or be moved by forces not your own. The choice is yours.

Get a Free Consultation

    Sign Up

      Contact Us