Consider a Career in Medicine
Questions to Ask Yourself
- Why do I want to go to medical school?
- What has influenced this decision? Is it my own or the result of pressure from others?
- Have I considered and explored alternative career options?
- Have I explored alternative health related careers such as bioinformatics, biostatistics, or biomedical engineering?
- Have I talked to others currently or recently in medical school and asked them about their experiences?
- Have I considered taking time off after college before applying to medical school?
- Am I prepared for the medical school lifestyle?
- What do I want to do with my degree once I am finished?
- When is the best time for me to apply?
- Do I like working with people?
Steps to Aid You in Answering the Above Questions
- Make an appointment with a counselor to discuss your interests and options.
- Conduct informational interviews with health care professionals and current medical students to learn more about the field or a particular career path. Utilize the Alumni ICAN database to find MIT alumni to talk with about your career interests.
- Volunteer or intern in a medical setting to gain hands-on experience and focus your interests.
- Participate in community service activities or other volunteer opportunities outside of a medical setting.
Tools for Exploration
- View the MIT Careeers Office Premedical Student Timeline. The timeline serves as a guide to help you begin your exploration into the field of medicine and prepare to begin the application process.
- Visit our Exploring the Field of Medicine to find books, programs, and volunteer options available through the premedical advising homepage.
Last updated on Friday, November 04, 05 at 11:02:06 AM EST.
