“Well, I’ve always wanted to be a doctor.” You often hear this sentence when you ask students why they chose medicine. But not everyone has the privilege of being clear about their own dream job since childhood. With over 10,000 courses and GAMSAT Tutors to choose from, check out some of them here since finding the right one is complicated. Here are the details to find out if studying medicine is right.
An initial, basic orientation aid is provided by study interest tests, such as those provided by employment agencies or online offered. If you like it more personal, you can also take advantage of a counseling session with the general student advisory service of the universities or the employment agency.
If it is then clear that medicine is one of the favorites, it can serve as a guide to deal with the content that is dealt with in the course. In medicine, it is of course helpful if you were already enthusiastic about the natural sciences at school, because medicine is primarily just that – a natural science. However, it would be too brief to reduce the course of study to scientific content only, after all, in medical practice later on, dealing with patients will be in the foreground, and social and ethical aspects play an important role here. Read specialist literature, attend a study orientation day or an introductory course at a university and see if you feel a deeper interest.
Particularly practical experiences convey a clear picture of later professional life. It is also possible for students to do voluntary internships in hospitals or medical practices during the holidays. It’s worth just asking the HR department, even if internship positions aren’t explicitly advertised. Those who are more drawn to research should perhaps consider an internship at a university.
Not only the field of study, but also the university or technical college should be chosen with care! The famous universities, offer prospective students not only counseling sessions with public authorities but also the opportunity to get in touch with study ambassadors. In a personal conversation you can address fears and worries and get a perhaps more insightful picture of the organization of your studies, courses and lecturers at the university.
In United States, people interested in medicine can not only enroll in medicine and dentistry, but also in the bachelor’s degree in “Evidence-Based Nursing” (B.Sc.), the Master of Science in “Health and Nursing Sciences” and the doctoral degree in “Participation as a goal of care and therapy”.
All that remains is to pay a visit to the University of your Choice! It’s the best place to find out if you’ll feel comfortable.
Financing before studying
They are characterized by terms such as “highly talented” and “above-average performance”: we are talking about scholarships. Most prospective students think that the chances of getting a scholarship are negligible.
In addition to the general living expenses (e.g. rent, food, clothing, etc.), there are also study-related costs during the course of study: semester fees, learning materials and books. A university degree adds up over the years, even without tuition fees. Conclusion: Studying is expensive.
Sources of student funding
Where does the money come from to cover study costs? Three main sources ensure the existence of a student: mostly the parents bear most of the burden. In addition, there are savings and one’s own income, which is usually denied with part-time jobs. Sometimes, however, the costs of studying cannot be covered with all the sources mentioned. Many students then give up their desired course of study, a study visit abroad, or a career-enhancing internship. The scholarship only appears very far down in the list of study financing.
Application: requirements and procedure
If you want to apply for a scholarship, you should first think about your own values and goals, including your political or religious orientation. Understandably, it makes sense to apply to a foundation with which you have as many ideas as possible. Most of the grants are political, denominational, economic or union-related with some exceptions.
In principle, anyone can apply for a scholarship. With some foundations, you have a better chance of getting a scholarship if you have been recommended by your own school. Other foundations, would like an assessment of you by a lecturer at your university. But what you should keep in mind is that above-average university performance is not a must when it comes to applying for a scholarship. Of course, these are helpful, but many foundations also attach particular importance to your non-university commitment.
The application procedures for the scholarships are usually similar. First you write a letter of motivation, a detailed written application. If you are suitable for the foundation, there will then be an individual interview in which you will try to find out your individual motivation and clarify why you have applied for the respective foundation. Finally, there is usually a group discussion in which your ability to discuss and work in a team is assessed.
Ideal and financial support
The offers of various foundations are similar in their basic features and differ from each other only in a few details. A scholarship usually consists of non-material and financial support, as well as support abroad. Depending on the foundation, the priorities can of course be distributed differently.
The financial support for most scholarships consists of a basic scholarship with a maximum of 735 dollars per month. Each scholarship holder also receives 300 dollars in book money – regardless of eligibility. The non-material support includes further training offers, summer academies and other seminars, which of course are also based on the political or denominational orientation of the foundation. International grants take over the full or partial financing of internships abroad, language courses or even semesters abroad.
You dare!
Even if the requirements and application criteria for a scholarship seem daunting at first glance, it is still worth applying for most students. However, you should keep one thing in mind: even if you are unsuccessful with your application, you can gain valuable experience with an application and be trained for later selection situations. With an application for a scholarship you can only win, never lose.
