So you want to be a doctor
Brutal requirements, years of school, long hours—and a guaranteed job
For other professions, including engineer, architect, ad man, teacher or marine biologist, pick up Maclean’s 19th annual rankings issue, available on newsstands now.
What you’ll do
Physicians can be found in any number of health care facilities, from small family practices to high-pressure emergency rooms to research labs. One role that rarely finds its way into television shows like House and ER is that of the doctor as small-business owner: general practitioners spend their time not only seeing patients but also building their practice, managing staff and paying bills.
Is it for you?
Aside from having to be able to stand the sight of blood, doctors need to be empathetic and excellent listeners. Thoughtfully observing patients and picking up on subtle signals is essential to an accurate diagnosis, and all medical schools emphasize the need for strong interpersonal skills. Students considering medicine should also be detail-oriented, analytical, very strong academically—and willing to stay in school for years.
What you need to get in
In order to get into medical school, you have to be an exceptional student. While most schools set their minimum average in the B range, intense competition has pushed entering averages skyward. The University of British Columbia allows applicants with averages above 70 per cent to apply, but its entering class last year had an average of 83 per cent. McGill recommends applicants have a 3.5 GPA (between a B+ and an A-) to be considered competitive. The mean GPA of those accepted at the University of Alberta was 3.8. To apply at most schools, applicants must also write the MCAT exam, complete prerequisite undergraduate courses, submit reference letters and write an essay. The lucky ones who get through the first cut will be invited to an interview.
Schools to consider
There are 17 medical schools in Canada. Most limit the number of out-of-province students, so you’ll have the best shot by applying in your own province. Some schools emphasize academics more than others, so research which school’s application process will best complement your strengths and weaknesses.
Next: What you’ll study
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Pingback by 19th Annual University Rankings - Uncategorized - Macleans.ca on 6 November 2009:
[...] Schools in Quebec, British Columbia and New Brunswick top our evaluation of university excellence So you want to be a doctor — Brutal requirements, years of school, long hours—and a guaranteed [...]
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Comment by Josh on 6 November 2009:
A short aside, but the picture from Grey’s Anatomy is amusing – printed plain film X-rays are *never* seen in hospitals anymore and haven’t been used in years, possibly as much as a decade. Same goes for CTs and MRIs which – obviously – are even more suited to viewing electronically. Pretty much every TV show does this – maybe it’s just more dramatic for characters to gaze at a wall of X-rays than to crowd around a computer monitor.
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Comment by Ed on 7 November 2009:
With medical school, eveyone who gets in graduates with few exceptions. A study done years ago at the University Hospital looked at all the students who got in; sure, there were those with the top marks, but then there were those with marks all over the map; their daddies were doctors.
In engineering first year, they told us to look to the right, and then look to the left, and by Christmas one of us wouldn’t be there. Indeed, by Christmas one third of the class was gone. Also, I have been told by various people over the years that engineering physics was considered the most difficult program in the university, bar none.
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Comment by Aamir on 9 November 2009:
Actually Josh, x-ray films are still present in hospitals. I work in the health care sector and have seen them on numerous occasions. Although, I will admit they are not the standard anymore, they are still present. So your statement of “*never* seen in hospitals anymore” is false. Have a nice day! =)
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Comment by Landon on 11 November 2009:
…don’t forget the six figure debt you will earn by the time you are done …and the fact you will get VERY little time off. Our doctors are a special breed and deserve all they earn having people’s lives in their hands everyday. When I make an error in my job or I am too busy to give something the attention I could have , it doesn’t cost someone thir life. Thank you to all of our physicians!!
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Comment by Josh on 11 November 2009:
Aamir, I’ve only ever seen them in teaching. I’m still in pre-clerkship, but plain films aren’t used in Nova Scotia at this point, and I never saw any in the Austrian hospital I spent time at during the summer. The more ridiculous TV inaccuracy comes up when they start looking at plain film CTs.
Ed, there’s nothing in modern (still admittedly imperfect) admissions processes that take into account parents. Last time I checked, of course, students don’t get into medicine based on high school marks as they can in engineering physics.
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Comment by AWSC on 19 November 2009:
I’m a pre-clerk at Toronto, and printed plain films are pretty rare around here too.
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