Career Services
Preparation for Medical School at Reed
Introduction
About this guide. This is an outline of useful information if you are considering a career in medicine. It is not intended to be comprehensive, but to give you highlights, to get you thinking, and to point you in directions for further planning. In it you will find a summary of admissions requirements for medical school, a timetable of activities should you decide to apply, and an introduction to the role of the pre-med advisers at Reed.
Why medicine? More than any topic, this question cannot be adequately addressed in a brief handout. Some points to be made:
Medicine is not for everyone. It is a demanding career that requires vigorous, expensive, and ongoing training. Simply "liking science" or "being a people person" is not adequate. As the American Association of Medical Colleges puts it:
"What does it take to be a physician? Briefly, it takes physical, emotional, and intellectual stamina; a good adjustment to any handicaps; the desire to work with and for people; and particularly, the ability to think logically and to use common sense... deciding whether to apply to medical school must be the outcome of serious personal reflection about one's motivations and aspirations as these relate to the realities of medical practice such as working with sick people, continuing study for 7-11 years after college, and committment to lifelong learning." (Medical School Admission Requirements, AAMC)
Pre-medical coursework does not inform you about the practice of medicine. As implied above, the life of a practicing physician is far different than your experience taking biology or organic chemistry or humanities, or even anatomy. The only way to know if you would want to BE a physician (as opposed to just learning about medicine) to get exposure to it through books, family members, physician acquaintances, volunteer or paid employment experiences. Is what this professional does on a day-to-day basis what you want to do? What are the pressures and issues a health-care professional faces? Be sure to seriously investigate alternative health careers at the same time; one of these may be better suited to your temperment and to your motivations and interest in health care.
Why Reed? The emphasis on independent learning, critical thinking, and the rigor of the academic environment are excellent preparation for medical school, should you choose this route. Reed provides a very different experience from a typical pre-medical "mill." The lack of emphasis on grades is one of the things that makes our learning environment special. Should you thrive in the Reed environment, your academic preparation and aptitude for a career as a physician will be top-notch. The rest is up to you.
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