Is it your dream to become a doctor? Being a doctor is a prestigious and coveted profession that can be very meaningful and fulfilling. Many kids aspire to become a doctor when they grow up, but the path to medical school is not for everyone!
Getting into medical school anywhere in the world is highly competitive, and especially so for world-class facilities like our local medical schools in NUS and NTU. Besides getting good grades, you need to show that you have the required qualities and soft skills to become a good medical professional.
If you have got your eyes on the medical pathway, you need to start preparing early – planning your route from secondary school. Here are some of the most basic requirements you would need:
1. A level Chemistry, and Physics/Biology
Most medical courses require applicants to have taken Chemistry at A Level or an equivalent qualification (e.g. IB Chemistry). For Singapore medical courses at NTU and NUS, applicants need to take one other science (Physics or Biology) as well. It is also possible to enter medical school with a healthcare related polytechnic qualification.
As a result, most medical school hopefuls aim for the science stream at A Levels. If you are not a JC student yet, you can start preparing now by ensuring you have good science grades to choose the right subject combination in JC.
2. Excellent academic results
Having the required subjects is not enough to get into medical school. As it is very competitive to get into the top medical schools, you may not even pass the admissions if you have all ‘A’s for every subject. That’s how competitive it can get!
Thus, getting straight ‘A’s is considered a ‘minimum requirement’ to get into prestigious medical schools. There’s no shame in getting help through tuition for some of your weaker sciences if you require it. At Future Academy, we have helped students in our H2 Maths Tuition who have gone on to be accepted to medical school in Singapore!
3. A heart for health and people
What the university admissions board wants to see is a genuine passion for healthcare and people. Besides writing about this in your personal statement, you should also be able to demonstrate this through relevant community service projects or medical-related apprenticeships in your portfolio.
If you have none of this under your belt yet, it is worth seeking out some of this opportunities early on – especially during your holidays or before your busy exam periods. Doing some of these projects and extra-curricular activities will also help you develop time management skills and allows you to explore the areas you are really interested in serving.
4. Soft skills
Being intelligent is just one requirement to being a medical professional. As a front-facing job, doctors also need to possess strong communication skills, empathy, and leadership.
Having a strong portfolio showcasing your involvement in CCA, community projects, and references from teachers can really amplify your abilities to the university admissions team. You should also be prepared with relevant anecdotes to share during your interview.
As the interview process is your one and only chance to impress the admissions officers in person, knowing how to present yourself well is critical. Future Academy provides interview preparatory lessons so you can learn tips and get practice to ace that upcoming interview.
Conclusion
Your road to becoming a doctor starts right now, with putting in the work for your studies and portfolio. There are definitely times when it will feel difficult, but it will also be a time of major growth and opportunities for you if you stick to it!
Here at Future Academy, we want to help students achieve their study goals and empower their future. Whether it is through classes like our JC Chem Tuition or interview preparation training, we can provide you the support you need to get you closer to your aspirations. Enquire today to see how we can work together for your future!