Question: I'm a high school sophomore, I have a GPA of 4.17, i was in Varsity swim last year, track and field this year and last, habitat for humanity, french club, tutoring club, MUN....and I really want to heal. Yea, maybe that sounds a bit too spiritual, but that really is what i would like to do with my life...except I'm really afraid that I won't get into the righ college, and if this dream is really right for me...everybody says that I should just do business or economics like my brother, but I really want to do medicine...help!
Answer: All that stuff is fine, but it means nothing. The only thing that will determine if you can be a doctor, is if you can make it through med school.
It's very, very hard. Smart, dedicated people end up dropping out all the time, because they can't hack it, or realize they can't handle the more gruesome aspects of it.
Others:
I was premed in college but ultimately decided to pursue another career. Some of my friends are now in medical school, so I have some experience in the process of becoming a doctor. The most important component of becoming a doctor is wanting it, and for the right reasons. Even if you are not the smartest or most able, if you are driven enough you can do it. I wanted it for the money, but realized I could get paid as much doing less stressful, demanding work. You must devote yourself fully but it is possible. Everyone has shortcomings, it is the drive to succeed that will enable you to overcome those faults and be the well-rounded, high-achieving candidate that med schools are looking for.