Preparation for a Career in Medicine

By Ted Johnson, St. Olaf College

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.” – Henry David Thoreau

This advising manual is intended for St. Olaf students who are in the process of deciding what path their future career will take in the health professions. You are embarking on a long journey; pay attention to the scenery, off ramps and rest stops along the way. Allopathic medicine (M.D.) will be the focus of this document. A brief overview of osteopathic medicine is given later in the material. The coursework and preparation for a career as a physician is difficult. The path to medical school is full of uncertainty, anxiety, self-doubt, and often disappointment. The medical landscape is constantly changing presenting challenges to both the student and the advisor. No typical "pre-med" exists, with each student presenting different questions and concerns within a backdrop of unbridled optimism. Many hurdles must be crossed before a student is successful at gaining admission to medical school, which in reality is the beginning of another long journey to a career as a physician. Students interested in medicine cannot be myopic but must consider other options and opportunities as they pursue medicine. A majority of pre-med students will find other rewarding careers during their pre-med studies.

The purpose of this document is to provide rudimentary information for the use of students interested in a career in medicine. If you are interested in investigating other careers in the Biomedical field such as dentistry or physical therapy, consult the advising book Finding Your Way in the Health Professions, available from Ted Johnson. Any mistakes, omissions, or misinformation are the author's. Any unanswered questions or concerns may be directed to anyone on the Health Professions Committee (HPC).

Health Professions Committee

The Health Professions Committee (HPC) is composed of faculty in Natural Science and Mathematics who are involved in teaching courses and advising students interested in health-related careers. Karen Renneke, Academic Administrative Assistant (AAA) in Chemistry supports the committee by scheduling activities, distributing materials to students and preparing the HPC Letter of Evaluation as part of the student's dossier when applying for entrance into health professions schools.

The current members of the HPC are:

 

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