3 Ways To Get Into Medicine and Which Is The Best Method For You?
Source: mytopschools
Living your dream
One last semester of medical school and though I am supposed to be relishing the last few months of my MBChB, I can’t help but think back to the last decade of my life. Yes, it’s taken a full decade to finally get to this point and No!, it has not been easy. Looking back I came to the realisation as to just how the most fulfilling journey of my life was so tumultuous! Through it all, I am extremely grateful for having lived to tell the tall. And here, it is the long and the short of How To Get Into Medicine and The Best Way For You. I say The Best Way For You, but in reality it’s more the best that you settle for as one method does not work out. I have only focused on three because as you start looking at international options the choices become endless. We will start with the easiest method first and proceed to the more difficult methods - what makes things get more difficult is your waning motivation and desire in the face of rejection. As real as the challenges which you face to get into medicine, might be - believe me they are necessary to prepare you for what to expect on the other side of that acceptance letter. Yes, you will get the acceptance and you will become an exceptional Healthcare Professional - but first things first, let’s get into it! If you have any questions do feel free to drop me line on my 4uture Skillx Profile - or better book a Skill Exchange session and let’s learn from each other.
When I grow up I want to become a Doctor
The easiest way as you will come to realise and probably the luckiest method of getting into medicine is straight out of school! When you were in pre-primary school or grade 1 you may recall being asked the age old question of what you wanted to be when you grow up? And you may vividly remember how you jumped up and emphatically responded with "A Dr, when I grow up I want to be a Dr!” And no-one was going to stop you, well at least not the first time you try to become one at least. Getting into medicine straight from high school might be the easiest way, but it definitely has its challenges.
Source:https://briefly.co.za
Which is the Best medical school?
Medicine is a calling and not just a vocation and in order to answer to this calling you need to be a certain type of person. This already becomes clear when you see the applications of most medical schools - in South Africa you don’t have much choice either, as of 2022 these are the accredited medical schools in the country:
University of Cape Town
University of Limpopo
University of Pretoria
University of The Witwatersrand
University of Free State
University of KwaZulu Natal
Nelson Mandela University
Sefako Makgatho University
Stellenbosch University
Walter Sisulu University
Well now that we know them and though you might instinctively want to ask "Which one is the best?”The reality is that what matters much more is getting in Anywhere! Though most of the universities may the list their requirements, what is less obvious is the type of person they are looking for.
Source: Bladendokter
Let's discuss the different ways you stand a better chance of getting into medicine:
From high school to medicine
NSC Requirements:
English Home Language OR First Additional Language Level 5
Mathematics Level 6
Life Sciences AND/OR Physical Science Level 5
APS= 35
National Benchmark Test (NBT)
From BSC to medicine
To be eligible for the midyear selection, students must have an APS of at least 35 and a minimum of 70% for Mathematics in their final NSC or equivalent examination. Only first-year registered BSc students at UP with no previous tertiary (University, University of Technology or College) training will be considered. Students enrolled for the BSc Extended programme – Biological and Agricultural Sciences, do not qualify to apply for the mid-year intake. Admission is subject to a selection process and complying with the requirements does not guarantee admission.
Students must register for the following modules to be considered:
-CMY 117: General chemistry
-PHY 131: General physics
-MLB 111: Molecular and cell biology
-MGW 112: People and their environment
- FIL 155: Science and worldviews
- MTL 180: Medical terminology
Source: theRightU
Completed university degree to medicine
A completed undergraduate university degree at a minimum of Bachelor’s or Bachelor of Technology degree level with an average of at least 60% over the final two completed years of study. National Diplomas, Technical Diplomas, Certificates and similar qualifications cannot be considered for entry. We also accept applications from applicants who are in their final year of study towards their current university degree.
3.1 Sciences, Mathematics & Languages Requirements: (ALL of the following are compulsory)
a)50% for first year university degree level Biology (Full course). Equivalent courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, Zoology, Life Sciences and similar courses will also be considered.
b)50% for first year university degree level Physics (Half Course).
c)50% for first year university degree level Chemistry (Half Course).
d)The above three subjects MUST be completed at first-year of a university Bachelor's degree or higher. Diploma or certificate studies will not be considered.
3.2 Mathematics Requirement: (One of the following possibilities) *
a)60% for Matric Mathematics (National Senior Certificate (NSC) - 2008 to present) or
b)Pass on Higher Grade or 60% on Standard Grade for Matric Mathematics (Pre-2008) or
c)50% for a full-course Mathematics at first year university degree level.
d)Applicants with international school-leaving qualifications:
60% for Mathematics from any foreign school-leaving qualification deemed as equivalent to either the South African National Senior Certificate or the Cambridge AS-/A-levels by Universities South Africa Matriculation Board (https://mb.usaf.ac.za)
3.3 Language Requirement: (One of the following possibilities) *
60% for Matric English Home Language or First Additional Language (National Senior Certificate (NSC) - 2008 to present) or
Pass on Higher Grade Matric English First or Second Language (Pre-2008) or
50% for a full-course English at first year university degree level.
International applicants:
Score of at least 7 for the IELTS test (International English Language Test System) or
A pass in English Language at the GCSE/GCE/IGSCE Ordinary level (or equivalent examination) or
Pass in English in a school-leaving examination equivalent to the South African National Senior Certificate or
If the tertiary studies were at an English-medium institution, a letter from that institution stating that instruction and examinations were conducted in English must be provided.
Items marked "*" (Numbers 2,3 and 4) are Pre-requisites, so these MUST have been completed before the application closing date. Results must be forwarded to the Senior Faculty Officer.
Applicants to the GEMP are not required to write the National Benchmark Test (NBT).
The WAPT is a selection test for the GEMP that is written only once per year and the test is only open to invited applicants. Applicants prepare for this test purely by self-study. The content covered in the WAPT are related to the courses covered by MBBCh students in their second year of study and the knowledge is essential for future success in the degree. The Faculty recommends that all applicants start to prepare for the test once their application is submitted to enable them to perform well in the test.
4. The Road to success
Finally getting into medicine requires hard work, dedication and perseverance. If you get rejected after your first, second or even third application attempt, there is no room for giving up, fight until your dream is realized. Truth is the journey was never meant to be an easy one if you truly want this. Once you get accepted the journey is a long and beautiful one and success awaits you on the other side.
Source: medconnect europe
