Medical

Of all the subjects a person can study at university, there are some that are best studied domestically. Medicine is one of those subjects. Medicine is a specialty. It's not like more general programs such as art or music because there are very strict national and regional guidelines for medical procedures and practices. The precautions for nuclear radiation may be different in Italy or China than they are here in Canada. Therefore it's in your best interests to study medicine in the country you intend to practice in afterward.

There are a variety of medical programs available to study in Canada from specialties that require eight or ten years of extra study, like cardio-thoracic surgery, to medical assistance courses in physical therapy or pediatric dentistry. Each subset of medicine presents its own unique challenges and rewards, and because many of them take so much time and energy, it's important that you choose a program that's going to meet your goals for life and be something that you enjoy. Remember, medicine isn't just a job, it's a lifestyle, so be prepared for it by picking an area you're passionate about.

Choosing a school is another issue that often stumps prospective medical students. There are more differences between medical schools than whether the professors prefer to bind injuries in round slings or triangular ones. There's also how well-respected the degree program is nationally, how hard it is to finish, and whether the university is located in a town you can stand living in for almost a decade. Which medical school you choose will affect what type of doctor you will become and if you end up becoming one at all, so choose wisely.

You may think it would be easier to get into international hockey school and become a professional hockey player than it would be to get into medical school, and in some cases you would be right. A medical school application is not something to be taken lightly. In order to be successful you must start preparing for the requirements years in advance, so you would be well-advised to research what these requirements are and to seek out some tips (like those in our series of articles) on applying successfully.

These are just some of the things you may have to think about, and you can find the answers to a lot of the questions posed here in our series of articles on studying medicine domestically. While they are helpful, remember that the articles are just a starting point on a long journey. Becoming a doctor takes a lot of work, so if you're not willing to keep reading here, that's an indication that you may not be suited for the profession after all. If that's the case, perhaps you should drop your dreams of medical school and make your own business cards for a living instead. All you need for that is some card stock and a laser printer.