This may be the most stressful moment of your life. And why not? You are choosing your destination for the next 5-6 years. The place where you are going to face some of your happiest, most enjoyable and difficult moments.

This topic lies close to home for me. I’ve seen friends question their chosen Medical school. I’ve seen them crying and worrying over their actions. Regretting them. I’ve witnessed students change their careers because of the lack of information they have after High school.

This decision will impact the rest of your life. As a doctor, the knowledge you have gained in Medical school could be the difference between life and death. It is crucial that you make a correct choice.

To help you get it right, I’ve listed 5 things to do before choosing a Medical school.

 

Know Yourself

Admission into Medical school relies mainly on two things; your grades and finances.

In many cases, we see students worry over their grades in the last semester or year of High school. And only evaluate their finances after they get their results. What they don’t know is that the admission process into a university is a long one. Students that prepare and research from the start, leave for Medical school sooner than students that keep everything to the last minute. 

With that said, many often forget the dozens of other factors they should ponder over. For instance, the state of the city/country they are moving to, cost of living, climate, crime rates and racism. 

Recently, students that were studying in Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict of 2013 faced some devastating problems. A lot of them had to transfer to other countries, and as a result lost valuable time and money in the pursue to become a doctor.

For some, it could be difficult living in the harsh winters of Belarus, and for others they might not easily adjust to the food available in Nepal. Know yourself before you make a decision.

 

Research, Research, Research

Possibly what we all spend the most time doing; sitting in front of the computer.

Whether it is going through the university ranking list, reading reviews or going through the university website, research is an essential part in choosing a Medical school. It is one step that should not be skipped.

The QS World University Ranking and Times High World University Ranking list are among some of the trusted sources available to students. Yet, we see that most of the Maldivian students join universities that are not among the top 1000 universities of the world. Does this mean that they made a wrong decision? Or are they at a competitive disadvantage compared to there peers? Absolutely not. 

Some of the most successful doctors currently working in the Maldives graduated from universities in developing countries, that are not among the top. Even though good facilities available in a university is necessary, the doctor you become depends on your own hard work.

Furthermore, students should be aware of dishonest agents. I’ve heard of situations where students had to restart their courses due to fake admission certificates. In other cases, agents have demanded for money that has not been agreed to before. They go as far as to hold your certificates until they receive the money. Moreover, some agents give false information regarding facilities available and the teaching syllabus. The best way to avoid dishonest agents is to contact students that have gone through them before.

Finally, do not forget to go through scholarship opportunities available. It can relieve the huge financial burden on your shoulders. One of the most common places for new scholarships is the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) website.

 

MMDC

The Maldives Medical and Dental Council (MMDC) list of approved colleges (view it here), gives you your options in terms of a university. After the formation of the council in 2013, students can only pursue Medicine in universities that has been approved by the council members. This is a big step towards the quality control of doctors working in the Maldives, however, this also means that students need to be wary of the laws and regulations.

Recently, on the 8th of January, MMDC announced that they longer accept Pre-medicine courses as a minimum entry criteria for MBBS/MD and BDS. It is not the first time that the council had changed their laws. This is why it is of vital importance that each student gets a letter from the council stating that they recognize the university for MBBS, MD or BDS, and the student as eligible. This letter can be obtained after submitting your certificates and a letter mentioning your desired university to the MMDC office situated in the Health Ministry building.

I would also like to mention that some Maldivian students are currently studying or have recently graduated from a university that is not listed in the MMDC list of approved colleges. Hence, the only way to know if you can pursue Medicine in the university of your choice is to follow the steps I listed out before.

 

Contact Current Students

By this time, you should have a couple of universities on your mind that interests you.

In my opinion, the most important step you should take is talking to current students that study in the university of your choice. No one would know the ins and outs of the university more than a student that studies there. 

One point that you should keep in mind is to contact as many students as possible. No two students would have the same experience. Their views on the university will be different. While the facilities may be excellent for one, it may not be worth it for the other. Be sure to ask them for explanations regarding their opinion. After hearing both sides, ultimately, the decision is yours.

The goal of the My Medical Student Life series here on Doctor.mv, is to make the current student experience more accessible to those that are interested to join a Medical school. Make sure you read as many interviews as possible to know more about the student life and overall view on the university.

 

Graduates

Graduates are a clear indication of the university’s performance. Are they working at big hospitals? Are they recognized by their peers? How well did they do on the licensing exam of the country?

Many universities release the pass percentage for their graduates. For example, the Philippines release board exam passing rates for Doctor of Medicine course each year. The list includes the top-ranking Medical schools of the country.

If you see a successful doctor working in your community do not hesitate to ask them about their education. Most of them are more than happy to share their experience and thoughts.

 

Conclusion

Following these steps can help you find a university that matches your needs and wants. Analyze yourself, do your research and talk to as many students/graduates as you can.

No matter where you choose to go, make sure you give your 100%. A successful doctor is not made inside a university, but through his or her own effort and dedication.

 

Should there be something else included in this list? Let us know in the comments below!

 

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