Nothing can make a parent prouder than your child deciding to become one of tomorrow’s healers. The path to becoming a doctor is long and challenging, which is why the profession is so selective. Medical school is different than any previous academic level. Significant mental preparation is required on your child’s part. Preparing your child and providing emotional support will increase the likelihood that your child will succeed.
Help with MCAT Test Prep
The MCAT test is the entrance test for medical school. The cost to take the test is $315. The test is heavy on critical thinking because doctors must apply their knowledge. Vigorous studying is non-negotiable, so helping your child to study is the best way to show your support before the journey even begins. Your child may not be aware that online MCAT prep is available, so you should inform him or her of that resource. Some online MCAT prep is free, and some websites may charge. Regardless, they should take advantage of any practice they can get.
Provide Financial Support and Guidance
The hours in medical school and significant amount of studying time outside the classroom that is required makes it impossible for a medical student to have a part-time job. A full-time job is out of the question. While you may have had a valid point for making your child work in high school and college to learn responsibility, having them work in medical school is unreasonable. Encourage your child to start saving before medical school to have a fund that can help him or her pay for their basic essentials (e.g. gasoline, clothes, leisure, etc.). If it is too late for your child to start saving, give him or her an allowance. The cost of medical school will most likely make your child go over their limit for a federal student loan, so you will have to be willing to co-sign a private student loan.
Talk to them About Balancing their Life
While your child may already know the significant amount of time medical school will consume, nothing can prepare him or her for balancing his or her life until they actually start. His or her social life will become difficult, and maintaining a relationship will be even more challenging. You should sit down with him or her and discuss how they plan on balancing his or her life.
Be Realistic about the Possible Outcomes
Only 80 percent of medical students finish in four years. Many medical students drop out due to various reasons (e.g. realizing the medical field is not for him or her, financial reasons, life circumstances, and academic rigor). Remember that a doctor is not the only profession for intelligent people, and medicine is not for all intelligent people. Be realistic about the possibility that your child may not finish medical school and let him or know they you will be proud regardless of the profession that he or she chooses in the end.
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