The demand for doctors is continuously rising, but so is the demand for medical school seats. Securing admission to a renowned medical school is challenging due to this high competition and limited seats. As the U.S. and Canadian medical schools have low acceptance rates and high tuition fees, Caribbean medical schools are emerging as a favorite alternative for aspiring students.
Caribbean medical schools have high acceptance rates and provide quality education with a well-structured curriculum. However, developing certain skills through practice and studies will help you fulfill the medical school requirements with ease and secure a spot in the MD program.
It’s important to gain an understanding of some of the skills you need for medical school and the MD program admission requirements.
What are the skills you need before starting the MD program?
Medical schools expect an ideal student to possess certain skills such as communication, science competency, critical thinking, and technical awareness.
These are crucial to ensure a smooth flow of studies and training during the MD program. Let’s take a detailed look at each of them:
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Communication
Interpersonal skills are integral to completing your medical education successfully. You must be able to communicate and network well with different groups of people such as teachers, seniors, peers, doctors, and patients. Your social skills and teamwork are what take you through challenging times and particularly clinical rotations.
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Science competency
An ideal medical student must have a basic awareness of several science subjects whichever educational background they hail from. You must understand standard concepts in biology, chemistry, and biochemistry before starting your medical education.
Only those with pre-requisite coursework in basic science subjects are accepted by medical schools.
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Technical skills
Clinical rotations are the period during which you will master various technical skills in medicine. More of this will follow during the residency program. However, having basic technical skills and awareness can make your clinical years easier and less stressful.
To acquire technical skills, you can do volunteer work in healthcare facilities or shadow physicians at clinics.
Along with these skills, having additional personal skills such as time management and organization can help you a lot during your MD program.
What are the medical school requirements?
Medical schools require you to fulfill certain criteria before applying for an MD program. Take a look at the standard medical school requirements:
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Pre-requisite coursework
Completing pre-medical coursework ensures your understanding of basic science and English subjects. The coursework consists of one academic year each of biology or zoology, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, and college-level English. The science courses must also include laboratory components.
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MCAT
MCAT is mandatory for all students who are U.S. citizens and those with outdated pre-med coursework. Although voluntary, it is strongly recommended for all other students too.
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English proficiency
To ensure smooth communication and understanding of the curriculum, all students who are non-natives must present proof of English language proficiency such as a TOEFL or IELTS certificate.
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Experience
Any previous patient care experience can increase your likelihood of getting a seat for the MD program. A minimum of 50 hours of patient care experience is recommended by most medical schools.
Develop essential skills and apply for an MD program at your favorite medical school today.
