So, You Want To Be A Doctor? Find Out What High School Subjects Can Help You Get There
By Corrine Vish, Director, International Admissions at St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine
For any Thai secondary school students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, the high school subjects they choose to study can have a significant impact on their future. It does not matter if they take Thai M6, A Levels or an International Baccalaureate (IB) secondary school curriculum, in order to become a doctor, students must have a strong foundation in several key subjects, including Biology, Chemistry, Math, Physics, and English.
Understanding the relevance of these subjects to medicine, as well as how they will be expanded upon in medical school, can help students make informed decisions when choosing what educational streams or subjects to focus on.
- Biology
Biology is a fundamental subject for those interested in medicine, as it provides the foundation for understanding the structure and function of living organisms. Topics covered in high school include genetics, cell biology, and physiology, which are all directly related to medical studies. Medical students will further this by learning about how the human body works, and how it responds to disease.
- Chemistry
Chemistry is another essential subject for pre-medical students, as it introduces them to the molecular basis of life. High school chemistry covers organic and inorganic chemistry, which are crucial for knowing how drugs work and how chemical reactions take place in the human body. In addition to that, medical students will learn about the structure and properties of different drugs.
- Math
Whilst not the most obvious subject, math is important for pre-medical students. Calculus, statistics, and probability are all essential to decode medical data, such as diagnostic tests and clinical trials. In medical school, students will learn how to analyze and interpret data in order to make informed decisions about patient care.
- Physics
Physics teaches students about mechanics, electricity, and thermodynamics. These branches of physics will equip medical students to learn about the principles of medical imaging, such as X-rays and MRI, and how they are used to diagnose and treat disease during their medical education journey.
- English
As medical students are expected to communicate complex scientific and medical concepts to their colleagues and peers, and patients when they become practicing doctors, English is another crucial subject for pre-medical students. Therefore, they must be adequate at writing, critical reading, and public speaking.
SGU’s curriculum aims to transform students from basic sciences into students who can deal with patients and their problems in a hospital or outpatient clinic. To do this, numerous new clinical skills, professional behaviors and considerable medical knowledge must be added to that which the student has previously acquired. Therefore, by choosing subjects like biology, chemistry, math, physics, and English, students can lay a strong foundation to prepare them for medical school and to pursue a career in this evolving field.
Over the years, many Thai students have chosen to study at SGU and they were well equipped with these subjects. They have graduated and have practiced in the US, the UK and Thailand across a variety of specialities like emergency medicine, internal medicine and nephrology.
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About St. George’s University, School of Medicine
Founded in 1976 with the goal of drawing the best talent and practices from around the world, St. George’s University (SGU) has become a center for academic excellence worldwide. With students and faculty drawn from more than 150 countries, SGU is truly an international institution, with a uniquely global perspective, poised to help educate students in this rapidly changing world. St. George’s University School of Medicine has a four-year Doctor of Medicine degree program or offers five-, six-, and seven-year pathways to its Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program with entry points available for students from any education system around the world. SGU has a unique opportunity for students to begin their medical career in Grenada or the United Kingdom.
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