Way to Medical School A Guide by Medical Students
Welcome F
irst of all, congratulations on getting through your A-levels. I assure you, they are the worst exams you can sit for and they're finally over. The Medicine and Surgery course has one unique feature which I believe other courses do not encompass: it permeates your life as you will be dealing with life itself at its very core. You will talk about the course (more often than you can imagine) with many people, including your family and significant others. The course also has a reputation for being notoriously difficult however the situation is simple: If you don't succeed, it's because you had too much fun or too little - it's all about balance.
Darren Galea
I t’s impossible to sum up this course in just a few lines however this course has been better than I ever expected it to be on so many fronts! This course has given me a lot of satisfaction and I have also come across a lot of amazing people and many new experiences. I definitely have no regrets over choosing this path as a career. Gregory Apap Bologna
What is it all about? M
ed School: A brand new experience! New friends, new challenges, new opportunities... Life as a medical student is great. Not only is the course interesting, and constantly of relevance to our future carrier, it is also embellished with fun-packed and life-changing experiences, such as those organized by the Malta Medical Students' Association. The Medical Course consists of two Pre-Clinical and three Clinical years. The former aim to equip the medical student with a sound knowledge of basic principles which one would apply later on in the course and throughout the Medical profession. Although they may seem to drag a little bit because there is no patient contact, the Pre-Clinical years are an amazing opportunity to enjoy life of Campus. The Clinical years are far more interesting, you start getting a taste of what being a doctor is really all about. There is lots of contact with patients, with students being allowed on ward rounds and also allowed to scrub in during surgeries! Overall, the Medical Course is a highly demanding one. There is tonnes of material to learn and to study, and it tends to get rather stressful during the exam period. There will be times where you might feel you might not make it or that you'd rather be on a beach somewhere rather than learning off all that Anatomy! However, don't let this put you off Medicine, if you really want it, you will make it! Wishing all the prospective Medical Students the best of luck throughout the Medical Course. We look forward to meeting you! Sarah Micallef
A word from the Medical Education Officers D
ear prospective medical students,
Before we encourage you to join the medical course, we are not telling you it is going to be easy. But we can assure you that you are not alone. The Malta Medical Students' Association (the MMSA) is an organization made up of enthusiastic medical students who are more than willing to help you adjust and offer any advice to make your transition into medical school as smooth as possible. The Standing Committee on Medical Education (SCOME) is the division of the MMSA responsible for student representation and supplementing the curriculum as much as possible, giving you the key to become a skilled and well rounded doctor. Any questions or concerns can be send to scome@mmsa.org.mt and be sure to like the MMSA - SCOME facebook page for important updates and events. While medical school can be a challenge, the more you learn the more motivated and enthusiastic you become. It can seem endless at times but the journey through med school is not only one of the best ones you will experience, but also one of the most memorable. This is evident in the many active members of the MMSA, who dedicate so much time towards it but gain so much more in return - mainly friends, skills and experience. As dedicated SCOMEdians, we encourage you to get as involved as possible if you decide to choose this path. Please contact us with any questions you have - we're here for you! Rebecca Stoner - Medical Education Officer '13-'14 Sarah Catania - Medical Education Officer '14-'15
For the unsure ones ... H
ere are some Pointers if you're unsure:
Think about WHY you want to be a doctor The course isn't easy (you will definitely need to study) You'll have good times and bad times But being a medical student isn't all about studying. It does have it's perks It's fun! It's rewarding And don't forget MMSA (that's the student association) - get involved and you'll love it Don't do it for "glory" or "status" or money. At the end of the day, you choose a course (ANY COURSE) for the end result - the job - and not for the course itself, so stick through it! Don't be afraid to repeat a year for your grades if you need to. If it's really what you want 1 year is far from a waste - Remember failure isn't falling down, it's not getting up. If this is really what you want. Chase your dream! Paul Cassar
Contact us
for more information scome@mmsa.org.mt
Design and Layout by Kurt Apap Published by the Malta Medical Students' Association July 2014