Are you a parent who’s wondering how to help your teen get into medical school? You probably feel excited and nervous about your teen’s impending success. Along with love and support, you can encourage your teen to gain critical skills needed for a career in medicine. This includes encouraging them to find the right college and encouraging them on the registration for the MCAT.
1. Encourage Your Teen to Study for the Exam
If your teen hasn’t signed up for the MCAT, then remind them of the importance of the registration for the MCAT. The MCAT is a multiple-choice exam that tests their knowledge on biology, critical thinking, and physical and social sciences. It’s one of the most important factors for medical school admission. The average MCAT score is 508 out of a range from 472 to 528.
Your teen should set aside 300 to 350 hours dedicated to studying. You can purchase study materials and allow your teen to study on his or her own time. Or, they can hire a private tutor or take a practice test. Sometimes using a combination of these methods can help your teen score high on the test.
If your teen is stuck, a pre-health advisor can help them find the right resources that help them succeed. For example, your teen may benefit from joining a pre-health association or club at their school. Students use numerous methods to help them prepare for the exam. In addition, speakers host events to help students gain the knowledge and skills they need.
2. Prevent Burnout Before it Happens
Remember, it’s all about balance. Balancing college, extracurricular activities, and relationships can be difficult for students. Most of these activities are competing for their time and attention. Just because they’re in college doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be fully involved with their life still. You can find ways to keep up with your teen’s college life such as meeting up for lunch or dinner.
You should also teach your teen the importance of practicing self-care. For example, your teen can exercise or blow off steam by engaging in their favorite pastime. This allows your teen to focus on themselves rather than their academics all the time. Your teen will learn how to prioritize tasks and determine which ones to focus on at hand.
3. Help Them Choose the Best Path for Success
Aside from helping your teen relax and prepare for the exam, you should also encourage them to make the right decisions that will set them on a successful path to medical school. Help your teen choose the right undergraduate college or university that best fits their needs. Determining factors often include campus support, cost, institution size, and location. The goal is to find a college where your teen can succeed and improves their chances of academic success.
It’s also important to find a school that fosters happy and healthy students. Most medical schools don’t want the smartest students. They want a well-rounded student who has his or her own interests and activities.
You should also help your teen identify which major interests them and challenges them academically. While most students end up in a science major, both non-science and science majors are sufficient for entrance in medical school. Your teen should also schedule an appointment with his or her pre-med adviser during the first semester to satisfy the prerequisites for the medical school application process and taking the MCAT.
Your teen should also participate in multiple extracurricular activities to become a well-rounded individual. Some of these activities should spark your teen’s interests and help get out of his or her comfort zone. Even internships and summer programs can help your teen gain knowledge of math and science topics.