Expert: JM Starkman, MD - 7/14/2009

Question
I have a few questions...

I plan on majoring in mass communications with a minor in french.  But, I
would like to go to med. school to be an anesthesiologist.  Can you give me
some suggestions of what classes I should take that would benefit me?  And,
could you possibly just give me some tips on achieving my goal?  Thanks so
much!

Answer
A Mass Comm major with a French minor is hardly a prerequisite for medical school and, eventually, advanced training towards becoming an anesthsiologist.  The various medical school catalogs out there will detail for you both their typical and more uncommon prerequisites they require for admission.  Give a good selection of them a hard look.

Medical school admission committees seek outstanding applicants and that does not merely mean they want outstanding GPA's in science courses--which they see PLENTY of.  If you have a good GPA and standout as a particularly good communicator by virtue of a minor in communications that might very well be seen as a great benefit-- which would set you apart from the crowd.  That's for much later, though;  core science courses with good grades are a must to get into med school.