Hi! Are there any programs that an 8th grader could take that would benefit their path going into Medicine?Answered
I am about to be an 8th grader, I am mainly going to be taking mainly high school courses next year and I would like to be able to join medical programs that are available for my age - range. Are there any tips and tricks into knowing if we are allow to shadow various doctors, or researchers or anything that could help me with advancing my academic progress. I need all the help I can get at the moment!
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3 answers
Hey there! It sounds like you're off to a great head start. Here are some programs and activities worth looking into:
1. Medical Explorer or Hospital Volunteering Programs: Some hospitals offer programs for middle or early high school students. These can give early exposure to healthcare environments.
2. Local College STEM Camps: Many universities and colleges host summer science camps for middle school students (e.g., biology, anatomy, health sciences).
3. HOSA (Future Health Professionals): If your school has a chapter or you can join one in high school, HOSA offers competitions, leadership training, and medical knowledge activities.
4. NSLC Medicine & Health Care Program: Although typically for high schoolers, advanced middle school students might be able to find similar camps focused on medicine and leadership.
Don't forget to focus on strong performance in science and math in high school! I'd also recommend checking out Human Anatomy & Physiology on Khan Academy. And if you really want to find as much as you can, I'd recommend the book Gifted Hands by Ben Carson.
Participate in science fairs, math competitions, or Science Olympiad. I'd also recommend checking out YouTube channels like Osmosis or SciShow. And of course, medicine isn't just about science; it's also about people. Get involved in community service, leadership roles, or communication-focused activities.
Best of luck to you! Hope this helps :)
Hey there!
I was in 8th grade this year, and there honestly aren’t a ton of programs at a local, public middle school, per se. Or at least in my area. However, there are college camps you could probably take (it depends on colleges near you) that could help you this summer. Anything at a hospital or volunteering would probably be great. I would say experience and exposure to what you want to do is really important so you can kind of narrow down what you’d like to do in the medical industry and focus on that area/medical field. You also have to work well with people, so make sure you get involved in humanitarian aid and things like that. From personal experience in middle school, your grades will start to actually matter in high school so just learn as much as you can and don’t stress about your grades too much. Unless, of course, you are getting below B-‘s. That’s when you might want to start caring just a little bit. Jokes aside, experience, exposure, and anything online will help. (hey, that was kind of alliteration!)
Good luck!
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Thank you SO MUCH! I will definitely be applying to some of these programs.