This guest post comes from Stefan from StudySuccessful.com, a site about successful studying!.
How to apply for med school in Europe
I’ve read many blogs about studying, and I ran into some posts about ‘applying for med school.’ The American people have to do strange things and are only focused on grades and extracurricular activities. In Europe, it’s just the same!
I’m a high school student in Holland, and I want to study Medicine next year. There are two ways to get there.
1. Through a draw.
Every student who wants to study Medicine is registered and you have to get picked out of a big pile of ‘want to become med school students’. Sounds unfair, but it isn’t that unfair. The better your grades are, more chance you have to be drawn. And if your average grade is above an 8 (on a scale to 10) you are in there anyway. This means the Dutch are also focused on grades, the higher grades you have, more chance you have to join the education you want to do!
2. Through the ‘not central selection.’
This is a way besides the draw, and just for the ones who want to. Only a couple of universities work with this system.
The idea: The University picks you. You have to stand out and show why they should pick YOU. The University where I am applying, the university of Groningen, made us make a letter, in which you have to explain why you should study Medicine. That wasn’t all, you need to make up a CV, with all your extracurricular activities. This is only the first round. The second round is testing and interviewing. And this means some Dutch are all focused on extracurricular activities.
Which extracurricular activities work
I already applied to med school and I’m through the first round at the University of Groningen. They picked me with 300 other out of 900.
What did I have as extracurricular activities?
I participated in several debate competitions, and with my team we made it to the national finals.
The university finds this important because they know you are able to come up for yourself, not afraid to speak in public and have knowledge about anything.
I participated in international sport. This was a tourney with competitive swimming. These achievements mean you can commit yourself to something and complete your goal.
Probably the most important. I’ve worked in a hospital for over a year. Just a part-time job after school. I’m applying to med school, this is one of the best activities you can have. If you are applying, try to find a job in the nearest hospital, whether it is a cleaning job or whatever, it is better than nothing! This means I already have experience with patients, with nurses and with the whole hospital-being. I think this is the best you can do.
Conclusion
Europe doesn’t differ that much from the USA, it’s also focused on grades and focused on extracurricular activities. When you apply for med school, know what you are going to do. Do some extra activities and show universities that they want you, that they NEED you! Good luck all!
Stefan
If you are interesting more about the life of a student in Holland, visit Stefan’s stie, StudySuccessful.com or subscribe to the StudySuccessful RSS feed!
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Well, I’m in a pretty far stage in the ‘applying for medschool’ stage, how far are the readers of VTA? Good luck with your application all!
Stefan you should do a follow up article about how much med school costs in Europe, it would probably amazing most American students.
I got the news I’m certain to join medschool! My grades are good enough, yihoo!