Question

Revised 4-28-16

Options for Assignment 7

Exploring Graduate School (and some professional schools)

One main purpose of Assignment 7 is to introduce you to graduate school. Graduate school is something most students have heard of but do not know much about. Students tend to think it is: a) just more "schooling" and b) probably very costly. Neither is necessarily true. In fact, graduate work is very different than undergraduate work and it can be largely cost-free.

Some students will also look at their options for certain professional schools in this assignment, specifically students who are interested in health care professions other than doctor, dentist or vet (see below).

As you will see on the course website, students have four different options for this assignment. These options are as follows:

Most students will take OPTION 1 in which you will explore graduate school. If you choose Option 1, there are THREE versions of the assignment:

One version for students generally interested in organismal biology and ecology and related fields,

including ecology, evolution, conservation biology, animal behavior, zoology, botany, etc.

One version for students interested in cellular or molecular biology, anatomy and physiology,

          or biomedical research.

One version for students going into secondary education.

Students interested in becoming a Physician Assistant should choose OPTION 2 in which you will explore various PA programs.

Students interested in becoming doctors or dentists can choose the first option above, focusing on cell biology/molecular biology/physiology/biomedical sciences. Alternatively, they can choose OPTION 3 in which they will do a hybrid assignment, exploring both graduate school and Physician Assistant programs.

Finally, students interested in a health profession that requires additional schooling after graduation –

other than doctor, dentist, or physician assistant - can choose OPTION 4. They will do a hybrid assignment, exploring both graduate school and post-graduate programs for their chosen profession. This is the best option for students interested in careers such as physical therapy, optometry, genetic counseling, chiropractic medicine, cardiopulmonary therapy and others. For a comprehensive list of alternative careers in health care, see links in the Assignment 2 folder and this site: http://education-portal.com/article_directory/q_p/page/Medical%20and%20Health%20Professions/q_p/Careers_and_Occupations_List.html

Now, some of you may be asking: Why is there no assignment where pre-meds can explore different medical schools? You have one for pre-PA students! And, for that matter, why is there no special assignment for pre-dentistry or pre-veterinary students? Two reasons:

First, pre-medical and pre-veterinary students already had to explore requirements for medical or veterinary school and answer an extra set of detailed questions about what it takes to get into medical or veterinary school back in Assignment 2. We are working on similar materials for dental school.

Second, more than half of students who apply to medical or dental or vet school get rejected. It is not uncommon for such students to do a Master’s degree studying some aspect of human or mammalian physiology, genetics, cell or molecular biology, epidemiology, or some related field and then reapply to medical, dental or veterinary school. The advanced knowledge, scientific/research background, and maturity that comes with attending graduate school can be very attractive to professional schools. Thus we would like pre-med, pre-dent and pre-vet students to learn about graduate school and graduate programs… just in case they need to consider this option.

Answer 1

Option-1--This course is well adapted to the needs of the curriculum and includes basic subjects like ecology,evolutionary biology,zoology,animal behavior,molecular and cellular biology, cell biology,anatomy,physiology and biomedical research. This is important for the development of aptitute and research scenario of the student. The student can develop research methology and academic skills by opting for these subjects. They can excel in the field of academics and scientific research by opting for this group of basic subjects.

Option --2-- This option considers the subjects available for imparting technical medical training in subjects like optometry, cardiac technology, dialysis technology and surgical training where these students can assist doctors and physicians during their diagnosis and analysis of patients. It offers a variety of courses and thus these students have excellent working opportunities in big hospitals and training research development units attached to hospitals. The students learn to operate various scientific medical equipments and software for analyzing the patients under the supervision and analysis of the doctor.

Option 3---The students can opt for various courses mentioned in option-1 and again prepare well for their medical and dental exams which can prove to be very beneficial for them in their career. It is a moral boost and imparts happiness to them.They can serve patients and treat diseases. They can join big hospitals and give consultation to patients at nominal and affordable costs. They can even opt for royal fellowship honorary degree and diploma which can prove out to be beneficial for them. They can even opt for various higher degree certificate diploma courses for very highly reputed medical colleges in USA.

Option- 4-There are wide variety of other courses like physiotherapy, audiometry, speech therapy, child rehabilitation and congenital defects counsellors and experts. They can provide genetic counselling to parents regarding the birth and future of many children in USA.

The other prominent fields include psychology, ayurvedic medicine, and homeopathic medicine where the students can opt for physician assistant and work with qualified doctors and gain experiance. They can learn a lot by working with doctors which can prove out to be very helpful for them in the future. The medical technicians, ward boy and nurses can also provide tremendous help to the doctors.

The doctor can even volunteer to serve patients in rural villages and forests where humans are suffering from many diseases. They can give medicine,vaccines and other important medicinal cure during the spread of epidemic diseases.