How to study medicine after 12th

How to study medicine after 12th – Medicine is a career driven by service where you are tasked with putting others first. It is an occupation where your field of expertise continually expands and one which allows you to be a life-long learner. The profession requires skills like quick thinking and decision-making. So how do go about pursuing a career in medicine? At school level, one needs to opt for Science stream with Biology as a subject.

You will be required to put in a lot of effort as the competition to be admitted to medical school is stiff, as is the course work that follows. It requires discipline and critical thinking. Despite the challenges, it is the prospect of the future reward that should drive you. A career in medicine is one of respect and the work you do is important to both the individual and community. This article on ‘How to study medicine after 12th’ will guide you on your way to make a career in medicine and suggest all the top medical career options.

Which Medical Course is Best After 12th?

The best course in medicine will always depend upon a person's interests and long-term career goals. Students should research each option thoroughly and consider their passions and strengths, and consult with professionals in the field to make an informed decision about the most suitable medical course after 12th grade. Each course has its unique challenges and rewards, so choose the one that aligns with your passion and dedication to healthcare. Some of the popular available options include, MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, BPT, B.Pharm etc.

Studying medicine after 12th - Getting admission in MBBS

After completing your school in Science stream with Biology as the main subject, you will be required to appear for entrance exams conducted for admission into undergraduate medical programme BDS (Bachelors of Dental Surgery) or MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). NEET, AIIMS and JIPMER are the three exams conducted for entry into undergraduate MBBS programmes all over India.

The MBBS programme is a five and a half year programme inclusive of 1 year of internship. The programme teaches the basic pre and para-clinical subjects such as biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology. The students simultaneously obtain hands-on training in the wards and out-patient departments, where they interact with real patients for five long years.

The curriculum aims to inculcate standard protocols of history taking, examination, differential diagnosis and complete patient management. The student is taught to determine what investigations will be useful for a patient and what the best treatment options available are. The curriculum also contains a thorough practical knowledge and practice of performing standard clinical procedures. During the 12-month-long internship, an intern is rotated across various specialties. Besides standard clinical care, one also gets a thorough experience of ward management, staff management and thorough counselling skills. The top medical colleges offering MBBS are listed below.

Where to study medicine after 12th - Top Medical Colleges in India

NEET UG

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a national level single entrance test conducted for admissions to approximately 90,000 MBBS and BDS seats across the country. A candidate of 17 years of age who cleared class 12th with at least 50% marks can apply for the entrance exam. There is no upper age limit for appearing in NEET this year which might be reintroduced next year. It is conducted in May every year.

AIIMS

To be admitted into the M.B.B.S program at AIIMS New Delhi, applicants are required to sit for the NEET entrance examination and achieve a satisfactory score. The examination is conducted for admissions to MBBS programs offered in AIIMS, New Delhi, and the eight other AIIMS campuses located at Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Guntur and Nagpur. NEET exam is conducted usually in May every year with results declared in June.

JIPMER

Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) admission is also conducted through a common entrance exam NEET in May every year. The duration of the exam is 2.5 hours with a total of 200 questions.

Studying medicine after 12th - What after MBBS?

After obtaining your MBBS degree, you can specialise as a Physician or Surgeon by going for MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Masters in Surgery) or MDS (Masters of Dental Surgery). The admissions for 3-year post-graduate programme is based on a common entrance test NEET-PG, AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG etc. The branch for specialising is then decided during counselling. According to the rank, a candidate gets the option to choose between the available branches. After completing their MD or MS, candidates can pursue super-specialisation by pursuing 3 year M.Ch programme. Top colleges offering MD or MS are mentioned below.

Colleges offering MD/MS

AIIMS PG

The IIMS PG 2023 program has been replaced by the INI CET. AIIMS administers INI CET and INI SS entrance tests, which are national-level medical examinations designed to provide admission opportunities for MD/MS and DM/M.Ch courses. However, in programs such as DM/MCh and MD, etc., admissions have previously been granted based on performance in the AIIMS PG exam. The 3-hour duration exam consists of 200 objective-type multiple-choice questions. Every correct answer carries 1 mark while 1/3rd mark is deducted for every incorrect attempt.

NEET PG

NEET PG is conducted in January every year for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma courses. The exam with MCQ based questions format carries 300 questions. The duration of the exam is 3 hours and 30 minutes. One mark is deducted for every incorrect attempt.

JIPMER PG

For admission to MD, MS, DM (6 years), MCh, and MDS courses, applicants will be required to take the INI CET 2023 exam. The exam for JIPMER PG is conducted twice a year in January and July to provide admissions to 100 MD/MS seats. The duration of the exam conducted online is 3 hours.

Study medicine after 12th - Career Opportunities

• Cardiologist

• Clinical radiologist

• General practice doctor

• Hospital doctor

• Pathologist

• Physician associate

• Psychiatrist

• Surgeon and many more.

According to Dr. Sameer Gupta, Cardiologist at Metro Hospitals, “The profession of a doctor is very gratifying, just like the smile you see on your patient when you save a life. It’s a lot of hard work so I would not encourage those who are afraid to put in hard work to enter the field. Smart and hard-working youth should not be dissuaded from going into medicine as this profession is sure to remain on top for many years to come.”

Thus, a career in medicine carries the unique opportunity to help others through communication and commitment. It is the chance to develop relationships with patients and engage in problem-solving. Yet these challenges allow you to become a student of your profession, continually striving to learn more and become the best doctor you can be.