How to study medicine after 12th

How to study medicine after 12th – A career in medicine is a service-driven calling, demanding that you prioritise the well-being of others. It's a profession of continuous learning, where your expertise constantly expands. Quick thinking and decisive action are essential skills. The path to this career begins in secondary school, where students must choose the Science stream with Biology.

The journey is demanding, with fierce competition for medical school admissions and rigorous coursework thereafter. Discipline and critical thinking are crucial. However, the potential rewards are immense. A medical career is highly respected, and the work you do is vital to both individuals and the community. This article, "How to Study Medicine After 12th," will guide you toward a career in medicine and explore top medical career options.

Which Medical Course is Best After the 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 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 to MBBS

After completing your school in the Science stream with Biology as the main subject, you will be required to appear for entrance exams conducted for admission into the undergraduate medical program BDS (Bachelor 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 programs all over India.

The MBBS program is a five-and-a-half-year program inclusive of 1 year of internship. The program teaches 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 outpatient 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 an MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master in Surgery), or MDS (Master of Dental Surgery). The admissions for a 3-year post-graduate program are based on a common entrance test NEET-PG, AIIMS PG, JIPMER PG, etc. The branch for specialising is then decided during counseling. 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. The 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.