Last Updated on October 18, 2023 by Laura Turner
High school is a time of uncertainty and promise, especially regarding the future. However for those of you who are interested in healthcare careers, then the first step is to do your research, plan, and prepare yourself for a successful college experience and beyond. In order to help you out, we have done the research and compiled some resources to help you succeed.
Explore Health Careers
Healthcare consists of many different jobs, from the expected to the unexpected, such as art therapist. Information is the key to success, and Explore Health Careers is designed to give you the information you need to be informed, plan, and be prepared for the healthcare careers that you are interested in and can see yourself pursuing.
Internships and Volunteer Opportunities
As someone in high school, finding experience in the fields you are interested in will not only give you valuable experience but will also further help you to determine whether those fields are right for you. However, it can be daunting to find opportunities in high school, and this is a good place to begin your search. Offered by Nurse Journal, this free resource will help you to find healthcare opportunities for not only those in high school but also pre-nursing students, including volunteering, internships, and shadowing.
Aspiring Docs fact sheets
Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)
The National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions (NAAHP)
Having a pre-health advisor can be beneficial on your pre-health journey, as they are able to assist you from planning coursework to obtaining professional enhancement opportunities to completing and submitting your professional school application. For those who are struggling to find an advisor with who they can work well, the NAAHP can help you to locate one.
Science Daily
Science Daily is “your source for the latest research news.” This free resource is a great source of current events, clinical treatments, and environmental factors affecting health and science. Being aware of this information will not only help to keep you informed but also impress those on the admissions committee with your proactiveness and knowledge.
Pomodoro
Time management is critical to an effective studying routine and healthy life-school balance as a college and future healthcare professional student, and the key is to find out which strategies work for you, among the many options out there. Some of you may benefit from the Pomodoro timer. The system has you work for a dedicated amount of time, a pomodoro, then take short breaks. After four pomodoros, then you take a long break. This system does help many students to remain focused yet not feel overwhelmed. Establishing good study habits and a strong work ethic in high school and college will only serve you well in the future, and it is never too late to start.
Hit The Road: A Financial Adventure
Financial management is a critical part of your future career, and educating yourself on finances and working on your financial literacy in high school and college will not be a decision you regret. However, finances can be dull and boring to learn about for many, and that is where this fun and interactive game steps in. They teach you about the basics of spending and saving money wisely and how to approach financial issues like debt management. Once you get a good idea of the basics, then you can continue to apply and build on that foundation.
Medline Plus
Whether you are doing research for a class or project or are just curious, knowing where to look for credible and quality information is important. Medline Plus is one of those resources that will accomplish this and is provided by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). By offering a variety of options, including a medical encyclopedia and physician directories, they want you to be well informed from high school onwards. Additionally, another bonus of this free resource is that it is written in clear and easy-to-understand language, not like your textbooks or articles that feel like a foreign language.
Student Doctor Network’s High School Forums
Saving the best for last, SDN’s high school forums are not only a great source of support, but you can be part of a community. You will find the necessary information and support that you need, with the subforum of hSDN. If you need help and can’t find your answer via the existing threads, all you need to do is ask!
The journey to becoming a healthcare professional and successful college graduate will be challenging at times, but you can do it! These resources have been curated to help support and guide you to achieve success as a future healthcare professional, from high school onwards.
We’ve been on the Internet for over 20 years doing just one thing: providing health career information for free or at cost. We do this because we believe that the health education process is too expensive and too competitive. Many people and organizations have built their businesses making money on students who are desperate for any opportunity to become a doctor.
We believe that all students deserve the same access to high-quality information. We believe that providing high-quality career advice and information ensures that everyone, regardless of income or privilege, has a chance to achieve their dream of being a doctor.
SDN is published by the Health Professional Student Association, a nonprofit educational organization.