Alternate Career Choices for Pre-Medical Students
Are you wondering what life looks like if you don't pursue Medical? Or perhaps you didn't qualify for a medical school and are looking into alternatives. Here, we will present you all the disciplines you can opt for if you choose to not go for Medical, or wish to be aware of other options. But before anything else, you need to take a deep breath. It is important to not make any major life-altering choices abruptly or be affected by strong emotions. There are a plethora of options available for your future career and academic-related goals if you are prepared for them. Keep reading to find out more!
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Think the Nearpeer Way: Improve your Personal Philosophy Towards Life
So, you are ready to explore the options you have besides MBBS. This does not mean you need to pick any one of the options we have outlined below, but to develop a Nearpeer philosophy for your career goals. Just because all you have studied is medical, did well in school, or were told by others you would make a good doctor in the future, or succumbed to social pressure does not mean that is all that you should limit yourself. This does not mean becoming a doctor is not a valid aspiration, or a field to look down upon in any way. Instead, you simply need to expand this philosophy. You need to pursue alternative fields for the right reasons after you choose to not pursue Medical: for passion, or true interest coupled with research in the field. It will impact you and your family/loved ones' life choices, including how much you will earn, your satisfaction with your career, your socioeconomic status and so much more. It is thus imperative that you choose deep dive into all the options you have available, along with what you wish to pursue and achieve in life, instead of going into a field because of social pressures, money, respect, or reasons that will not last in emotional satisfaction in the future. Just to reiterate, this is not an easy path. It may seem scary to not have one right answer or a black and white choice. This exploration could mean you drastically change the course of your life in the future, but on a positive note, having a passion or vision in the future for what you truly want to do, instead of something you were comfortable with or were told you had to do. For the uncertainty you face today, you may thank yourself 10 years down the line for being brave and exploring other options, or daring to be a little unconventional and dreaming big!
Below you can find a comprehensive list of the MBBS alternatives. Please feel free to also explore other options besides this list, you may find a path that would surprise you, but you connect with instantly and be a good choice for your future.
Allied health sciences
DPT/D.Pharmacy
Veterinary (DVM)
Pure Sciences (B.Sc)
Interdisciplinary sciences
LUMS
Arts
CSS/PCS
ACCA/CA
Law\ Business
ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES:
Medicinal fields not only include MBBS but also many different disciplines that are categorized as Allied health sciences. In Pakistan, you can have the following fields
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Medical Imaging Technology
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Medical Laboratory Technology
-B. Sc. Optometry and orthoptics
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Emergency & Intensive Care Science
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Orthotics & Prosthetic
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Audiology
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Operation Theatre Technology
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Dental Technology
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Dental Hygiene
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Cardiac Perfusion
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Occupational Therapy
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Speech & Language Pathology
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Respiratory Therapy
-B. Sc. (Hons.) Nutrition
The programs we shared above are four years long. You can excel in any of these fields, which are related to medical sciences. These fields require an F.Sc. score instead of an MDCAT score so that can be a plus point for you depending on the marks you received. Here we have a link to PMC's official website where you can find different universities in different cities of Punjab, offering these lines along with their numbers so you can contact them for further information. The best universities for these fields are KEMU, PU, and AIMC.
DPT/ D.PHARMACY:
The scope of Doctor of Physiotherapy and Doctor of Pharmacy is also very wide in Pakistan. Almost every bright student opts for it as a second choice after MBBS. Its merit is quite high compared to other strands of Medicinal studies. Almost every hospital has many vacancies for this department, so it is a considerable choice for those who don’t want to deviate too far from medicine.
VETERINARY/ DVM:
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is also a very high-paid field in the outer world, but in Pakistan, it’s not considered a good option. There is no valid reasoning for this. While it is ignored by many students, DMV still manages to secure quite a merit. So if you are interested in this field, don’t pay heed to the stereotypes regarding it and go for it if you’re interested in this field.
PURE SCIENCES (B.Sc):
While the private sector continues to flourish in Pakistan, the state of lecturers and professors in Pakistan, especially in Lahore, mostly known as the university capital of Pakistan, has increased immensely. A B.Sc. in any subject of your choice i.e. Zoology, Botany, Microbiology, Organic Chemistry, Nuclear Physics could prove to be one of the best choices as far. We highly recommend a science-related Bsc. and continuing your studies until M.Phil., or even Ph.D. A few years down the line, there you are, a subject specialist and doctor, all in one! In the Government, as well as the private sector, these are some of the best-paid jobs and respect. Think of it this way: you can serve the nation by teaching the future of Pakistan.
INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCES:
IS involves the studies including the merging of two fields such as:
-Biotechnology
-Biochemistry
-Biophysics
-Biogeography
Universities offering pure sciences also offer a number of fields of interdisciplinary sciences for the students. In this field, you also can study until M.Phil. and Ph.D.
LUMS (Lahore University of Management Sciences):
A lot of you must have a dream of becoming a doctor, but perhaps now that dream seems far-fetched. If you are ready to move on, it should not mean you get into a Medical/biology-related field merely because "maine tou bachpan se bio hy parhi hai aur kuch mjhe nhy samajh aata". Perhaps this is the time you consider this phase a blessing in life and explore different fields in life that can give you the exposure you deserve and take you to new heights. LUMS is the best place to explore your inner self and chose your future accordingly. We recommend that you must apply to LUMS. Now, what is LUMS?
About LUMS: LUMS is one of the best universities in Pakistan. It is located in Lahore. It offers various programs- across the business, humanities, social sciences, law, and engineering at Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. levels. You will be exposed to a variety of subject content at LUMS, with a ton of interesting courses and majors to choose from. In your 1st year at LUMS, you have the freedom to choose whichever courses you may to truly explore the broad range of subjects offered, with the exception of three compulsory courses. In your 2nd year, you decide what majors you want to opt for. If you wish to opt for a science major at the SSE school at LUMS, it is a great option. The courses are taught by Ph.D. professors who graduated from top universities across the world, and as your courses get more intensive, the classes get smaller which means more individual attention for you. You can always reach out to your TAs if you have any issues, or visit instructors during their office hours.
When and How to Apply: The ideal time to apply in LUMS is when you are in your 2nd/A2 year. Since it is not easy to get into LUMS, owing to its high merit, it is best to apply if you have an 80% or above in matric and FSc. The last date to apply is mostly in February, so you need to submit your application before that. On average, it usually takes a month to fill out their application program. You get your acceptances/rejections based on your Matric/O'level and FSc part 1/AS Level and Entry Test result, along with your personal statements and ECAs. You do not have to wait for FSc/Alevel to complete for applying. If you are done with FSc, you can still apply. The entry test for LUMS is called the LSAT, conducted by Collegeboard. It's like PMC, which conducts tests on behalf of all medical colleges in Pakistan. This test happens in November and December. Nearpeer can you prepare for it! When you join our course, we guide you throughout about how and when to apply to LUMS. We will also guide you on how to get up to 100% scholarship/financial Aid in LUMS.
Check out our SAT program: www.nearpeer.org/sat
Know more about LUMS and SAT: https://www.nearpeer.org/college-board/sat/the-new-sat-english-(for-lums-preparation-2018)/1
What is SAT - A complete guide (YouTube video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7ilB_oM7Dk
Nearpeer Facebook Public group (students must be encouraged to join this even if they have not enrolled with us): https://www.facebook.com/groups/nearpeerforSAT/
ARTS:
If you have a creative side and have been trying to dismiss it, perhaps now is the time to let it flourish! In Pakistan, with the changing trends, you now have a wide range of choices in the line of arts. These include:
-Fashion designing
-Videography
-Photography
-Influencer
-Mass communication
-Painting
-BS Hons English (literature/linguistics)
-Bachelors in Urdu (literature/linguistics)
-Textile
-Architecture
To pursue the above fields, you have prestigious institutions like NCA, PIFDC, BNU, along with others. As the famous saying goes: do what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life!
CSS/PCS:
Central Superior Service and Provincial Civil Services are highly respected fields in Pakistan. CSS is cleared by approximately 2% of aspirants who appear in the exam annually, so one can judge the importance of this field. The best strategy to clear these coveted exams is to opt for subjects you are comfortable with, but also those you are passionate about. This makes studying fun and an engaging process. Check out our top-notch CSS courses to help you prepare!
CA/ACCA:
Before anything else, let me clarify a misconception created among students regarding these two fields. YOU CAN OPT FOR THESE EVEN AFTER FSC PRE-MEDICAL. No, you don’t necessarily need to have studied mathematics in F.Sc. to pursue CA/ACCA. The misinformation circulated among pupils is wrong, CA?ACCA is not related purely to mathematics, rather is 20-30% of basic mathematics and the rest is business and accounting. The single most important difference between them is that CA is a local qualification, granted in Pakistan by ICAP, a professional body of Chartered Accountants, whereas ACCA is an international qualification or a global professional degree. Professional Accountancy is one of the highest-paid jobs in Pakistan. While it requires 8 years to complete in most cases, students get jobs in top firms in the 4th year of their CA/ACCA studies. Many people avoid this career path since they think 8 years is too long of a time to study, but actually, it’s the same time duration you need for MBBS as 5 years’ studies, a one-year house job, and two years of FCPS. That adds up to 8 years too! Moreover, you can’t get a job in your 4th year of MBBS, as you can with CA/ACCA. Click here to prepare the Nearpeer way for the CA/ACCA exams!
LAW/BUSINESS:
Law and business are also very good options if you are passionate about them. Top universities such as LUMS, PU, Gomal University, GC, Kinnaird College for women, LC offer these disciplines, along with other institutes. These are beneficial options you can pursue, as per your interest level. Fun fact: Jinnah and Iqbal were lawyers too!
Conclusion:
Whatever field you chose, please make sure you honor Nearpeer's philosophy regarding it. Ensure you know what do you want for your future, and then act accordingly. If you are taking a gap year and considering taking MDCAT again, do that while applying to other colleges as well so that you have your options open. You can trust Nearpeer to stand by your side throughout the university season with the latest university news, classes, and support. Don’t forget, Nearpeer is here to help you with all your troubles with our high-quality, online classes, along with other courses. Competitors can not match. Stay informed with future updates through Nearpeer Blogs and our social media handles, including our official Facebook and Instagram. If you need any guidance regarding the CSS, MDCAT, or CA in general, please feel free to reach out to our dedicated team of Nearpeer counselors over WhatsApp at 0311-1444734! We know how to prepare for your future the RIGHT way. And as always, happy learning!