Delving Into the World of Medicine — One Student’s Experience

Are you a high school student who has a passion for medicine? Are you committed to achieving a future in the medical field? For teens interested in becoming a doctor, Prelum university partner Wake Forest University offers a broad array of medical courses — all part of their Pre-College Online Programs.

With one of the nation’s most respected medical schools, Wake Forest has the faculty and resources required to deliver a robust learning experience to motivated high school students who seek to try out pre-med college prep courses before applying to college.

If pre-med is on your radar, here is a great place to test out your readiness for the challenge. 

In Wake Forest’s medicine course, you’ll accompany a real-life heart attack patient from the ambulance and the emergency room to treatment and after care. You’ll study the anatomy of the heart, what causes a heart attack, and how the treatment team works together to support the patient.

Here’s what one student had to say about Wake Forest’s Pre-College Program and her experience with Making The Rounds: An Insider’s Guide to Becoming a Doctor.

“I took the medicine course for two reasons: I’m thinking about becoming a pediatrician one day, and Wake Forest University is where I think I’d like to go to college. This was a great opportunity to experience both. My favorite part of the program was hearing from different healthcare professionals. Throughout this course, I was exposed to the whole cardiac team including doctors, nurses, and social workers.” 

The course is delivered by dynamic videos. Unlike Zoom or in-person classes, you can study and do activities at your own pace. Plus, Wake Forest’s online medicine course is taught by faculty who are practicing physicians and who care deeply about teaching the course to aspiring high school students like me. You even get a mentor to answer questions and provide support.

What was truly unique about this course is that you get to follow a patient called Mr. Carter. He is experiencing a heart attack. So, we learned the first symptoms, as well as the anatomy of the heart. We saw him go through surgery and followed his progress all the way through rehabilitation. I felt like I was in the hospital room with the patient and the team; it’s a compelling way to learn.”

If you’d like to expand your curiosity about medicine, Wake Forest offers other online courses that touch on specific aspects of the healthcare profession. These include:

Cancer Medicine: Students 13 and older get a thorough introduction to the field of oncology. You’ll accompany a patient on their cancer journey from diagnosis through some of the most advanced treatment methods. Learn the groundbreaking diagnostic tools and advanced therapies that are changing the outlook for cancer patients.

Sports Medicine: This course delves into the three most prominent injuries that occur to athletes: ACL tear, shoulder dislocation, and concussion. You’ll learn about traumas and treatments that have occurred to star athletes, and hear from an orthopedic surgeon and an athletic trainer.

Women’s Medicine: Did you know that more than half of all doctors’ patients are women? And 63 percent of the top surgical procedures are performed on women? In this course you will learn how symptoms present differently in women than in men. And you’ll gain insights into topics such as menstruation, birth control, and pregnancy.

If high-paying medical careers are potentially in your future, Wake Forest Pre-College Programs serve as a great launch pad. In addition to all the course options, each course features dynamic video lessons by renowned Wake Forest faculty and access to mentors. The program is available year round, and the flexible online format enables you to study anywhere, anytime, at your own pace. Plus, a successful outcome earns you a Certificate of Completion from Wake Forest University — a great addition to your resume.

In addition to high school pre med programs, Wake Forest also offers STEM courses that include bioscience and psychology. 

Looking for additional medical course topics? Explore all our online healthcare programs designed for motivated high school students and provided by our university partners.