Starting Early
for Medicine

Hi! My name is Mia Ooi and I’m currently studying a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Sydney.

Originally a Melbourne girl, I absolutely love athletics and running, playing my violin, camping and hiking, and organising all sorts of social events with friends and uni mates. Through my tutoring, I also love teaching high school students how to thrive not just academically, but also how to enjoy their time in school and make the most of it.

If you’re currently in school, wondering how to maximise your time, and possibly interested in a career in medicine, here is some VIP insider advice – so read on!

Do You Actually Want Medicine — or Do You Just Like Grey’s Anatomy?

Deciding whether you want to pursue medicine whilst in school can be a big dilemma, considering how young you are to be locking yourself into a career that demands such devotion and commitment.

As a student looking to contribute positively to the world, the best thing you can do for yourself is expose yourself to as many opportunities as possible. Instead of questioning why you want to do medicine, spend more time exploring everything else the world has to offer. Use that exploration to confirm your drive and passion for medicine – or you may even find something else you would love to pursue. At that point, it becomes about the lifestyle and what you envision your daily life to be.

How do you actually do this?

• 1

  Take a variety of subjects – Don't just stick to STEM subjects geared towards medicine. Explore humanities, arts, and languages.

• 2

  Say YES to co-curriculars – Music, sport, drama, debating, social justice! Make use of what your time at school has to offer.

• 3

  Talk to your family – Ask aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents about their work. Be genuinely interested in what their day-to-day looks like.

• 4

  Cold email practitioners – Don't be afraid to reach out to doctors and healthcare professionals from hospitals or local clinics.

Learning How to Learn (Not What to Learn)

The academics! The part everyone stresses out about most. The biggest takeaway here is that it’s not about how much you learn or how much detail you learn. It’s about knowing how to learn and what the most important things are to learn.

In Years 5-10, you aren't memorising the Krebs cycle for the HSC yet. This is your training ground. This is where you build the systems that will carry you through the high-pressure years later.

"Aesthetic notes don’t create understanding — systems do."

Experiment with active recall. Try explaining a concept to your parents at dinner. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough. Focus on understanding the core principles rather than rote memorisation.

Why Busy People Get More Done

There's a myth that the perfect medical student spends 24/7 in the library. In reality, the most successful students are often the ones juggling sports, music, and a social life. Why? Because they've learned the art of efficiency and resilience.

Your hobbies aren't distractions; they are your recharge stations. They teach you empathy, teamwork, and how to handle failure—skills that a textbook can never teach you but are essential for a doctor.

Facing the UCAT, GAMSAT & Interviews

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the alphabet soup of medical entry acronyms. But in the early years, preparation should be strategic, not reactive. You don't need to start doing practice questions in Year 7.

Focus on building a wide vocabulary through reading. stay up to date with current affairs to help with interviews later. Enjoy the journey of learning, rather than fixating on the destination.