Med School Confidential

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY JUL 24, 2006

Miller, author of Law School Confidential and Business School Confidential has teamed with Bissel, a doctor of emergency medicine, for the latest entry. A guide for readers thinking about attending medical school, or in the early stages of beginning an M.D., Miller and Bissell begin upbeat: "It's hard to argue with a career choice that allows you to save lives, or at least improve them every day." The arduous and complicated seven-to-ten year path they lay out, however, is another story. Reading the book straight through may do more to discourage readers than to help them on their way, but Miller and Bissell are clear and thorough, from undergraduate pre-med work to med school applications to grueling med school coursework to the various standardized tests, clinical duties and internships until, finally, the all-important career choice: where to spend your residency. Comments from several young practicing doctors ("Med School Confidential Mentors") don't illuminate much, and the authors can resort to banal generalizations that are little help: "The key is not knowing what you want to do, but what kind of person you want to become.". This book reveals very little of the personal, emotional journey of becoming a doctor, but as an overview of the academic rigors of the med student life, this guide is top-notch.