Book excerpt: So You Want to Be a Doctor? is written specifically for young people who are considering embarking on a medical degree, as well as for those already enrolled. This essential guide covers: Prerequisites for admission into medical school at both undergraduate and graduate-entry level. What to expect as a qualified doctor in Australia today - and what the Australian community expects in its doctors. Life as a student, from the application, selection and interview process, to the pressures of study, advice on managing stress and distress, and where to get help if needed. The 18 medical schools in Australia, their similarities and differences and particular focus or strengths. The Australian health care system and career paths for medical graduates. It includes advice about study methods, financial support, and balancing study with part-time work and a social life, as well as information that is relevant to specific groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, international students and students with a disability. So You Want to Be a Doctor? provides all the information a prospective medical student might need to decide on pursuing a career in medicine and to survive and thrive during the course of their study.