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What is the pathway for a doctor?
What majors can I take for pre-med? How many years does medical school and residency take?
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4 answers
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Arianna:
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare to be a Physician or a Surgeon. Chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Physician or a Surgeon, communication is essential and critical when dealing with hospital staff and patients. A college course in Public Speaking, Communication and English will help with one's communication and writing skills.
Physicians and Surgeons are similar in their responsibilities and duties in taking care of patients and in dealing with hospital staff and medical personnel. The main difference between the two professionals is that Surgeons operate on patients whereas Physicians do not. Physicians diagnose patients and treat their medical conditions. Operations performed by Surgeons can be treating injuries like broken bones, removal of diseases like tumors and cancers, deformities, etc.
To become a Physician or a Surgeon, a Bachelor Degree in Biology, pre-med or another science related field has to be earned at a college or university. Afterwards, a doctorate degree from an accredited medical school has to be obtained. The next phase will be training through a medical residency as well as medical certification and licensing.
For education and training, it will take up to 14 years to become a Physician or a Surgeon. The Bachelor Degree will be between 4-5 years. Medical school will be another 4-5 years. Medical residency, medical certification and licensing can take up to 3-4 years.
Being a Physician or a Surgeon can be a demanding and rewarding profession, especially depending if there is a specialized field or concentration. Remember, as a Physician or a Surgeon, you are the professional who saves lives. Your patients are impacted by you.
While in college, here are some undergraduate degrees to major in order to become a Physician or a Surgeon:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
It will be best to seek advice from your high school guidance counselor as well as teachers to help you focus your interests for a specific major in college.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is an overview of pursuing medical school:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools
According to U.S. News & World Report, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Medical School:
- Harvard University
- John Hopkins University
- University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)
- Columbia University
- Duke University
- Stanford University
- University of California (San Francisco)
- Vanderbilt University
- Washington University (St. Louis)
- Cornell University (Weill)
- New York University (Grossman)
- Yale University
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/research-rankings
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and gain entry to the college of your choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and medical career!
While in high school, one will need to focus on science and math classes to prepare to be a Physician or a Surgeon. Chemistry and biology will be the core science courses. For math, algebra, calculus and statistics will be needed. Both concentrations will enable you to focus and refine your analytical skills for research; complex problem solving; investigative and innovative critical thinking; attention to detail; etc.
Other skills that will need to be built upon center around team building, team work and communication. In any work culture, collaboration among team members, staff and partner departments occur on a daily basis. As a Physician or a Surgeon, communication is essential and critical when dealing with hospital staff and patients. A college course in Public Speaking, Communication and English will help with one's communication and writing skills.
Physicians and Surgeons are similar in their responsibilities and duties in taking care of patients and in dealing with hospital staff and medical personnel. The main difference between the two professionals is that Surgeons operate on patients whereas Physicians do not. Physicians diagnose patients and treat their medical conditions. Operations performed by Surgeons can be treating injuries like broken bones, removal of diseases like tumors and cancers, deformities, etc.
To become a Physician or a Surgeon, a Bachelor Degree in Biology, pre-med or another science related field has to be earned at a college or university. Afterwards, a doctorate degree from an accredited medical school has to be obtained. The next phase will be training through a medical residency as well as medical certification and licensing.
For education and training, it will take up to 14 years to become a Physician or a Surgeon. The Bachelor Degree will be between 4-5 years. Medical school will be another 4-5 years. Medical residency, medical certification and licensing can take up to 3-4 years.
Being a Physician or a Surgeon can be a demanding and rewarding profession, especially depending if there is a specialized field or concentration. Remember, as a Physician or a Surgeon, you are the professional who saves lives. Your patients are impacted by you.
While in college, here are some undergraduate degrees to major in order to become a Physician or a Surgeon:
- Organic Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Chemistry
It will be best to seek advice from your high school guidance counselor as well as teachers to help you focus your interests for a specific major in college.
According to U.S. News & World Report, here is an overview of pursuing medical school:
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools
According to U.S. News & World Report, here are the top colleges and universities to consider for Medical School:
- Harvard University
- John Hopkins University
- University of Pennsylvania (Perelman)
- Columbia University
- Duke University
- Stanford University
- University of California (San Francisco)
- Vanderbilt University
- Washington University (St. Louis)
- Cornell University (Weill)
- New York University (Grossman)
- Yale University
https://www.usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/research-rankings
When reviewing colleges and universities, it is best to check the following:
- In-State vs Out of State Tuition
- Internships
- Scholarships
- Career Placement upon graduation
- Course work and offered classes
- Post-Graduate Degrees - Master and Doctoral
There will be a application fee to pay for when submitting college applications. The amount of application fee will depend on the college that you are applying to. If there are questions about the college application process, please reach out to the college's Registrar Office.
There are scholarships based on need, academic performance, school activities, sports involvement and community service. So, it will be to your advantage to seek out these types of scholarships. All of the academic staff at your high school that you interact with can write letters of recommendations for you based on what was just stated above. These recommendations can greatly help when filling out college and scholarship applications.
College and scholarship applications can start to be submitted during your Junior year and will continue throughout your Senior year in high school. It is best to ask your Academic Advisor/School Counselor on the timeline process as well. College and scholarship applications will have specific deadlines and requirements to meet in order to be submitted for review and consideration.
You may want to start to compile your resume/portfolio since a majority of college and scholarship applications will require academic grade point average (GPA), academic accomplishments, school activities (clubs, sports, etc.), community involvement (volunteer, church, etc.), academic and personal recommendations, etc. There may be essay requirements on why you are a qualified candidate to receive the scholarship and gain entry to the college of your choice, what your future goals are academically and professionally and other questions centering around who you are, your beliefs, etc.
Here are a couple of links for College Scholarships:
https://www.mometrix.com/blog/scholarships-for-college/
https://www.nchchonors.org/students/awards-scholarships/national-scholarships
Also, it will be best to check with the colleges and universities that you will be applying to. You can check with the School/Department of your desired major, the Campus Career Center and the Register's Office for additional information for college scholarships and grants and specific requirements for qualifications.
There should be no limit on the amount of scholarships that one can apply to. It will take time to fill out the scholarship applications and provide all of the necessary required information. Also, there should no fee and no cost to fill out and submit scholarship applications. If there is a fee or cost that is associated with a scholarship application, then please do not send this particular scholarship application in. It will be a scam and money will be lost.
Best wishes for your education and medical career!
Updated
Brett’s Answer
Hi Arianna,
As long as you complete all of the pre-requisites for medical school, you can apply - regardless of your major. In fact, I would recommend choosing a major that would be useful in another career in case you change your mind about going to medical school.
Medical school is 4 years. The first 2 are mostly classroom and labs. The second 2 are clinical rotations through many of the medical specialties.
Residency is an additional 3 to 7 years, depending upon the specialty. Sub-specialty training is called a fellowship, and this will require additional year(s).
It is a long journey, but if it is a good fit for you, it will be worth it.
Good luck!
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
As long as you complete all of the pre-requisites for medical school, you can apply - regardless of your major. In fact, I would recommend choosing a major that would be useful in another career in case you change your mind about going to medical school.
Medical school is 4 years. The first 2 are mostly classroom and labs. The second 2 are clinical rotations through many of the medical specialties.
Residency is an additional 3 to 7 years, depending upon the specialty. Sub-specialty training is called a fellowship, and this will require additional year(s).
It is a long journey, but if it is a good fit for you, it will be worth it.
Good luck!
Brett Schlifstein, M.D.
Anesthesia Director
ECU Health Roanoke Chowan Hospital
Updated
Rojesh’s Answer
Hey there, future doctor! If you're dreaming of wearing a white coat and making a difference in people's lives, let me walk you through the exciting (and yes, sometimes challenging) path to becoming a physician in the United States.
The Road Ahead: Education and Training
Undergraduate Years: Laying the Foundation
First things first – your pre-med journey starts in college. While many students think you need to major in biology, that's not entirely true. Medical schools welcome diverse backgrounds, but you'll need to complete specific prerequisite courses. Popular majors include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Pro Tip: Your major matters less than your passion and academic performance. Aim for a strong GPA (3.5 and above) and take those science prerequisite courses seriously.
What Medical Schools Want to See:
- Excellent grades
- Research experience
- Clinical volunteering
- Physician shadowing
- Leadership activities
- A compelling story about why you want to become a doctor
The MCAT: Your Gateway to Medical School
Think of the MCAT as your golden ticket. This standardized test measures your scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Start preparing early – many students begin MCAT prep a year in advance.
Medical School: The Intense Four-Year Journey
Years 1-2: Hit the books hard
- Intense classroom and lab studies
- Deep dives into anatomy, physiology, and medical sciences
- Preparing for your first major medical licensing exam
Years 3-4: Hands-On Clinical Experience
- Hospital rotations
- Working with patients
- Exploring different medical specialties
- Preparing for your residency
Residency: Specializing Your Skills
This is where you truly become a doctor. Depending on your chosen specialty, residency can take 3-7 years:
- Primary Care: 3 years
- Surgery: 5-7 years
- Pediatrics: 3 years
Optional Fellowship: For those wanting to become super-specialists in areas like cardiology or pediatric surgery.
The Financial Reality
Let's be real – becoming a doctor is a significant investment:
- Undergraduate education: $40,000 - $200,000
- Medical school: $200,000 - $400,000
- But the median physician salary ranges from $208,000 to $416,000
Time Commitment: What to Expect
- Undergraduate degree: 4 years
- Medical school: 4 years
- Residency: 3-7 years
Total: Minimum 11 years after high school
Insider Advice:
1. Stay passionate and resilient
2. Build a strong support network
3. Take care of your mental health
4. Remember why you started this journey
Career Possibilities Are Endless:
- Hospital medicine
- Private practice
- Research
- Academic medicine
- Telemedicine
- Global health initiatives
A Personal Note
Becoming a doctor is more than a career – it's a calling. It requires dedication, empathy, continuous learning, and a genuine desire to help others. The path is challenging, but for those who are truly committed, it's incredibly rewarding.
Would you like to discuss this journey further? I'm here to answer any questions you might have about becoming a medical professional.
The Road Ahead: Education and Training
Undergraduate Years: Laying the Foundation
First things first – your pre-med journey starts in college. While many students think you need to major in biology, that's not entirely true. Medical schools welcome diverse backgrounds, but you'll need to complete specific prerequisite courses. Popular majors include:
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Neuroscience
- Public Health
Pro Tip: Your major matters less than your passion and academic performance. Aim for a strong GPA (3.5 and above) and take those science prerequisite courses seriously.
What Medical Schools Want to See:
- Excellent grades
- Research experience
- Clinical volunteering
- Physician shadowing
- Leadership activities
- A compelling story about why you want to become a doctor
The MCAT: Your Gateway to Medical School
Think of the MCAT as your golden ticket. This standardized test measures your scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Start preparing early – many students begin MCAT prep a year in advance.
Medical School: The Intense Four-Year Journey
Years 1-2: Hit the books hard
- Intense classroom and lab studies
- Deep dives into anatomy, physiology, and medical sciences
- Preparing for your first major medical licensing exam
Years 3-4: Hands-On Clinical Experience
- Hospital rotations
- Working with patients
- Exploring different medical specialties
- Preparing for your residency
Residency: Specializing Your Skills
This is where you truly become a doctor. Depending on your chosen specialty, residency can take 3-7 years:
- Primary Care: 3 years
- Surgery: 5-7 years
- Pediatrics: 3 years
Optional Fellowship: For those wanting to become super-specialists in areas like cardiology or pediatric surgery.
The Financial Reality
Let's be real – becoming a doctor is a significant investment:
- Undergraduate education: $40,000 - $200,000
- Medical school: $200,000 - $400,000
- But the median physician salary ranges from $208,000 to $416,000
Time Commitment: What to Expect
- Undergraduate degree: 4 years
- Medical school: 4 years
- Residency: 3-7 years
Total: Minimum 11 years after high school
Insider Advice:
1. Stay passionate and resilient
2. Build a strong support network
3. Take care of your mental health
4. Remember why you started this journey
Career Possibilities Are Endless:
- Hospital medicine
- Private practice
- Research
- Academic medicine
- Telemedicine
- Global health initiatives
A Personal Note
Becoming a doctor is more than a career – it's a calling. It requires dedication, empathy, continuous learning, and a genuine desire to help others. The path is challenging, but for those who are truly committed, it's incredibly rewarding.
Would you like to discuss this journey further? I'm here to answer any questions you might have about becoming a medical professional.
Updated
Isabella’s Answer
Hi Arianna,
You can choose any major you want for pre-med. But, you have to make sure that you take the medical school pre-requisite classes (biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc.) which is why a lot of people often choose a biology or chemistry major as it helps meet those requirements. Medical school is 4 years and residency depends on what specialty you choose. For example, residency for a surgeon can take 5+ years and residency for emergency medicine can take 3+ years. Also, you need to consider fellowship which is further specialization after residency.
Most people take a gap year between undergraduate college and medical school, meaning they take a year to gain more clinical experience, research hours, or volunteer hours to build their application and give them the best chance to get into Medical School. Additionally, they use that time to study for the MCAT which is an 8 hour exam that you need to take in order to get into Medical School. It is similar to the SAT or ACT, but focuses more on Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.
You can choose any major you want for pre-med. But, you have to make sure that you take the medical school pre-requisite classes (biology, organic chemistry, biochemistry, etc.) which is why a lot of people often choose a biology or chemistry major as it helps meet those requirements. Medical school is 4 years and residency depends on what specialty you choose. For example, residency for a surgeon can take 5+ years and residency for emergency medicine can take 3+ years. Also, you need to consider fellowship which is further specialization after residency.
Most people take a gap year between undergraduate college and medical school, meaning they take a year to gain more clinical experience, research hours, or volunteer hours to build their application and give them the best chance to get into Medical School. Additionally, they use that time to study for the MCAT which is an 8 hour exam that you need to take in order to get into Medical School. It is similar to the SAT or ACT, but focuses more on Chemistry, Biology, and Physics.