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When should someone start preparing if interested in a medical career and how?

I am a sophomore in high school and have applied for numerous programs so that i can learn more about the profession of becoming a doctor but i am not sure when i should start preparing for applications or what steps i need to take so i can reach my goal in becoming one.HELP!!!! #medicine #healthcareproffesional #doctor #nurse

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Richard’s Answer

There are things you could do now including volunteering and shadowing medical professionals. Also start taking all the science and math courses you can in high school

Take as many AP or IB courses in high school. You have a lot of years of education in front of you and getting college credit in high school can save you time and money.


General advice for people wanting to go to medical school:

In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses. I chose to major in biochemistry because there was overlap with the premed requirements and I wanted to complete my degree in 3 years.
Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
Try to find opportunities to pursue research.
Volunteer at your local hospital or low-income clinic. Ask physicians, PAs or other clinical providers if you can shadow them.
During college study for and complete the MCAT. Devote an entire summer to studying for the MCAT and consider paying for a prep course if you can afford it.
My son used MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2019-2020: Online + Book + 3 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) Kaplan Test Prep
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
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Amy K.’s Answer

If you are interested in the medical field, shadowing people in different medical field professions is a great way to get some perspective on what each profession does on a day-to-day basis. Shadow a doctor, nurse, physician assistant, radiology tech. Shadow people in different settings - emergency room vs. outpatient clinic vs. inpatient hospital. Don't be afraid to ask questions. There are many different rewarding fields within healthcare - so keep an open mind and take a broad look at what options might be best for you! Good luck!

Amy K. recommends the following next steps:

Research different career options within medical field.
Contact people you may know in these fields and ask for a short interview or if you can shadow them at their own job for a few hours or an entire day. (*This will look excellent on your resume as well!*)
Look for schools with reputable, accredited programs in the fields you are interested in. You don't have to have a biology or chemistry to go to medical school.
Keep an open mind and let yourself explore your options!
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Sydney’s Answer

Hi Victoria,

The premed track technically begins in college, but my advice to you would be to begin taking some of the more challenging science courses your high school offers in order to impress colleges. For instance, if you are enrolled in AP biology and score high on your exam, you can then apply that credit to a college level course and save yourself money and time. As a sophomore in high school, your best bet is to begin exploring research internships offered to high school students specifically. You'll want to make sure that the internships you are applying to are not open to undergraduate students or even graduate students, as this would definitely put you at a disadvantage. Hope this helps!
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Sydney’s Answer

<span style="background-color: rgb(253, 253, 253);">Hi Victoria, The premed track technically begins in college, but my advice to you would be to begin taking some of the more challenging science courses your high school offers in order to impress colleges. For instance, if you are enrolled in AP biology and score high on your exam, you can then apply that credit to a college level course and save yourself money and time. As a sophomore in high school, your best bet is to begin exploring research internships offered to high school students specifically. You'll want to make sure that the internships you are applying to are not open to undergraduate students or even graduate students, as this would definitely put you at a disadvantage. Hope this helps!</span>
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Douglas’s Answer

You can gain exposure to the medical field by volunteering at your local hospital during the summer months. Definitely try to line up a shadowing experience by mailing or emailing your resume along with a cover letter to professionals you would like to shadow. Good luck!
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