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How do I become a doctor?

I'm interested in becoming a doctor. #doctor #medicine #science #career #career-counseling #education #hospital-and-health-care

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James Constantine’s Answer

Hello Shaheen,

I'm thrilled to share with you a friendly guide to help you stride confidently on your journey to becoming a doctor:

1. Start with a Bachelor’s Degree: Embark on your exciting journey with a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a science-related field like biology or chemistry. This will help you build a robust understanding of human anatomy, disease processes, and physiology.

2. Ace the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT): The MCAT is a crucial standardized test that gauges your grasp of biological and physical sciences, critical thinking, reasoning abilities, and writing skills. A stellar score on the MCAT is key to landing a spot in medical school.

3. Enroll in Medical School: This 4-year professional degree program offers you a deep dive into human anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology, clinical skills, and patient care. It combines lectures, lab work, and clinical rotations for a well-rounded experience.

4. Pick a Medical Specialty: After earning your degree from medical school, it's time to choose a medical specialty. Depending on your preference, you might need extra training through residency or fellowship programs, which can last from 3 to 7 years.

5. Secure Licensure: To practice medicine legally in the United States, you'll need to obtain a license from the state where you plan to work. This usually requires passing both theoretical and practical exams that assess your proficiency in various aspects of medical practice.

6. Engage in Continuing Education: To keep pace with the latest research discoveries and advancements in medical technology and treatment methods, it's crucial for doctors to commit to lifelong learning.

For more guidance, consider visiting:

American Medical Association (AMA) - https://www.ama-assn.org/
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) - https://www.aamc.org/
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) - https://nces.ed.gov/

May your journey be blessed,
James C.
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Richard’s Answer

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.
Medical school takes 4 years to complete.
After medical school physicians complete a residency for additional training. These can last 3-6 years and are sometimes followed by an additional year or two of fellowship subspecialty training.
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Angela’s Answer

I always recommend volunteering in a hospital to make sure that's what you want to do. I would also recommend starting at a junior college to save yourself some money. To become a doctor you need to get a 4 year undergrad degree from a university, get accepted and go to med school for 4 years then do a residency for 3-6 years depending on the specialty you want. I always recommend talking with counselors to answer specific class requirements.
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