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what does it take to become a pediatrician?
this is something i been thinking about majoring in, the nursing field, the reason i want to become a pediatrician is because i love being around kids and also i can help any of my family members #pediatrician #pediatric-nursing
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Maya’s Answer
Hi Stacyangel! In order to be a pediatrician you are going to have to go to medical school, but before that you need to go to college. While you are in college you will need to take the required classes and exams while also volunteering and doing research in labs so that you can be a competitive applicant when it is time for you to apply to medical school. The steps I just described are the first general things you are going to have to do and once you get into medical school you'll need to pass the exams and classes and apply for residences. Once you get into a residency program you will train under an attending obstetrician for a number of years and then you will finally be a working pediatrician. From college to residency the whole process takes about 12 years (4 years of college, 4 years of medical school, and about 4 years of residency).
Apply to college with a major you enjoy and are confident you can do well in.
While in college maintain a high gpa, get a high MCAT score, volunteer in a hospital, and do research in a lab.
Last year or two of college start applying to medical schools.
Once in medical school study hard and pass all prep exams.
Apply for residencies and complete them.
Maya recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Brooke’s Answer
Hi Stacyangel,
I’m so glad you are interested in pediatrics. I find working for children and advocating for their well-being to be very rewarding. Also, it is nice to be a medical resource for friends and family, although family may not take your advice!
The decision to be a nurse or become a doctor is very important and something you should really explore. Enrolling in a nursing program after high school will likely launch you right into a nursing career right after graduating. Whereas, you will need to finish medical school (4 years after college) and residency (3 years) to become a general pediatrician, or fellowship ( another 3 years) to be a pediatric specialist.
If you have the patience and determination to be a doctor, than you may want to choose a major that is more broad, although there are plenty of nurses who choose to continue their education and become doctors.
Try to get some real experience by shadowing or volunteering in different medical settings so see which role you feel suits you best.
Good luck!
I’m so glad you are interested in pediatrics. I find working for children and advocating for their well-being to be very rewarding. Also, it is nice to be a medical resource for friends and family, although family may not take your advice!
The decision to be a nurse or become a doctor is very important and something you should really explore. Enrolling in a nursing program after high school will likely launch you right into a nursing career right after graduating. Whereas, you will need to finish medical school (4 years after college) and residency (3 years) to become a general pediatrician, or fellowship ( another 3 years) to be a pediatric specialist.
If you have the patience and determination to be a doctor, than you may want to choose a major that is more broad, although there are plenty of nurses who choose to continue their education and become doctors.
Try to get some real experience by shadowing or volunteering in different medical settings so see which role you feel suits you best.
Good luck!
thank you for your advice!
Stacyangel
Updated
Frances’s Answer
After you get your bachelors in science then you go into medical school (4years) then you go into a pediatric residency program (3 years). Then you are a pediatrician!