3 answers
Jenniyah
Student
Miami Gardens, Florida
4
Questions
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Is doing many years of college really needed to become a doctor?
#doctor #doctorate-degree #surgeon #doctorate
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3 answers
Vickie X
Internal Medicine Resident
16
Answers
East Lansing, Michigan
Updated
Vickie’s Answer
Hi Jenniyah!
Most medical schools require you to obtain an undergraduate degree. This is a usually a bachelor's degree that you can complete in 3-4 years. This is where you major in anything you'd like as well as completing the additional pre-medical course work that usually consists of chemistry, biology, physics, English, and math courses. Once you complete these courses, you take a standardized exam called the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Many people decide to take gap years between college and medical school so that they can have time to save money and get life experience outside of school. Don't feel pressured to start medical school immediately after graduating college.
Medical school will be 4 years. The first two years are generally your pre-clinical years, this is where you learn your basic sciences and pathophysiology of diseases. During your 3rd and 4th years of medical school, these are your clinical years. During your clinical years, you work with supervising physicians and resident physicians (people who just graduated medical school) and you get to see patients and learn how to take care of them. At the beginning of your 4th year, you pick what kind of doctor you'd like to be and apply to a residency program.
After you graduate medical school, you complete what is called a residency program which can range anywhere from 3-7 years depending on the specialty. This is where you learn your chosen specialty, whether its becoming a family physician, emergency physician, surgeon, the list goes on!
After graduating residency, you are able to become a fully practicing physician or you can continue to additional training called a fellowship. A fellowship is where you can learn even more about a certain topic - for example, if you choose to become a family physician, you could do a fellowship and specialize in sports medicine. Fellowships can range anywhere from 1 to 3 years.
There are definitely many sacrifices one has to make when dedicating yourself to this long process - however, don't get discouraged. I'm currently at the end of my 3rd year of medical school and I can easily say that the years have absolutely flown by. Medical school is often very fast paced and so before you even know it, you graduate medical school in the blink of an eye.
I think the best thing you can do, depending on where you at in your education is to develop good study habits and learn how to take care of yourself (cooking for yourself, exercise routine, nurturing hobbies, etc.). In college, work hard in your classes and get involved with your community through volunteering and get some research experience. Do some shadowing with a doctor to make sure that its the career you really want. Most importantly, remember to also have fun and enjoy that college life! Medical school is very rigorous and there will always be more exams to take and more assignments to complete but, I promise the hard work will absolutely pay off in the end.
https://www.aamc.org/system/files/2020-11/aamc-road-to-becoming-doctor-2020.pdf
Most medical schools require you to obtain an undergraduate degree. This is a usually a bachelor's degree that you can complete in 3-4 years. This is where you major in anything you'd like as well as completing the additional pre-medical course work that usually consists of chemistry, biology, physics, English, and math courses. Once you complete these courses, you take a standardized exam called the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Many people decide to take gap years between college and medical school so that they can have time to save money and get life experience outside of school. Don't feel pressured to start medical school immediately after graduating college.
Medical school will be 4 years. The first two years are generally your pre-clinical years, this is where you learn your basic sciences and pathophysiology of diseases. During your 3rd and 4th years of medical school, these are your clinical years. During your clinical years, you work with supervising physicians and resident physicians (people who just graduated medical school) and you get to see patients and learn how to take care of them. At the beginning of your 4th year, you pick what kind of doctor you'd like to be and apply to a residency program.
After you graduate medical school, you complete what is called a residency program which can range anywhere from 3-7 years depending on the specialty. This is where you learn your chosen specialty, whether its becoming a family physician, emergency physician, surgeon, the list goes on!
After graduating residency, you are able to become a fully practicing physician or you can continue to additional training called a fellowship. A fellowship is where you can learn even more about a certain topic - for example, if you choose to become a family physician, you could do a fellowship and specialize in sports medicine. Fellowships can range anywhere from 1 to 3 years.
There are definitely many sacrifices one has to make when dedicating yourself to this long process - however, don't get discouraged. I'm currently at the end of my 3rd year of medical school and I can easily say that the years have absolutely flown by. Medical school is often very fast paced and so before you even know it, you graduate medical school in the blink of an eye.
I think the best thing you can do, depending on where you at in your education is to develop good study habits and learn how to take care of yourself (cooking for yourself, exercise routine, nurturing hobbies, etc.). In college, work hard in your classes and get involved with your community through volunteering and get some research experience. Do some shadowing with a doctor to make sure that its the career you really want. Most importantly, remember to also have fun and enjoy that college life! Medical school is very rigorous and there will always be more exams to take and more assignments to complete but, I promise the hard work will absolutely pay off in the end.
Vickie recommends the following next steps:
Emily Tseng
Physician
2
Answers
North Ridgeville, Ohio
Updated
Emily’s Answer
Hello Jenniyah,
The answer from Vickie is very comprehensive and overall agree with it; I'm a doctor and felt I should put in my 2 cents. In a nutshell, you have 4 years of college to complete the required premed courses. Many people pick a science major as these majors will have overlap with the premed needs; however, don't feel pressured to have to pick one. I actually majored in Spanish, and this language skill is incredibly useful.
From personal experience, you will want to review your required courses and have an overall schedule in mind so you don't have to take extra quarters/semesters that add to your time because you ended up missing something. Even something that seems common sense---like ensuring you know when registration starts/ends---is important because if you forget, this delays you also.
Med school is 4 years and can fly by pretty quickly. It is very important during this time to talk to different doctors during your rotations and find out the pros/cons of what they do and figure out what in medicine really speaks to you. This is something that I really emphasize to those going along the path of medicine/doctor.
Many people have an idealized view of what is going to happen when they are in medicine. It is vital that you get these personal perspectives from doctors and healthcare workers to get a sense of the reality of medicine, because how your daily routine is---and how it affects you long term---are not really well covered in medical school or even residency later. Hope this helps!
The answer from Vickie is very comprehensive and overall agree with it; I'm a doctor and felt I should put in my 2 cents. In a nutshell, you have 4 years of college to complete the required premed courses. Many people pick a science major as these majors will have overlap with the premed needs; however, don't feel pressured to have to pick one. I actually majored in Spanish, and this language skill is incredibly useful.
From personal experience, you will want to review your required courses and have an overall schedule in mind so you don't have to take extra quarters/semesters that add to your time because you ended up missing something. Even something that seems common sense---like ensuring you know when registration starts/ends---is important because if you forget, this delays you also.
Med school is 4 years and can fly by pretty quickly. It is very important during this time to talk to different doctors during your rotations and find out the pros/cons of what they do and figure out what in medicine really speaks to you. This is something that I really emphasize to those going along the path of medicine/doctor.
Many people have an idealized view of what is going to happen when they are in medicine. It is vital that you get these personal perspectives from doctors and healthcare workers to get a sense of the reality of medicine, because how your daily routine is---and how it affects you long term---are not really well covered in medical school or even residency later. Hope this helps!
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
4244
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Dear Jenniyah,
Do you need to spend many years in college to become a doctor?
Indeed, the journey to becoming a doctor demands a significant investment in education and training. Here's a step-by-step guide to understanding the process:
1. Bachelor's Degree: Aspiring doctors begin with a four-year undergraduate degree. While there's no mandatory major for medical school, many students opt for biology, chemistry, or similar fields to meet pre-medical prerequisites.
2. Medical School: After earning their bachelor's degree, hopeful doctors proceed to medical school, another four-year commitment. This phase combines classroom learning with clinical rotations, offering students a taste of different medical specialties.
3. Residency Training: Post-medical school, graduates embark on a residency program in their chosen specialty, such as surgery, internal medicine, or pediatrics. Residency durations vary from three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
4. Fellowship (Optional): Some doctors decide to further hone their skills through fellowship programs, allowing them to specialize even more within their field. Fellowships usually last between one to three years.
In total, the journey from high school graduation to becoming a doctor spans approximately 11-15 years, contingent on the specialty and any additional training undertaken.
The extensive time commitment might seem overwhelming, but it's crucial in ensuring doctors possess the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver top-notch patient care. This rigorous training enables doctors to master their field and equips them to tackle the intricacies of diagnosing and treating diverse medical conditions.
To sum up, while the path to becoming a doctor necessitates many years of college and training, this comprehensive preparation is indispensable for those entering the medical profession, ensuring they provide competent and empathetic healthcare services.
Here are the top 3 authoritative sources used:
1. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): AAMC offers valuable insights into the medical school application process, education prerequisites for becoming a doctor, and trends in medical education.
2. American Medical Association (AMA): AMA provides resources on medical education pathways, residency programs, and guidelines for physicians across various specialties.
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): BLS offers data on the educational requirements, job prospects, and median salaries for physicians and surgeons in the United States.
God bless!
James Constantine Frangos.
Do you need to spend many years in college to become a doctor?
Indeed, the journey to becoming a doctor demands a significant investment in education and training. Here's a step-by-step guide to understanding the process:
1. Bachelor's Degree: Aspiring doctors begin with a four-year undergraduate degree. While there's no mandatory major for medical school, many students opt for biology, chemistry, or similar fields to meet pre-medical prerequisites.
2. Medical School: After earning their bachelor's degree, hopeful doctors proceed to medical school, another four-year commitment. This phase combines classroom learning with clinical rotations, offering students a taste of different medical specialties.
3. Residency Training: Post-medical school, graduates embark on a residency program in their chosen specialty, such as surgery, internal medicine, or pediatrics. Residency durations vary from three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
4. Fellowship (Optional): Some doctors decide to further hone their skills through fellowship programs, allowing them to specialize even more within their field. Fellowships usually last between one to three years.
In total, the journey from high school graduation to becoming a doctor spans approximately 11-15 years, contingent on the specialty and any additional training undertaken.
The extensive time commitment might seem overwhelming, but it's crucial in ensuring doctors possess the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver top-notch patient care. This rigorous training enables doctors to master their field and equips them to tackle the intricacies of diagnosing and treating diverse medical conditions.
To sum up, while the path to becoming a doctor necessitates many years of college and training, this comprehensive preparation is indispensable for those entering the medical profession, ensuring they provide competent and empathetic healthcare services.
Here are the top 3 authoritative sources used:
1. Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC): AAMC offers valuable insights into the medical school application process, education prerequisites for becoming a doctor, and trends in medical education.
2. American Medical Association (AMA): AMA provides resources on medical education pathways, residency programs, and guidelines for physicians across various specialties.
3. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): BLS offers data on the educational requirements, job prospects, and median salaries for physicians and surgeons in the United States.
God bless!
James Constantine Frangos.