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I want to become a doctor when I'm older. What is the best major so study?
I am a 15 year old incoming sophomore and want to become a doctor. #doctor #medicine #surgery #college-major
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Gill’s Answer
High School courses - any math, science or academically rigorous courses are best. I took every science and math course my high school offered except AP Chemistry (which boosted my rank even if it didn't help my grades giving me an advantage over kids with better grades who wouldn't risk taking harder courses for fear it would hurt their GPA). I got into Vanderbilt pre-med. The best undergrad degree for competition for Med School includes strong biology and chemistry. Organic Chemistry is the "filter" course for most pre-med students, as well as Molecular Biology. Any degree that has strong background in biology, chemistry and mathematics is a plus. A major in Organic Chem or Molecular Biology is a plus, but even those degrees often are light on the Mathematics requirements. Most pre-med undergrad programs let a student get away with minimal courses in Calculus, Statistics etc. - if you want an edge in Med School Admissions then you would take higher-level Statistics and Probability (with a focus on software like SAS, SPSS - python doesn't hurt) - which would also help with research as a doctor or resident or academic researcher. Also, I got into great colleges and grad programs over people who had much higher grades and standardized test scores because I could write a good entrance essay, had lots of life experience and impressed my teachers, gaining me good recommendation letters because I was a hard worker and intellectually curious. Most students focus only on their GPA - and test scores - big mistake. I've been told by many admissions counselors that my entrance essay is what got me good scholarships and I always got more scholarship money than my classmates (surprised even me). PS: I'm from NYC area also - and so you know how good the schools are there - all I wrote here was about me competing in a high school which yearly graduated students who went to MIT, Harvard, Yale etc. etc. I was nowhere near as smart as they were - was only top 7% of my class but I got into better schools than people who I would say were much smarter than I was. Grades aren't everything. Hard work(taking on extra work especially lab work with faculty starting in freshmen year) and knowing how to make a connection with your professors is what puts students in the top-tier. Don't be afraid to sweep professor's labs or wash glassware - they will reward you with more advanced work and you will get top recommendations for Med School (just don't expect them to make you co-author of any papers - no matter what they promise or imply - tho it does sometimes happen.) Usually you win their heart by learning how to analyze data and do boring grunt work needed for them to publish. Also, keep in mind - if you know even a tiny bit about anything beyond your standard coursework most professors and colleges will be impressed - you'd be surprised how little your average student knows - you don't have to be an expert, showing you're willing to learn and that you have even the barest idea of what is important to learn is what is key - it shows you're self-motivated and can find answers on your own without being prompted which is what any employer (especially busy and often egotistical science and medical faculty) wants.
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RAVI’s Answer
Glad to see a great goal!
1. In your high school stay focused on STEM courses and do well.
2. Honors/AP courses will help to gain more knowledge and get into a good college that will prepare you for SAT now and MCAT(Medical college admissions require this. Similar to SAT for Med School) later.
3. Major in Bio or Chem. Any major will be okay. But there is a minimum requirement of Physics/Chem/Bio courses required to qualify for Med School. Work with the guidance councilor at college to get the pre-med stream courses in your plan irrespective of the major. Many major in Bio or Chem, particulary Organic Chem.
4
Wish you all the best.
1. In your high school stay focused on STEM courses and do well.
2. Honors/AP courses will help to gain more knowledge and get into a good college that will prepare you for SAT now and MCAT(Medical college admissions require this. Similar to SAT for Med School) later.
3. Major in Bio or Chem. Any major will be okay. But there is a minimum requirement of Physics/Chem/Bio courses required to qualify for Med School. Work with the guidance councilor at college to get the pre-med stream courses in your plan irrespective of the major. Many major in Bio or Chem, particulary Organic Chem.
4
Wish you all the best.
Updated
Krupa Stephen’s Answer
Take AP science classes. In the college, take the Pre-Med classes (biology, chemistry, bio-chem, micro-biology kind of classes). You can pick up the specialization based on your interests when you in med school.
All medical doctors usually take biology or chemistry major in college. There are exceptions though.
Wish you best.
All medical doctors usually take biology or chemistry major in college. There are exceptions though.
Wish you best.
thank you very much
Antonio