2 answers
Imani
Student
Rock Hill, South Carolina
1
Question
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What are the important steps needed?
What are the most critical steps needed in order to become a Physician?
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2 answers
Mary Jane Shroyer
Director of Health Professions Career Community
116
Answers
Grinnell, Iowa
Updated
Mary Jane’s Answer
Hi Imani! At the most basic level, you need to complete the prerequisite coursework and have some activities that speak to your motivation for the career and commitment to serving your community.
Going a little deeper, the medical schools have identified a set of core competencies they want you to have before applying to med school. These include things like scientific reasoning, communication skills, ethical behavior, service to others, teamwork, and cultural competency. You can see the full list on the AAMC website and read stories of real students describing how they gained those skills: https://students-residents.aamc.org/real-stories-demonstrating-core-competencies/aamcorg/corecompetencies
In terms of prerequisite classes, you will likely need:
1 year of introductory biology
1 year of general chemistry
1 year of introductory physics
1 year of organic chemistry
1 year of English
some math (usually calculus or statistics)
The MCAT entrance exam also tests biochemistry, psychology, and sociology, so most students take courses in those areas as well.
You should do some shadowing, volunteering, and/or a paid job in a clinical setting during college to gain exposure to the medical field and learn more about the role of a physician. Many students begin shadowing and volunteering in high school, although med schools are most interested in your activities as an adult/college student.
Having said all that, I think the most critical step is getting a solid foundation in the core science areas. The stronger your biology, chemistry, and math skills are, the better you'll do in the advanced college courses, the stronger your GPA and MCAT score will be, and the more prepared you will be going into medical school. With enough time, anyone can gain the hours of experience needed to apply to med school but it is really challenging to improve the college GPA if one struggles with the first 2 years of coursework. It can be done but often requires a lot of time, money, and effort.
Check out the AAMC resources to learn more: https://students-residents.aamc.org/premed-resources/choosing-medical-career
Going a little deeper, the medical schools have identified a set of core competencies they want you to have before applying to med school. These include things like scientific reasoning, communication skills, ethical behavior, service to others, teamwork, and cultural competency. You can see the full list on the AAMC website and read stories of real students describing how they gained those skills: https://students-residents.aamc.org/real-stories-demonstrating-core-competencies/aamcorg/corecompetencies
In terms of prerequisite classes, you will likely need:
1 year of introductory biology
1 year of general chemistry
1 year of introductory physics
1 year of organic chemistry
1 year of English
some math (usually calculus or statistics)
The MCAT entrance exam also tests biochemistry, psychology, and sociology, so most students take courses in those areas as well.
You should do some shadowing, volunteering, and/or a paid job in a clinical setting during college to gain exposure to the medical field and learn more about the role of a physician. Many students begin shadowing and volunteering in high school, although med schools are most interested in your activities as an adult/college student.
Having said all that, I think the most critical step is getting a solid foundation in the core science areas. The stronger your biology, chemistry, and math skills are, the better you'll do in the advanced college courses, the stronger your GPA and MCAT score will be, and the more prepared you will be going into medical school. With enough time, anyone can gain the hours of experience needed to apply to med school but it is really challenging to improve the college GPA if one struggles with the first 2 years of coursework. It can be done but often requires a lot of time, money, and effort.
Mary Jane recommends the following next steps:
Dee Berline
Occupational Therapist
13
Answers
Anchorage, Alaska
Updated
Dee’s Answer
No matter what path in health care you choose, a good background in being able to write well and communicate well is needed. Classes that will help you do logical reasoning will be valuable in any health care field as you will need to break down a problem into steps and decision trees.