4 answers
Savannah
Student
3
Questions
Updated
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How long do I have to go to college to become a Pediatrician ?
When I was younger I always wanted to be a pediatrician because I feel that I work well with kids so that leads me to the questions of how long I would have to go to college to work in that field.
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4 answers
Rita Chuang
Physician
189
Answers
Henderson, Nevada
Updated
Rita’s Answer
4 years high school
4 years undergrad
4 years medical school
3 years internship/residency
I recommend every premed student work as a scribe. You basically act like a secretary for the doctors so they do not need to type up their notes. This gives you an opportunity to see if you actually enjoy the job, you get paid, and you can interact with the doctors. They also pay you. I've noticed that my medical students who worked as scribes were so much sharper than other students because they had experience.
4 years undergrad
4 years medical school
3 years internship/residency
I recommend every premed student work as a scribe. You basically act like a secretary for the doctors so they do not need to type up their notes. This gives you an opportunity to see if you actually enjoy the job, you get paid, and you can interact with the doctors. They also pay you. I've noticed that my medical students who worked as scribes were so much sharper than other students because they had experience.
Karin P.
Lecturer
376
Answers
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Savannah,
In order to become a pediatrician, you need to go to medical school. In order to go to medical school, you first need to earn a bachelors degree in any field. Many take biology or biochemistry for their undergrad degree, but it can really be anything. It makes sense to get your undergrad degree at a college that has a pre-med program but you don't have to.
You then need to take the MCAT and be admitted to medical school. Medical school is another 4 years during which you'll also do rotations through several specialties.
You can then choose a specialty, e.g. pediatrics, and if you get accepted you do a residency in pediatrics.
In short: 4+4+3
Good luck!
KP
In order to become a pediatrician, you need to go to medical school. In order to go to medical school, you first need to earn a bachelors degree in any field. Many take biology or biochemistry for their undergrad degree, but it can really be anything. It makes sense to get your undergrad degree at a college that has a pre-med program but you don't have to.
You then need to take the MCAT and be admitted to medical school. Medical school is another 4 years during which you'll also do rotations through several specialties.
You can then choose a specialty, e.g. pediatrics, and if you get accepted you do a residency in pediatrics.
In short: 4+4+3
Good luck!
KP
Fred Rosenberger
Data Analyst
462
Answers
St. Louis, MO
Updated
Fred’s Answer
A pediatrician is an MD. That generally means:
4 years of undergraduate
4 years of medical school
3 years of pediatric residency
It may be longer if you want to specialize in something like pediatric surgery.
There are other steps, like taking the MCAT and passing your boards. Those aren't as set in stone as to how long they take to pass or how much you need to study.
4 years of undergraduate
4 years of medical school
3 years of pediatric residency
It may be longer if you want to specialize in something like pediatric surgery.
There are other steps, like taking the MCAT and passing your boards. Those aren't as set in stone as to how long they take to pass or how much you need to study.
Shelia Bereszniewicz
Seller enblement
92
Answers
Woodstock, Georgia
Updated
Shelia’s Answer
Becoming a doctor or a pediatrician is an exciting journey you might want to embark on, especially if you have a deep love for the sciences. Have you ever considered volunteering at a hospital? It's an excellent opportunity to experience first-hand what being a doctor involves and to discover what kind of doctor you might want to be.
You will need a four year undergraduate degree related to the sciences in order to apply for medical school. A smart move might be to choose a college that offers a biomedical sciences program. This major will expose you to most of the diverse subjects you'll need to tackle in medical school. You'll need to shine in your studies, take up leadership roles and clock in hours at a hospital, clinic or doctor's office. My daughter, for example, worked as a medical scribe during her undergrad degree. You'll also need to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and aim to score 510 or higher. It's a good idea to apply to several medical schools. The application process involves writing a top-notch personal statement, securing letters of recommendation, completing both a primary and secondary application, and acing an interview. Hopefully, you'll get multiple interviews where you'll have the chance to impress and stand out from the crowd.
Once you're accepted into medical school, you'll spend two years learning everything there is to know about the human body and how to diagnose patients (actors). Then, you'll spend the next 2 years on clinical rotations. You'll need to pass Step 1 to start your third year and Step 2 for your fourth year. Passing the medical boards is crucial to kickstart your residency. A pediatrician residency lasts 3 years. So, you are looking at 11 years of learning to become a pediatrician. Here's wishing you all the best on your journey!
You will need a four year undergraduate degree related to the sciences in order to apply for medical school. A smart move might be to choose a college that offers a biomedical sciences program. This major will expose you to most of the diverse subjects you'll need to tackle in medical school. You'll need to shine in your studies, take up leadership roles and clock in hours at a hospital, clinic or doctor's office. My daughter, for example, worked as a medical scribe during her undergrad degree. You'll also need to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) and aim to score 510 or higher. It's a good idea to apply to several medical schools. The application process involves writing a top-notch personal statement, securing letters of recommendation, completing both a primary and secondary application, and acing an interview. Hopefully, you'll get multiple interviews where you'll have the chance to impress and stand out from the crowd.
Once you're accepted into medical school, you'll spend two years learning everything there is to know about the human body and how to diagnose patients (actors). Then, you'll spend the next 2 years on clinical rotations. You'll need to pass Step 1 to start your third year and Step 2 for your fourth year. Passing the medical boards is crucial to kickstart your residency. A pediatrician residency lasts 3 years. So, you are looking at 11 years of learning to become a pediatrician. Here's wishing you all the best on your journey!