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Can I major in Health administration to become a pediatrician? I would take the prerequisites for medical school while doing my degree
I am want to become pediatrician but I just want to make sure that I can do that even though I major in health administration
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6 answers
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Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Daella !
Yes, your undergraduate degree can very well be in Health Administration and that is a good choice. You should however check with the medical school that you intend to enroll at to see what all their prerequisites are as far as individual human science classes needed at undergraduate level.
When thinking about your undergraduate path before intending to go to medical school, make sure that you take biology, chemistry and physics in undergrad school. You can also consider majoring in the Health Administration with a minor in biology or anatomy. You should also take early childhood development and child psychology too.
While you are working on your Bachelors Degree, you will want to be prepared for the MCAT test which you can take in your senior year or whenever you're ready to apply to Medical School. It's a challenging exam and needed in order to apply to Medical School, but most people do well on it. It's a multiple choice exam and tests your critical thinking skills, problem solving, and how well you understand natural, behavioral and social science. So based on knowing that you'll have to take the MCAT, you can choose courses that would enhance your ability to do well on this entrance exam. You can read more about the MCAT Exam at this link https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/when-is-the-best-time-to-take-mcat-exam/
For some sample questions on the MCAT exam you can read more and find samples at https://students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/mcat-sample-question-guide AND AT https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-sample-questions/ You can also buy a practice book later on when you're ready to study for the exam. Reading about this now may be helpful in choosing the undergraduate classes that you will benefit from.
I think that Health Administration will definitely help you once you become a doctor and will also give you a broadened awareness and perhaps a variety of opportunities in the future. I wish you all the best !
Yes, your undergraduate degree can very well be in Health Administration and that is a good choice. You should however check with the medical school that you intend to enroll at to see what all their prerequisites are as far as individual human science classes needed at undergraduate level.
When thinking about your undergraduate path before intending to go to medical school, make sure that you take biology, chemistry and physics in undergrad school. You can also consider majoring in the Health Administration with a minor in biology or anatomy. You should also take early childhood development and child psychology too.
While you are working on your Bachelors Degree, you will want to be prepared for the MCAT test which you can take in your senior year or whenever you're ready to apply to Medical School. It's a challenging exam and needed in order to apply to Medical School, but most people do well on it. It's a multiple choice exam and tests your critical thinking skills, problem solving, and how well you understand natural, behavioral and social science. So based on knowing that you'll have to take the MCAT, you can choose courses that would enhance your ability to do well on this entrance exam. You can read more about the MCAT Exam at this link https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/when-is-the-best-time-to-take-mcat-exam/
For some sample questions on the MCAT exam you can read more and find samples at https://students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/mcat-sample-question-guide AND AT https://www.mcat-prep.com/mcat-sample-questions/ You can also buy a practice book later on when you're ready to study for the exam. Reading about this now may be helpful in choosing the undergraduate classes that you will benefit from.
I think that Health Administration will definitely help you once you become a doctor and will also give you a broadened awareness and perhaps a variety of opportunities in the future. I wish you all the best !
Updated
Martin’s Answer
Great question and ambition! Absolutely, you can pursue a degree in healthcare administration and still attend medical school later. The key difference is that you'll need to take additional science and math classes to fulfill the prerequisites for admission. In reality, I earned a Masters in Healthcare Administration before I returned to school. So, it's entirely feasible if you strategize properly. This path is not only possible, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Keep striving for your goals!
Thank you so much Martin for the advice!🫶🏾😊
Daella
Updated
Mahalakshmi’s Answer
While majoring in Health Administration, ensure to fulfill pre-med requirements, maintain a high GPA, and gain relevant healthcare experience to pursue pediatric medicine. Strong academic performance and extracurricular involvement will be crucial for medical school admission.
Thank you so much, Mahalakshmi!
Daella
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
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James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Daella,
Is it Possible to Become a Pediatrician with a Major in Health Administration?
The journey to becoming a pediatrician usually entails specific educational milestones, including earning a bachelor's degree, attending medical school, and completing residency training in pediatrics. While it's not the typical route, it's entirely feasible to become a pediatrician with a major in health administration. This would require careful planning and meeting the necessary prerequisites for medical school during your undergraduate studies.
1. Choosing Health Administration as Your Major: Opting for health administration as your major can equip you with a robust understanding of healthcare management, policy, and leadership. Although this major might not encompass all the science courses needed for medical school, you can supplement your education by selecting additional science courses either as electives or as part of a minor to meet the prerequisites for medical school.
2. Meeting Medical School Prerequisites: Medical schools generally require applicants to have completed certain prerequisite courses in subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, regardless of their undergraduate major. It's crucial to plan your course schedule meticulously to ensure you meet these prerequisites while earning your degree in health administration.
3. Gaining Clinical Experience and Engaging in Extracurricular Activities: Beyond coursework, it's beneficial to gain relevant clinical experience through internships, volunteer work at hospitals or clinics, and participation in healthcare-related extracurricular activities. These experiences can bolster your medical school application, as admissions committees value well-rounded candidates with a genuine passion for medicine and patient care.
4. Preparing for the MCAT: After you've earned your undergraduate degree and met the prerequisite courses, your next step is to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Scoring well on the MCAT is vital for securing a spot in medical school, so it's important to allocate enough time to study for this exam.
5. Applying to Medical School: Once you've fulfilled all the requirements, including obtaining persuasive letters of recommendation and crafting a powerful personal statement, you can apply to medical schools that offer pediatrics programs. Given the competitive nature of medical school admissions, a solid academic record and relevant experience can boost your chances of being accepted.
In summary, although a health administration major is not the most straightforward path to becoming a pediatrician, it's entirely achievable with careful planning, meeting medical school prerequisites, gaining clinical experience, performing well on the MCAT, and submitting a strong medical school application.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC): The AAMC offers invaluable information on medical school application requirements and resources for aspiring doctors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides insights into the healthcare sector, including information on various healthcare careers such as pediatricians and healthcare administrators.
Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA): The AUPHA offers guidance and resources on health administration educational programs, which can assist those interested in healthcare management careers, including health administration majors aiming to become pediatricians.
GOD BLESS YOU!
JC.
Is it Possible to Become a Pediatrician with a Major in Health Administration?
The journey to becoming a pediatrician usually entails specific educational milestones, including earning a bachelor's degree, attending medical school, and completing residency training in pediatrics. While it's not the typical route, it's entirely feasible to become a pediatrician with a major in health administration. This would require careful planning and meeting the necessary prerequisites for medical school during your undergraduate studies.
1. Choosing Health Administration as Your Major: Opting for health administration as your major can equip you with a robust understanding of healthcare management, policy, and leadership. Although this major might not encompass all the science courses needed for medical school, you can supplement your education by selecting additional science courses either as electives or as part of a minor to meet the prerequisites for medical school.
2. Meeting Medical School Prerequisites: Medical schools generally require applicants to have completed certain prerequisite courses in subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, regardless of their undergraduate major. It's crucial to plan your course schedule meticulously to ensure you meet these prerequisites while earning your degree in health administration.
3. Gaining Clinical Experience and Engaging in Extracurricular Activities: Beyond coursework, it's beneficial to gain relevant clinical experience through internships, volunteer work at hospitals or clinics, and participation in healthcare-related extracurricular activities. These experiences can bolster your medical school application, as admissions committees value well-rounded candidates with a genuine passion for medicine and patient care.
4. Preparing for the MCAT: After you've earned your undergraduate degree and met the prerequisite courses, your next step is to prepare for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Scoring well on the MCAT is vital for securing a spot in medical school, so it's important to allocate enough time to study for this exam.
5. Applying to Medical School: Once you've fulfilled all the requirements, including obtaining persuasive letters of recommendation and crafting a powerful personal statement, you can apply to medical schools that offer pediatrics programs. Given the competitive nature of medical school admissions, a solid academic record and relevant experience can boost your chances of being accepted.
In summary, although a health administration major is not the most straightforward path to becoming a pediatrician, it's entirely achievable with careful planning, meeting medical school prerequisites, gaining clinical experience, performing well on the MCAT, and submitting a strong medical school application.
Top 3 Credible Sources Used:
American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC): The AAMC offers invaluable information on medical school application requirements and resources for aspiring doctors.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides insights into the healthcare sector, including information on various healthcare careers such as pediatricians and healthcare administrators.
Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA): The AUPHA offers guidance and resources on health administration educational programs, which can assist those interested in healthcare management careers, including health administration majors aiming to become pediatricians.
GOD BLESS YOU!
JC.
Thank you James Constantine for all this information!! I will gladly use it to help me plan my schedule for college!🫶🏾💗😊
Daella
Updated
Jolie A.’s Answer
Hi Daella,
I am a pediatrician and have worked in training medical students and residents for my entire career. You can absolutely get a degree in health admin and still go to medical school. You will need to take all the pre-requisite classes for medical school and the MCAT but a lot of people do this. A degree is health admin will also give you insight into how healthcare works. So much of medicine is understanding how health insurance works, how hospitals are organized and how the business of medicine is run. Let me know if you have more questions. :)
I am a pediatrician and have worked in training medical students and residents for my entire career. You can absolutely get a degree in health admin and still go to medical school. You will need to take all the pre-requisite classes for medical school and the MCAT but a lot of people do this. A degree is health admin will also give you insight into how healthcare works. So much of medicine is understanding how health insurance works, how hospitals are organized and how the business of medicine is run. Let me know if you have more questions. :)
Thank you so much Jolie A. 🫶🏾🫶🏾💗 Can I get your contact information if I have anymore questions about becoming a pediatrician in the future
Daella
Updated
Manish’s Answer
You absolutely can (from an experience point of view)! However, make sure that you take the required classes and fulfill all other academic requirements but from an experience point of view you can learn a lot about the healthcare system by pursuing a degree in healthcare administration. It sets you up nicely not only to be a physician with a holistic knowledge of the healthcare system but also makes you stand out among other applicants. Thinking far into the future this education will also enable you to take up leadership positions within the healthcare system or practice which may enable you to make a huge impact on your community.