4 answers
Philip
Student
Alaska, MI
1
Question
4 answers
Susan Burg
Surgical Technician
25
Answers
Torrance, California
Updated
Susan’s Answer
Hello!
Do you want to be a doctor or a nurse? The roads are pretty different. That decision should be first. If you want to get close to being a doctor without all the speciality study, there are physician assistants. If you want to take the nurse road, you could study nurse practitioner.
I would talk to a counselor to get a clear view of the study involved. The more information you have the easiest it should be for you to make a decision.
Do you want to be a doctor or a nurse? The roads are pretty different. That decision should be first. If you want to get close to being a doctor without all the speciality study, there are physician assistants. If you want to take the nurse road, you could study nurse practitioner.
I would talk to a counselor to get a clear view of the study involved. The more information you have the easiest it should be for you to make a decision.
Jesse Beltran
Special Operations Medic
11
Answers
Las Vegas, Nevada
Updated
Jesse’s Answer
1. Commit-you can’t kinda want to be a doctor.
2. Excel in high school (if you are still in.)—Make it your job. I wish I had done better to get scholarships and grants. All of those can go on your resume.
3. Do things other than school—Med schools look at more than just GPA. If you’re not athletic and play sports, then find alternatives that get you outside or active. Pick up an instrument, take dancing lessons, travel, learn a language, take risks that make you stand out.
4. Excel in College—join your local American Medical Student Association, get outstanding grades, be a leader in clubs.
5. Volunteer as a leader—of course you have to start at the bottom but eventually start trying to organize and head events. Maybe volunteer for humanitarian medical missions in underserved countries, or even perhaps in your cities underserved community clinic.
6. Prepare for the MCAT—invest in prep courses through Kaplan. Learn how to take the test and not just content review.
8. Learn how to write a good cover letter/resume—most universities have good workshops to prepare you for careers. Ask about how to prepare a letter so you can present it for physicians to shadow or even jobs while you finish undergrad.
7. Try to garner medical experience—get your BLS/CPR cert. Become an EMT, medical scribe, physician shadowing. Show some sort of interest and showcase yourself in medicine.
8. Begin a list of interested med school—narrow down 10 top choices, then 5. If you can afford the time for 10 schools great. Most people spend the money and time for 3-5 schools. Know what kind of school it is such as research oriented MD/PhD, MD vs DO, acceptance and graduation stats.
9. Graduate—sometimes you can apply while in your senior year of college you don’t have to wait till after you walked across the stage with your diploma.
10. Get ready to commit again for medical school. Understand your performance determines your pathway into residency and getting the selection you want.
Extra Option—Military Route: Either graduate with your degree, apply through HSPS (health services scholarship program) basically military agrees to pay for your debt as long as you get into a medical school…just owe 4 years back and if you choose to do residency they’ll pay for that too you just owe the service back.
OR
Enlist. Look at the EPMDP2 (enlisted to medical degree prep program) which polishes you for acceptance into USUHS (uniformed services university of the health sciences) which again all paid expenses, you just owe back the required years since they paid for everything.
2. Excel in high school (if you are still in.)—Make it your job. I wish I had done better to get scholarships and grants. All of those can go on your resume.
3. Do things other than school—Med schools look at more than just GPA. If you’re not athletic and play sports, then find alternatives that get you outside or active. Pick up an instrument, take dancing lessons, travel, learn a language, take risks that make you stand out.
4. Excel in College—join your local American Medical Student Association, get outstanding grades, be a leader in clubs.
5. Volunteer as a leader—of course you have to start at the bottom but eventually start trying to organize and head events. Maybe volunteer for humanitarian medical missions in underserved countries, or even perhaps in your cities underserved community clinic.
6. Prepare for the MCAT—invest in prep courses through Kaplan. Learn how to take the test and not just content review.
8. Learn how to write a good cover letter/resume—most universities have good workshops to prepare you for careers. Ask about how to prepare a letter so you can present it for physicians to shadow or even jobs while you finish undergrad.
7. Try to garner medical experience—get your BLS/CPR cert. Become an EMT, medical scribe, physician shadowing. Show some sort of interest and showcase yourself in medicine.
8. Begin a list of interested med school—narrow down 10 top choices, then 5. If you can afford the time for 10 schools great. Most people spend the money and time for 3-5 schools. Know what kind of school it is such as research oriented MD/PhD, MD vs DO, acceptance and graduation stats.
9. Graduate—sometimes you can apply while in your senior year of college you don’t have to wait till after you walked across the stage with your diploma.
10. Get ready to commit again for medical school. Understand your performance determines your pathway into residency and getting the selection you want.
Extra Option—Military Route: Either graduate with your degree, apply through HSPS (health services scholarship program) basically military agrees to pay for your debt as long as you get into a medical school…just owe 4 years back and if you choose to do residency they’ll pay for that too you just owe the service back.
OR
Enlist. Look at the EPMDP2 (enlisted to medical degree prep program) which polishes you for acceptance into USUHS (uniformed services university of the health sciences) which again all paid expenses, you just owe back the required years since they paid for everything.
Adaobi Maryann Ezeogidi
Healthcare Assistant
9
Answers
Abia, AB
Updated
Adaobi Maryann’s Answer
Hi Philip,
To become a doctor begins from you building the passion for human health.
This passion will pull you through as you advance in your educational levels and practices in the hospitals/clinics despite the challenges you may meet.
Secondly is commitment to your studies, you actually need good grades to get into medical school and you need good grades to graduate also as a medical doctor. So this is serious work.
Lastly is patience. There are lots of rigorous process in becoming a medical doctor, at the end it is worth the training. Patience as a key factor will help you transcend.
To become a doctor begins from you building the passion for human health.
This passion will pull you through as you advance in your educational levels and practices in the hospitals/clinics despite the challenges you may meet.
Secondly is commitment to your studies, you actually need good grades to get into medical school and you need good grades to graduate also as a medical doctor. So this is serious work.
Lastly is patience. There are lots of rigorous process in becoming a medical doctor, at the end it is worth the training. Patience as a key factor will help you transcend.
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
780
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
Philip, it's important for you to understand that the journey to becoming a doctor, while challenging, is immensely rewarding. It demands commitment, resilience, and a deep-seated desire to aid others. This journey often starts in high school, where future doctors should strive to excel in science and math subjects, especially biology, chemistry, and physics. It's also advantageous to familiarize yourself with the medical profession by volunteering at hospitals or observing healthcare professionals at work. Following high school, students need to earn a bachelor's degree, typically in a science-related discipline, while keeping their grades high and engaging in extracurricular activities that show leadership and dedication to healthcare.
The subsequent key step involves preparing for and taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a standardized test that evaluates scientific knowledge and critical thinking abilities. Passing the MCAT is crucial for getting into medical school. Once admitted, students spend four years in rigorous study, blending classroom instruction with practical clinical experiences. The initial two years mainly concentrate on biomedical sciences, while the final two years involve clinical rotations across different medical specialties. After medical school graduation, aspiring doctors must undergo a residency program in their chosen specialty, which can last from three to seven years, depending on the specialty. Some doctors also opt for additional training via fellowships to further specialize in a specific medical field.
Throughout this journey, Philip, it's vital to hone strong communication skills, develop empathy, and learn to perform effectively under pressure. Future doctors must also be ready for the financial commitment, as medical education can be costly. However, there are various scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness programs available to help manage these expenses. Lastly, to practice medicine, doctors need to secure a license in their state and pass board certification exams in their specialty. Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest medical breakthroughs are key throughout a doctor's career. Despite the lengthy and demanding path to becoming a doctor, it presents the chance to profoundly impact people's lives and contribute to the progress of medical science.
The subsequent key step involves preparing for and taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a standardized test that evaluates scientific knowledge and critical thinking abilities. Passing the MCAT is crucial for getting into medical school. Once admitted, students spend four years in rigorous study, blending classroom instruction with practical clinical experiences. The initial two years mainly concentrate on biomedical sciences, while the final two years involve clinical rotations across different medical specialties. After medical school graduation, aspiring doctors must undergo a residency program in their chosen specialty, which can last from three to seven years, depending on the specialty. Some doctors also opt for additional training via fellowships to further specialize in a specific medical field.
Throughout this journey, Philip, it's vital to hone strong communication skills, develop empathy, and learn to perform effectively under pressure. Future doctors must also be ready for the financial commitment, as medical education can be costly. However, there are various scholarships, grants, and loan forgiveness programs available to help manage these expenses. Lastly, to practice medicine, doctors need to secure a license in their state and pass board certification exams in their specialty. Continuous learning and staying updated with the latest medical breakthroughs are key throughout a doctor's career. Despite the lengthy and demanding path to becoming a doctor, it presents the chance to profoundly impact people's lives and contribute to the progress of medical science.
Thank you, this is amazing! I really needed it.
Philip