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is a doctor a good future career for me ?
Im in the 10th grade and i like helping others that need any type of help. I enjoy being helpful any way i can . #futurecareer #medicine #helpful #doctor #healthcare
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Megan’s Answer
Hi Helen,
I would also suggest examining what classes you like. Try to take some more advanced courses, especially in Chemistry and Biology. It can give you an idea of whether you like the subject matter. You definitely have to enjoy science to be successful on the MCAT and in medical school.
Definitely try and volunteer at your local hospital. Read books and documentaries related to the medical field that seem interesting to you.
Good luck!
I would also suggest examining what classes you like. Try to take some more advanced courses, especially in Chemistry and Biology. It can give you an idea of whether you like the subject matter. You definitely have to enjoy science to be successful on the MCAT and in medical school.
Definitely try and volunteer at your local hospital. Read books and documentaries related to the medical field that seem interesting to you.
Good luck!
Updated
Shiraz’s Answer
Hi Helen,
Excellent question! Becoming a doctor is a very challenging but very rewarding experience. I think you are off to a great start by thinking of becoming a doctor because of your desire to help others. I would humbly suggest researching what it takes to become a doctor. I know that it will require a fair amount of time in school but if you are up for it then it would be great to consider. Additionally, you could also talk to doctors in your area or medical students. You could also look in to the different types of doctors and what they do. Good luck!
Excellent question! Becoming a doctor is a very challenging but very rewarding experience. I think you are off to a great start by thinking of becoming a doctor because of your desire to help others. I would humbly suggest researching what it takes to become a doctor. I know that it will require a fair amount of time in school but if you are up for it then it would be great to consider. Additionally, you could also talk to doctors in your area or medical students. You could also look in to the different types of doctors and what they do. Good luck!
Updated
Yasemin’s Answer
Hi Helen! I agree with previous answers. You really need to see if you like handling the coursework, and working with patients. Doctors have a lot of responsibility and it does take time to become one but it is a truly rewarding experience and I believe worthwhile. I wanted to pursue the path of becoming a physician because of my grandmother, she was diagnosed with dementia and I helped in taking care of her. Besides helping her, which exposed me to compassionate care, I also explored the academic side; I was 14 at the time! That being said a personal experience can also help you decide if you want to be a physician. Physicians definitely do help people but when you apply to medical school sometimes it is more than that, your personal statement actually asks why you want to go to medical school. In addition, I also volunteer in the ER and I am able to help patients and see many different situations which really opened my eyes to medicine. This experience allowed me to find different reasons for why I want to be a physician as well. For now as a high school student you can take AP classes if you like to get exposure to the curriculum a little early on. In college you can be a volunteer in a local clinic or hospital and shadow a physician as well as that will allow you to get exposure to the the field. As a side note, there are also many other careers in healthcare as well that help people, so be sure to do research and see if going to medical school is a good fit for you. I wish you the best to pursue your dreams!
Best of luck!
Check out AP Classes
Volunteer in a hospital as a college student
Research about different healthcare fields.
Best of luck!
Yasemin recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Niaz’s Answer
This is a great question that most ask themselves before committing to a demanding career. As a medical student, I can tell you that the best way to figure out if medicine is for you is to volunteer in a hospital, work in in a doctors office, and shadow doctors. You want to see if the lifestyle and responsibilities of being a physician is for you. Overall, being a doctor is an amazing, challenging, and honorable. I believe it is truly amazing to give patients what you can with your knowledge and experience, but the road there is not easy.
Is the training of 8+ years worth it? is it exciting? would you love to learn for the rest of your life? Do you enjoy solving health/medical/scientific problems with you many years of education? can you handle working with, and helping, many different types of peoples from different cultures and upbringings? can you handle seeing and dealing with death or extremely sensitive issues? You are not just helping people as a physician, you are responsible for their lives and well being.
I knew medicine was for me after I finished my bachelors degree. I took two gap years and worked full time a research coordinator, volunteered in a hospital, and volunteered in a mobile clinic. I got experience in private practice and hospital setting, working with patients from extremely impoverished to wealthy, and from healthy to dying. I saw medicine from as many angles as could before committing. Even though I was working 40+ hours a week, I still enjoyed what I did. You don't need this much time and experience to figure out if medicine is for you, but you definitely need to get your feet wet before deciding. Not only is the process of getting into school challenging, being a student is challenging and the entire process of becoming a physician is expensive (tuition, cost of living, books, board exams, etc). I will be in over $300,000 of debt when I graduate. You want to do all that you can to make sure that becoming a physician is the right choice for you and you cant see yourself spending your one beautiful lifetime doing anything else!
Is the training of 8+ years worth it? is it exciting? would you love to learn for the rest of your life? Do you enjoy solving health/medical/scientific problems with you many years of education? can you handle working with, and helping, many different types of peoples from different cultures and upbringings? can you handle seeing and dealing with death or extremely sensitive issues? You are not just helping people as a physician, you are responsible for their lives and well being.
I knew medicine was for me after I finished my bachelors degree. I took two gap years and worked full time a research coordinator, volunteered in a hospital, and volunteered in a mobile clinic. I got experience in private practice and hospital setting, working with patients from extremely impoverished to wealthy, and from healthy to dying. I saw medicine from as many angles as could before committing. Even though I was working 40+ hours a week, I still enjoyed what I did. You don't need this much time and experience to figure out if medicine is for you, but you definitely need to get your feet wet before deciding. Not only is the process of getting into school challenging, being a student is challenging and the entire process of becoming a physician is expensive (tuition, cost of living, books, board exams, etc). I will be in over $300,000 of debt when I graduate. You want to do all that you can to make sure that becoming a physician is the right choice for you and you cant see yourself spending your one beautiful lifetime doing anything else!
Updated
Richard’s Answer
Becoming a physician is worth the years of education and training. There are a lot of long hours studying in the library followed by long hours in the hospital, but it is a fulfilling career. There are so many opportunities after medical school... different specialties appeal to different individuals. Or you can follow a nonclinical route in research or even hospital administration.
To become a physician requires:
4 years of college
4 years of medical school
3-6 years of residency followed by an optional 1-3 years of fellowship
To become a physician requires:
4 years of college
4 years of medical school
3-6 years of residency followed by an optional 1-3 years of fellowship