2 answers
Madison
Student
Gallup, New Mexico
1
Question
Asked
512 views
is it possible for me to become a dermatoligist
i am interested in this topic because i see myself in this career .right now Imin the 9th grade. my skills and interests that relate are i have steady hands, patient, love meeting new people, and especially changing their lives in a good way. when i get answer to this question, ill listen to it and give it a try. Apersonal story i have that led me to this question is, when i was almost 11 i got grease spllied on my left arm, i got 3rd, and 2nd degree burns. and i had to see a dermatoligist, and she helped me alot,she made me enjoy life again and made me not to worry about my burns. and she was nice too, so ever since then thats what i wanted to be.#nice# #career
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2 answers
Samantha Armando
Medical Student
10
Answers
Schaumburg, Illinois
Updated
Samantha’s Answer
Hi,
This is awesome and a great field to go into. Being a dermatologist is a significant amount of work but if you love science and medicine it is worth it. It is extremely possible for you to become a dermatologist if you put your mind to it and work hard. I have written below general steps after high school you will need to take incase you are interested in a further explanation. For now since you are in 9th grade I would try to get into as many science classes related to medicine (anatomy, chemistry, physics, biochemistry etc.) your school offers to see if you enjoy the process.
First off, yay for thinking medicine! The medical field is very worth it. Second, here are some general steps: you will need to attend any 4 year university for a bachelors degree. Although, any school should work, schools that are known to be good pre-med schools or science related schools are a plus. During your 4 years make sure to focus on your core science classes (general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics and biology), however, think about taking classes like anatomy, physiology, genetics, cell biology, psychology, microbiology and molecular biology. You by no means have to take all of these but they are useful classes for your future. Also during your 4 years try to get out and volunteer as much as possible because volunteering and work experience is a main section for medical school applications. Something I felt helped me get to medical school was my research project I did my last 2 years of school. Generally, most schools will have capstone projects that are required for science majors and this will be great for medical school applications. Do your best to obtain a GPA of a 3.6 or higher as medical school is very competitive and this will make your life easier. Do not panic if you are not a 4.0 GPA however, as other aspects of your application are important such as experience (shadowing, scribing, work experience like a ER tech), letters of recommendations and personal statements. Most schools require that you have an MD or DO letter of recommendation which is why if you can get a shadowing position, scribing position or healthcare experience this will help you get that letter. Finally the big thing is the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), this test is huge in terms of your score. Study hard for your MCAT and do not wait until last minute to start studying in order to achieve a good score to make your application process easier.
When you actually apply to medical school do your research on what medical schools are looking for. Applying can be pricey and if you apply to schools that have minimum requirements you do not meet, then it will be a waste of money. After you submit your medical school applications you will start to get letters to invite you to an interview. Practice for that interview before going and look into the schools details, mission statements and other facts not only to help you in the interview but also see if that medical school is a good fit for you. Medical school is generally 4 years, 2 "book years" and 2 clinical years.
The process can seem long, tiring and a lot but keep your head up, work hard and it will all be worth it in the end.
This is awesome and a great field to go into. Being a dermatologist is a significant amount of work but if you love science and medicine it is worth it. It is extremely possible for you to become a dermatologist if you put your mind to it and work hard. I have written below general steps after high school you will need to take incase you are interested in a further explanation. For now since you are in 9th grade I would try to get into as many science classes related to medicine (anatomy, chemistry, physics, biochemistry etc.) your school offers to see if you enjoy the process.
First off, yay for thinking medicine! The medical field is very worth it. Second, here are some general steps: you will need to attend any 4 year university for a bachelors degree. Although, any school should work, schools that are known to be good pre-med schools or science related schools are a plus. During your 4 years make sure to focus on your core science classes (general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics and biology), however, think about taking classes like anatomy, physiology, genetics, cell biology, psychology, microbiology and molecular biology. You by no means have to take all of these but they are useful classes for your future. Also during your 4 years try to get out and volunteer as much as possible because volunteering and work experience is a main section for medical school applications. Something I felt helped me get to medical school was my research project I did my last 2 years of school. Generally, most schools will have capstone projects that are required for science majors and this will be great for medical school applications. Do your best to obtain a GPA of a 3.6 or higher as medical school is very competitive and this will make your life easier. Do not panic if you are not a 4.0 GPA however, as other aspects of your application are important such as experience (shadowing, scribing, work experience like a ER tech), letters of recommendations and personal statements. Most schools require that you have an MD or DO letter of recommendation which is why if you can get a shadowing position, scribing position or healthcare experience this will help you get that letter. Finally the big thing is the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), this test is huge in terms of your score. Study hard for your MCAT and do not wait until last minute to start studying in order to achieve a good score to make your application process easier.
When you actually apply to medical school do your research on what medical schools are looking for. Applying can be pricey and if you apply to schools that have minimum requirements you do not meet, then it will be a waste of money. After you submit your medical school applications you will start to get letters to invite you to an interview. Practice for that interview before going and look into the schools details, mission statements and other facts not only to help you in the interview but also see if that medical school is a good fit for you. Medical school is generally 4 years, 2 "book years" and 2 clinical years.
The process can seem long, tiring and a lot but keep your head up, work hard and it will all be worth it in the end.
Samantha, this is awesome and inspiring advice! You nailed it in all areas. Thank you for your thorough and positive comments.
Sheila Jordan
Very well said. Education is a critical component of a job in the medical field. And its great that Madison stated her desire to help people. Thats the whole point. People need this profession for many purposes and often its to get them back on track to a better, more fruitful life.
Jeff Brayer
Jacquelyn Anderson
Operations & Technical Base Coordinator
10
Answers
Kissimmee, Florida
Updated
Jacquelyn’s Answer
Hi!
Anything in medicine is bound to be a wonderful and rewarding career! Dermatology can be a very competitive field at times, however, there are others who work within dermatology who are not doctors! There's nurses, medical scribes, PAs, medical assistants, and the list goes on and on! Do some research to see approximately how long you'd be interested in going to school after graduating high school. Looking into the stats of each of those jobs and see the projected growth of that career within the next few years! I promise it will help you make your decision and guide you in the right direction. Best of luck!
Anything in medicine is bound to be a wonderful and rewarding career! Dermatology can be a very competitive field at times, however, there are others who work within dermatology who are not doctors! There's nurses, medical scribes, PAs, medical assistants, and the list goes on and on! Do some research to see approximately how long you'd be interested in going to school after graduating high school. Looking into the stats of each of those jobs and see the projected growth of that career within the next few years! I promise it will help you make your decision and guide you in the right direction. Best of luck!