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what do you need to do to become an O.B.G.Y.N
#doctor #healthcare #medical #hospital-and-health-care
I'm going to high school and I'm interested in becoming a O.B.G.Y.N.
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Raquel’s Answer
Hi there! To become an OBGYN you have to go to medical school and then specialize. The process of getting into medical school is long and hard.
First you need to get a bachelors, your degree isn't super important though most people go for a biology or chemistry degree because the medical school prerequisites are a part of the degree. There is some variability in prerequisite requirements from school to school but there are basic requirements across the board.
You'll need one year including labs for biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Many schools also require biochemistry, statistics, and at least one psychosocial class. You'll need a high GPA to be competitive, best above 3.8.
Before applying you'll need to take the MCAT which is the entrance exam for medical school. It's a very difficult 8 hour exam testing biology, biochemistry, general and organic chemistry, physics, math, psychosocial, and CARS (reading comprehension). To be competitive for an MD school you'll need to score a 508+ on the exam, the higher the score the higher level schools you'll be a good candidate for.
Along with a high GPA and high MCAT score you'll need to make yourself a well rounded candidate through volunteering (both in and out of hospital setting is best), research, leadership experience, and shadowing of physicians.
You'll need to get letters of recommendation as well. Some schools have premedical committees that handle this for you, if not you typically need two science teachers, one conscience teacher, and two others of your choice.
Many people will apply their junior year in college, it is a year long application process so by applying in the junior year, if you get accepted, you'll begin in the fall after you graduate with your bachelors. But others choose to take a year off, just do whatever works best for you.
Once you get into medical school you'll complete four years of school. Most schools do two years of book studies and then two years of rotations in the clinical setting learning different specialities.
At the end of medical school you'll apply to different residency programs for whatever specialty you want to get into, this is where you would specialize for OBGYN. After you graduate medical school you will officially be a doctor but not on your own yet. When you get into your specialty you'll spend 4 years learning that specialty before becoming a full fledged attending doctor.
Hope this helps, best of luck!
First you need to get a bachelors, your degree isn't super important though most people go for a biology or chemistry degree because the medical school prerequisites are a part of the degree. There is some variability in prerequisite requirements from school to school but there are basic requirements across the board.
You'll need one year including labs for biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Many schools also require biochemistry, statistics, and at least one psychosocial class. You'll need a high GPA to be competitive, best above 3.8.
Before applying you'll need to take the MCAT which is the entrance exam for medical school. It's a very difficult 8 hour exam testing biology, biochemistry, general and organic chemistry, physics, math, psychosocial, and CARS (reading comprehension). To be competitive for an MD school you'll need to score a 508+ on the exam, the higher the score the higher level schools you'll be a good candidate for.
Along with a high GPA and high MCAT score you'll need to make yourself a well rounded candidate through volunteering (both in and out of hospital setting is best), research, leadership experience, and shadowing of physicians.
You'll need to get letters of recommendation as well. Some schools have premedical committees that handle this for you, if not you typically need two science teachers, one conscience teacher, and two others of your choice.
Many people will apply their junior year in college, it is a year long application process so by applying in the junior year, if you get accepted, you'll begin in the fall after you graduate with your bachelors. But others choose to take a year off, just do whatever works best for you.
Once you get into medical school you'll complete four years of school. Most schools do two years of book studies and then two years of rotations in the clinical setting learning different specialities.
At the end of medical school you'll apply to different residency programs for whatever specialty you want to get into, this is where you would specialize for OBGYN. After you graduate medical school you will officially be a doctor but not on your own yet. When you get into your specialty you'll spend 4 years learning that specialty before becoming a full fledged attending doctor.
Hope this helps, best of luck!
Michelle McNamara, MD
Medical Technology, Clinical Laboratory Science, Physician, Pathologist
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Michelle’s Answer
Raquel gave a fantastic summary! I couldn't have described it better. I just want to add a couple of things. It takes dedication and a lot of hard work. It is incredibly tough to get into medical school, get through medical school, and to get the residency that you want, but you CAN do it if you are dedicated enough and you work hard enough. Say hello to hours and hours of studying and goodbye to frat parties and sorority events. Some people are great in biology and suck in chemistry. Some people are good in organic chemistry and have to struggle in physics. Some people have to struggle in both organic chemistry AND physics. Personally, I was terrible in biochemistry and had to study for 3 hours for every biochem exam I had...because I had to get an A in every class. (Well, almost every class. I think I got 2 B's in 4 years.) Raquel was not joking when she said you should have a 3.8 GPA. But some of my friends in medical school were not geniuses, they were just really dedicated and worked really hard.