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What steps should I take as a high school Junior if plan on doing Family Medicine?

Also, how should I choose my major in college? Does it matter that I attend an Ivy league or prestigious university for undergrad? Do I need to like and/or be good at high school science to be good or enjoy Family Medicine as a career?

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Michel’s Answer

Choosing a major in college should always be determined on your interests. If you are interested in Sociology you should be looking into degrees that follow that same pattern. I believe going in and starting undeclared could do you a lot of good so you can see the difference between high school and college. There are a lot of differences between these two types of schooling. In high school I really disliked science classes. After a bit of a break I came back to college and realized that I didn’t like the micromanagement of course material that occurs in high school. I think it is important to focus in on what you like this is what makes good applicants for secondary education. You don’t need to attend an Ivy league. These schools will give you an advantage but they are not make or break. I went to a state school and was accepted into an Ivy league medical school not because of my prestigious education, but because of my passion for helping people. Some of the things that you will need to look into when you get into college is what is going to make you unique to get into medical school. Try and create an application that circles something that is important to you. Find what your reasoning for wanting to be a family medicine doctor and try and create a cohesive application for that. If you like the aspect of preventative care in family medicine find ways to exemplify that. Such as working with students at the college to create a program of teaching high school students about sex education. Find what makes you happy and that will bring you a lot further. High school and college are different so the aspect of not liking science classes right now is not a deal breaker, but science will be a big part of your undergraduate experience. The current general guidelines for admissions is: a year of basic biology, a year of general chemistry, a year of organic chemistry, a year of physics, a year of psychology, a semester of sociology. Recommended classes include genetics, biochemistry, and calculus. Most people opt for a degree in biology but you don’t have to as long as you hit the prereqs you will be fine to apply. It is a long process, but not impossible. Hopefully this is helpful let me know if you need any clarification.
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the advice. Caleb
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Amia’s Answer

Hi Caleb,
You have many options when choosing a major to work in Family Medicine. The most common route is to get a Bachelor of Science (BS) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree for undergraduates. One thing to remember is that many medical schools require students to take specific undergraduate classes (Course work). You can always call the school or review their website to view the requirements. You do not have to attend an Ivy League or prestigious university for undergrad to become a Family Medicine Practioner. It is advised to get good grades in high school to get accepted into college. As mentioned before, the standard requirements (including GPA) may vary depending on the university, and it's best to talk to a prospective student advisor. I wouldn't let not enjoying high school science classes determine if you might enjoy a career, a better way is to shadow a family practitioner and get a better idea if it might fit you. Last but most importantly, you need to ask yourself what about that job makes you want to pursue it. Is there a passion behind this? Maybe you like helping people? Letting that passion drive you will help you pick a great career you will be happy with no matter what it is. Good luck! I hope this helps!
Thank you comment icon I appreciate this, thank you for the advice. Caleb
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Rachel’s Answer

Hi Caleb, Great questions. Amia and Michel are spot on. You don't need a science major to become a physician. As a matter off fact, a non-science major has the potential to prepare you BETTER for certain complex aspects of primary care: seeing the whole person, using the patient's narrative to help guide joint decision making, feeling empathy for someone very different than you, understanding how social determinants of health impact a person's health, how to be an advocate for your patients, and how to help fix broken systems. Bottom line: do what gravitate to/enjoy when it comes to picking a major-even if it's a science. You'll get more out of it if you enjoy it.
You don't have to go to an Ivy League college to get into medical school. However, you might ask perspective collegees/universities about their pre-med program. Some schools are going to be be better than others at guiding you through the med school application process, and that usually occurs through a pre-med or pre-health program. You don't have to major in a science or pre-med to take advantage of those resources. My college had a great pre-med program that would remind us of application deadlines and that organized an MCAT prep class on campus each year.
Last, while good grades in all your classes are required to get into med school, you don't have to love the basic sciences to want to be a doctor. I personally did not care for physics (and later made my own major in college called Religion and Literature) and still really enjoy clinical science and the art of medicine!
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Michael’s Answer

I think finding a mentor would be a good step to take. To find one you can first ask family and friends if they know of anyone in the field that they can connect with you. Also, ask your current doctor during your next checkup or visit. You can also google "mentors in the field of medicine near me". I did a quick search and came across this https://medicalmentor.org/. When you do find someone reach out via email and let them know what you're looking to do as a career and ask them if they have any time to talk over the phone. It's up to you as the "mentee" to drive the relationship. When you join the call come prepared with questions to ask and take notes during the call. Take ownership and handle scheduling the calls, don't rely on the mentor to do this. Be intentional about your meetings, make it a point to meet or talk over the phone every few months and schedule time on their calendar via google etc.
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Acacia’s Answer

Step 1: Enroll in an undergraduate program and complete all medical school prerequisites
Step 2: Prepare for, take, and submit scores from the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
Step 3: Apply to, matriculate into, and attend an Allopathic or Osteopathic Medical School
Step 4: Complete Intern year and Family medicine Residency.
Step 5: Specialty Board Certification
Step 6: Complete a Fellowship in a subspecialty (optional).
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