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Hello, I am 13 years old and I want to become a pediatrician but I get confused with the terms like bachelors degree, PhD, residency etc. but I want to start planning out my life or at least the career part and I want you to explain to me

Hello,
I am 13 years old and I want to become a pediatrician but I get confused with the terms like bachelors degree, PhD, residency etc. but I want to start planning out my life or at least the career part and I want you to explain to me exactly in details what those terms are and other medicine terms so I wont get confused and I also need help in knowing what I’m supposed to do after I graduate from secondary school e.g A levels, residency, medical school, college and like courses I need to take
PLEASE HELP ME
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
#medicine #pediatrician

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Benjamin’s Answer

Hey, this is a simple explanation, but I think that is all your a looking for. If you want to be doctor, the usual process after graduating high school is:


  1. Go to college for 4 years where you will earn a Bachelors degree - (that means undergraduate 4 year degree) Don't let the phrase undergraduate confuse you - it only means a degree you earn before attending graduate school
  2. While earning your Bachelors degree, you will take the MCAT (medical college admission test) - and apply for Medical School
  3. To be a doctor, you will then go onto to medical school, (another 4 years) where you will earn your MD. (Doctorate of Medicine)
  4. After graduating medical school, you will go on to a residency (around 3 years) where you will work as a doctor in a hospital under supervision of other doctors
  5. After your residency, you will go on to a fellowship where you will learn your specialty (pediatrics in your case)
  6. After all this training (and passing the Board - an exam) you will be a full blown doctor that can open your own practice or work at hospital

A PhD is a doctorate in Philosophy. This is not required to become a medical doctor, although some medical doctors will earn a PhD. PhD's are more for people who want to be researchers. So if you dream of working for an organization like the CDC (Center for Disease Control) earning a PhD might come in handy.


You might also hear terms like Masters degree. That is a 2 year degree some people get after earning the Bachelors degree. As a medical doctor, you won't worry about this.



Thank you comment icon Thank you so much BENJAMIN LARSON, now i actually understand. Thanks chize
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Richard’s Answer

Take as many AP or IB courses in high school. You have a lot of years of education in front of you and getting college credit in high school can save you time and money.
In the US, to apply to medical school, you need a bachelor's degree. Any 4-year university should suffice.
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses. I chose to major in biochemistry because there was overlap with the premed requirements and I wanted to complete my degree in 3 years.
Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
Try to find opportunities to pursue research.
Volunteer at your local hospital or low-income clinic. Ask physicians, PAs or other clinical providers if you can shadow them.
During college study for and complete the MCAT. Devote an entire summer to studying for the MCAT and consider paying for a prep course if you can afford it.
My son used MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2019-2020: Online + Book + 3 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) Kaplan Test Prep
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Medical school takes 4 years to complete.
After medical school pediatricians complete a 3-year residency for additional training.
Thank you comment icon hii omg i am 17 now . getting ready for university and i literally forgot about this site but thank you so much chize
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Crystal’s Answer

Hello, I think it's wonderful that you're so interested in your career at a early age. I encourage you to take all the possibilities of classes and volunteer because then you'll have a better perception on the exact career you'll truly destiny to become. I'm 26 and just figure out that Verizon is the best career decision for me..... Reach for the sky and go pass it!!! You got it!!!!! Good luck :)
Thank you comment icon wow hii thanks crystal , i am 17 now getting ready for university , i literally forgot about this site , i have decided to pursue obstetrics and gynecology . thanks for the reply ! chize
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Alireza’s Answer

Dear Chize, regards to Benjamin's answer, I want to add additional comment to have a better view of your direction:
After you are graduated from medical school, you have to apply for pediatric residency programs to become a pediatrician. Then after, depends on your interest, you choose one of the multiple available fellowship programs in the field of pediatrics for your subspecialty major such child neurology, cardiology, and GI. Please consider 3 years for pediatric residency and additional 2-3 years for the fellowship period. as usual, these steps are sequential, but there is some exceptions. You would be better to think about the normal and usual direction.
So in Benjamin's answer, steps 4 and 5 are the same.
Thank you comment icon wow hi i forgot about this site , thank you for the reply , i am 17 now getting ready for university , chize
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