Becoming a M.D.

[M.D. BOY]

I'm a 16 yearold high school student that works for pediatrician, and is an inspiring doctor. I really want to go into to medicine to help people. The human body has always intrigued me and I feel that with this field I can not only study the body but help people along the way. I really want to become a peditirician and possibly specialize. The specialties that interest me most are neurology, oncology, and cardiology. All of these types of things have been in my family from my grandmohter who died of cancer, my grandfather being in cardiac arrest and being cathed, and another gradfather with major back complications especially inthe spinal cord. My problem is with trying to find information to help me, although this site has a wealth of information. Anything that you can think of that will help, especially with the medschool requirements, what to major in and take would help a lot. Any info on the specialties and your experiences would be cool also. I understand most medical terms from working witha doctor, and understand a lot f the residecny and fellowship, clerkship, and on and on , but it all gets really confusing. I think this inside look from being in the medical field has really helped me alot and pushed from the other careers I was pondering.

Thanks for any help no matter how small or trivial.

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[none]

You're quite a ways off from med school and really should be concentrating on your undergraduate education right now. Do well on the SATs and maintain a high GPA so you'll get into a good undergraduate institution. As soon as you are there, most of your advice should come from the university's pre-professional counseling office.

 

[M.D. BOY]

Thanks, I know but wanted to plan ahead. I maintian a 3.8(+/-) weighted GPA. I'm interersted in attending either the Univesity of Florida or the University of South Florida for undergrad as well as med school. My problem is trying to figure out wht to major in during undergrad. My counselors are useless. Being in a small community and a small highschool, most students stick around the community to continue the family business or farm. THey really provid elittle to no help other than confusing me.

 

[hannacanna]

I really enjoyed the book Becoming a Physician, which happens to be listed on the front page of sdn in the bookstore section (right side). I think this book is perfect for you and would help you with what you want to learn. It is VERY good at giving advice about what to take and how to get through undergrad.

The best advice I could give you is to major in something you like--you will be taking a lot of classes, so you better like them. The pre-med requirements (physics, o-chem, etc) are really not very many classes compared with your major. You can definately major whatever and still get the pre-reqs taken care of. And having a major such as sociology, art, history, or whatever will give you a breadth of knowledge which will be useful to relating to people and understanding the role of medicine in society. Diversity of curriculum is a blessed thing. But if you hate all that liberal arts stuff and live and breathe for chemistry, major in chem. It's all good.

Good luck! And remember, be honest with yourself as you grow and learn. I've changed careers about 3 times from 15 to 25. It's better to be happy than firm.

 

[mpp]

Major in whatever you think you will enjoy. Check the school's websites to see what majors they offer. You can probably even arrange visits to both school to talk with the departments you are interested in. Medical schools will admit students with any type of bachelors degree so don't worry about what you major in.

The main requirements for medical school are one year of biology, one year of chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, and one year of physics, all with a lab. Certain medical school have other specific requirements so check those school's website and the <a href="http://pnet400.aamc.org/AAMC_Store/itemDetail.cfm?store=PUBLICATIONS&item=ARA2&category=" target="_blank">Medical School Admissions Requirements</a> book.

Good luck...

Oh, and by the way, you are an 'aspiring doctor'...your pediatrician boss is the 'inspiring doctor'.

 

[Ripley]

I just wanted to echo what the others have already said. I think that it's great that you are planning ahead. Just don't get too caught up in the 'becoming a doctor' thing that it takes over your life. Enjoy your college years and major in your favorite subject. The important thing is to do well.

 

[pooh2]

Hi MD boy,
I think it's wonderful that you know what you want in life, especially at such an early age.

You should definitely choose a major that interests you, but as a biology major you'd cover all the prereqs for MS. However, I've been told that non-science majors do extremely well on the mcat.

As for which undergrad school to attend, I've always wondered if graduating from a school with an affiliated MS or a school with its own MS would almost guarantee a applicant a seat. Of course, providing you did well in school and on the MCAT.

Isn't there some staight out of HS to MedSchool program? I think it's Brown University. Anyone know?

 

[RNAgirl]

Yes, there are some combined undergrad/med school programs. Basically, if you're accepted into the program when applying to college, you are guaranteed a spot in the med school (there might even be some where you don't have to take the MCAT, but I may be wrong about this).

MD Boy,

It sounds like you are well ahead of the game. I didn't fully decide to apply to MD-PhD programs until my junior year of college. Aside from your classes and volunteering in a clinical setting, try to pursue a few outside interests as well, i.e. music, sports, tutoring, etc. If you are interested in oncology, the University of South Florida would probably be a great place to go. The cancer center there is nationally ranked. Lastly, you might want to try research at some point, either at your undergraduate school, or at a place like the NIH (they have programs for high school students as well).

Good luck, and relax!

 

[RNAgirl]

Yes, there are some combined undergrad/med school programs. Basically, if you're accepted into the program when applying to college, you are guaranteed a spot in the med school (there might even be some where you don't have to take the MCAT, but I may be wrong about this).

MD Boy,

It sounds like you are well ahead of the game. I didn't fully decide to apply to MD-PhD programs until my junior year of college. Aside from your classes and volunteering in a clinical setting, try to pursue a few outside interests as well, i.e. music, sports, tutoring, etc. If you are interested in oncology, the University of South Florida would probably be a great place to go. The cancer center there is nationally ranked. Lastly, you might want to try research at some point, either at your undergraduate school, or at a place like the NIH (they have programs for high school students as well).

Good luck, and relax!

 

[THE instiGATOR]

M.D. Boy,

I posted a response to your similar thread in the lounge. Check it out.

If you have the means to go to a highly regarded undergrad, do it! If not, UF will prepare you well for the MCAT and med school. I don't know about USF. Check out UF the #s for admitted UF students:

<a href="http://www.reg.ufl.edu/ac-profiles1.html" target="_blank">http://www.reg.ufl.edu/ac-profiles1.html</a>

Looking at this table, 80% of the peeps with your GPA are admitted in the Fall (this is pretty good). Shoot for an SAT &gt; 1300 and you should have no probs. That's easier said than done...hell, I couldn't even do it! <img border="0" alt="[Laughy]" title="" src="graemlins/laughy.gif" />

Good luck, kiddo (I know you hate me for calling you that :wink: )! If you have any questions, PM me.

 

[Derby]

Brown does have an eight year (4-college, 4-medical) combined program, called PLME (program in liberal medical education) What is rather unique about this is that almost the entire med class is admitted straight out of high school, not some small proportion. You, in fact, do not need to take the MCATs to enter the med school. Other schools like Mount Sinai have humanity-med programs where you apply to the med school sophmore year in college, and take classes their over the summer. If you really want to apply to a combined program, you need to demonstrate strong clinical exposure early, which it seems you are doing.

My advice is the same as the others. Choose the college you think you will be happiest at, take classes you love and are motivate to achieve in, and be true to your interests. You probably have 5-6 years before you'll be applying, don't wish them away.

 

[Michelys]

while you're at it...why don't you look at SIX YEAR PROGRAMS! I swear if I could do it over again! For instance, the University of Miami has one. Six year programs are open to outstanding high school seniors, which you will hopefully be. The University of Rochester also has one, I believe. Along with Northwestern. Look on <a href="http://www.aamc.org" target="_blank">www.aamc.org</a> to find other six year programs! Since you're starting to expose yourself to medicine so early and are rocking out in your classes WHY NOT! Save yourself the struggle we ALL had/have to go through and APPLY to these programs instead! Just my two cents! I'll actually be going back to my high school (ha!) in Orlando to inform them of the pitfalls of premed stuff and how if they're really motivated now that they should investigate this great way into medical school. Particularly because you are a Florida resident, look at University of Miami's six year program. Our premedical coordinator's name is Ms. Deb Paris, very kind and helpful...here's her email: [email protected]

Best of luck !!!

 

[vixen]

RPI has one w/Albany medical center. RPI=Renssalear Polytechnic Institute.

 

[AntGod22]

appy to the 7 year B.S.D.O. program at nyit and nycom. OR major in a basic science course or like i am as a pre-med major itself. I take all pre-med courses that one would take in med school is very helpful when it comes to taking the Mcat

 

[willy]

I wanna become a fireman or an astronaut