How long would it take for me to become a Physician?

[952995]

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I have a Bachelors degree in an non scientific field.

 

[sinombre]

However long it takes you to complete pre-requisites, study/take/do well on the MCAT, go through the application process including getting letters/sufficient ECs, +4 years of medical school and a minimum of 3 years of residency. Realistically something like 8-9 years minimum. And that's assuming everything goes right for you, which is a big assumption given how daunting the entire process is.

 

[getdown]

1. how long have you been out of undergrad?
2. did you take any science classes or prereqs to medical school
3. do you have the necessary extracurriculars to build a reasonable application around?
4. how much time can you devote to doing the premed thing outside of family/work/etc?

Lots of variables but between several years to never.

 

[907914]

1. how long have you been out of undergrad?
2. did you take any science classes or prereqs to medical school
3. do you have the necessary extracurriculars to build a reasonable application around?
4. how much time can you devote to doing the premed thing outside of family/work/etc?

Lots of variables but between several years to never.

Several years to never would make a great Indy album or band name

 

[Friendly MichaelMyers]

I have a Bachelors degree in an non scientific field.

Sinombre's advice is on point. You could consider maybe taking a masters/postbac program (1-2 years) that gives basic sciences you need for med school and they also provide MCAT preparation. And if you do good in those programs, you could get an interview at their med school.

 

[Friendly MichaelMyers]

I have a Bachelors degree in an non scientific field.

Also consider the alternatives (podiatry, PA, nursing, pharmacy, etc.) in medical field before embarking on the long journey.

 

[965978]

Sinombre's advice is on point. You could consider maybe taking a masters/postbac program (1-2 years) that gives basic sciences you need for med school and they also provide MCAT preparation. And if you do good in those programs, you could get an interview at their med school.

According to @gyngyn a master’s degree does not serve any benefit to a medical school applicant

 

[Friendly MichaelMyers]

According to @gyngyn a master’s degree does not serve any benefit to a medical school applicant

I mentioned the obvious benefits - basic sciences and MCAT prep.

 

[LizzyM]

I mentioned the obvious benefits - basic sciences and MCAT prep.

You can't get into a science grad program without the pre-reqs so that 's not in the cards.

Assuming no prerequisites earlier in your schooling, the coursework usually takes 2 academic years. A good post-bac program will have an advisor to lead you through the course selection and set you up with the necessary research and clinical experience that you would need as well. These post-bac programs are often easy to get into, hard to do well in, but if you do perform well the letter of recommendation is usually very informative and will provide deep background that acts almost as a second personal statement. In June of the second academic year you will make the application having taken the MCAT in April. (this means spending most of your fourth semester prepping for the MCAT and preparing the extensive written portion of the application).
The "gap year" is a time to work (maybe in a lab or a clinical setting) while hoping and praying for interviews at medical schools. Offers of admission begin going out in October and your decision of which school to attend (if you should be lucky enough to have more than one offer) is due by April 30/May 1. Classes begin sometime later than year, usually in the late summer. Medical school takes 4 years although there are some now that prepare primary care providers with only 3 years of med school. A year of residency is required to qualify for licensure but most docs take at least 3 years of residency and some residency programs are longer. Fellowships for subspecialty training (e.g. cardiology, endocrinology, maternal-fetal medicine) take a few more years after residency.

All told, it will be about 10 years (or more) start to finish. Also, consider that only 43% of folks who apply to medical school get admitted in a given cycle. Also, many, many people who start the pre-med journey with pre-med classes actually end up taking the MCAT and many who take the MCAT don't apply to medical school (due to low scores, lost hope).

Here's a link to a search engine to find a post-bac program that will be a good fit for you. https://students-residents.aamc.org/postbacc/

 

[gyngyn]

According to @gyngyn a master’s degree does not serve any benefit to a medical school applicant

While it is true that Master's degree's have little effect on an MD application, the degree can still be of benefit to the person.
DO schools see grades in Master's degrees differently.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Assuming you have no (or expired prereqs) and little to no current ECs. You are looking at a minimum 2 years of post bacc work/EC boosting. 4 years of med school and another three of residency before you could work as a physician. More reasonable timeframe is a decade or more

 

[952995]

1. how long have you been out of undergrad?
2. did you take any science classes or prereqs to medical school
3. do you have the necessary extracurriculars to build a reasonable application around?
4. how much time can you devote to doing the premed thing outside of family/work/etc?

Lots of variables but between several years to never.

1. About 15 years
2. General Biology 1 & 2
3. Define “ necessary extracurricular s”?
4. I’m single and I work p/t, so I’m capable of being a workaholic lol.

 

[jamaica jan sun princess]

You can technically finish all of the prerequisites in one year, Summer-Fall-Spring. General Chemistry I & II in the Summer, Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in the Fall and Spring. Study for and take the MCAT the 2nd Summer and apply then. Some schools take Biochemistry instead of a second semester of Organic Chemistry.

I'm in the final semester of this plan and it's not easy to fit in the classes, shadowing, and volunteering. It would pretty much be your life for a year.