I want to become a dermatologist....

[Wizards07Champs]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I am just 17 years old. I've had a 4.0 GPA through my first 3 years of high school, and I will be a senior in September. I am a very hard worker, and I am interested in helping people out. I joined this site because I really don't know what career to pursue, but I do know that I want to help people. I am not interested in becoming a dermatologist for the "lifestyle", but simply because I don't think I could handle someone dying or bleeding on the table in front of me.

I would really appreciate it if somebody who is currently working in dermatology could advise me as to what to do NOW. Being only a senior in high school, I figure I have plenty of time to decide what I want to be, but I'm sure taking certain classes or trying out different jobs would benefit me in the future.

Should I take any classes next year like AP Biology or Chemistry, or can I just wait until college to take those classes? Also, does it matter which college I go to? I want to go to George Mason University (in Northern Virginia) so I can stay close to home, but if I go here will I be lessening my chances of becoming a dermatologist in the future?

I know those are a lot of questions to ask, but any advice at all would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks

Adam

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[Don'tbeagunner]

Ummm, maybe start by getting into a good college with a strong premed program. No one cares about your high school grades

 

[dermsurg]

dude, there is nothing wrong with dreaming. But right now is not the time to think about dermatology. Do stuff in steps.

Step 1: get into a great/affordable college
Step 2: Have fun and get good grades
Step 3: Kick ass on the MCAT
Step 4: Kick back, relax and apply to med schools
Step 5: Go to the best med school you can
Step 6: Shadow a dermatologist
Step 7: Do some derm related research
Step 8: Relax
Step 9: Study and rock the boards
Step 10: Do well in your clinical years
Step 11: Relax and chill with your homies
Step 12: Apply broadly
Step 13: Go to a derm residency for few years
Step 14: Relax
Step 15: Congrats, you are a Dermatologist!

Pretty easy stuff if done in steps.

Focus on the first step and good luck!

 

[Wizards07Champs]

Ummm, maybe start by getting into a good college with a strong premed program. No one cares about your high school grades

I understand that nobody cares about my h.s. grades, but I was just telling you guys this to show that I am a hard worker.......And yes, I will try to get into a school with a strong premed program.

 

[Wizards07Champs]

dude, there is nothing wrong with dreaming. But right now is not the time to think about dermatology. Do stuff in steps.

Step 1: get into a great/affordable college
Step 2: Have fun and get good grades
Step 3: Kick ass on the MCAT
Step 4: Kick back, relax and apply to med schools
Step 5: Go to the best med school you can
Step 6: Shadow a dermatologist
Step 7: Do some derm related research
Step 8: Relax
Step 9: Study and rock the boards
Step 10: Do well in your clinical years
Step 11: Relax and chill with your homies
Step 12: Apply broadly
Step 13: Go to a derm residency for few years
Step 14: Relax
Step 15: Congrats, you are a Dermatologist!

Pretty easy stuff if done in steps.

Focus on the first step and good luck!

Thanks for the advice......I realize that I am "too young" to be worrying about this stuff, but you've got to have dreams in order for them to come true.......


By the way, I'm assuming that dermsurg means you're in dermatology.......Do you enjoy it?......For me, I think I would enjoy it because I would be helping people without having to see anybody dying in front of me, etc......Is it anything like I think it is, or do you not get any satisfaction out of it?


Thanks

 

[dermsurg]

i am more of a skin cancer guy. You gotta have your own reason for going into derm, and yes derm can be very enjoyable and satisfying.

 

[Wizards07Champs]

i am more of a skin cancer guy. You gotta have your own reason for going into derm, and yes derm can be very enjoyable and satisfying.

That's what I want to hear!


Anybody else have some advice?

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

Just an FYI that you will have to deal with death/dying/bleeding as a Medical Student and as in intern in your first year of derm...

 

[Pose]

Oh, and who cares about a good 'premed program'? Focus on getting your (whateverkindof) degree for as cheap as possible!

Yeah!

 

[PH7.4]

Hi Wizards,

Everyone says Derm is hard to get but you can do it.

What's more important, in my opinion, is that you become a nice guy.

Learn to relate to the real people of the world. Med students are a funny bunch. Most people aren't like med students.

Have fun in college and choose your major based ONLY ON WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO. I can't stress that enough. It makes NO DIFFERENCE what you major in. Just develop study skills and you'll be fine. (Looks like you already have 'em.)

(I shouldn't tell you this but if all you care about is med school and dermatology, you should major in biology. The point is you should care about more than med school and dermatology.)

Remember, there's nothing wrong with getting some experience under your belt. You are a young man. Join the Peace Corps or something. When you're dying you'll regret all of the things you DIDN'T do. Remember it.

 

[napoleondynamite]

this is excellent advise..I'd listen to these people!

 

[cdql]

Oh, and who cares about a good 'premed program'? Focus on getting your (whateverkindof) degree for as cheap as possible!

Yeah!

good advice!

the phrase "good premed program" is often a euphemism for "name-brand school that weeds out the weaker students while subjecting you to treacherous, narrow-minded, backstabbing colleagues"

what you're looking for is merely a springboard to medical school (not to be interpreted as "go to the crummiest school available") that won't cost you an arm and a leg

med school tuition should be responsible for that task 😉

 

[deleted113029]

Ummm, maybe start by getting into a good college with a strong premed program. No one cares about your high school grades

But then you fill out WashU's MD application and realize they want your HS class rank and SAT score. Or ummm, maybe you didn't apply to WashU. 😉

 

[cdql]

But then you fill out WashU's MD application and realize they want your HS class rank and SAT score. Or ummm, maybe you didn't apply to WashU. 😉

fortunately, i've saved my primary school spelling exams for them as well

what a psycho admissions committee 🙄

 

[Sophie]

But then you fill out WashU's MD application and realize they want your HS class rank and SAT score. Or ummm, maybe you didn't apply to WashU. 😉

Darn, I knew I should have applied to WashU. Maybe being #1 in HS and my stellar SAT score could've made up for my so-so college GPA. 😛

 

[UrbanDoc]

I came from an 8 year program myself.

If you are interested in medicine then you could participate in an 8 year / 7 year program at selective colleges. They will basically guarantee you a spot in their local medical school, provided you meet their very manageable GPA and activity requirements. Some of them will even allow you to bypass the MCAT. These are good programs if you are willing to try for them, although they are very difficult with an acceptance number in the single digits.

 

[idrinkstarbucks]

University of Miami has a 6 yr program [time-saver and beautiful people!]
University of IL- Chicago 8 yr
Northwestern- 7yr

Some of these programs don't stress the mcat since you're technically "admitted" to the medical school, provided that you uphold the required gpa. gluck to your future medical endeavors.

 

[MsChandraJ7]

Well,
Ill be in my second year in college and I'm a little unsure if I'm in the right major. Currently my major is Molecular and Microbiology...its my University's "Accelerated Medical School Program".
Not only am I unsure about my major...I need to know what are the steps that I should be taking...
Someone please give me some advice.
😕

 

[Meatwad]

Well,
Ill be in my second year in college and I'm a little unsure if I'm in the right major. Currently my major is Molecular and Microbiology...its my University's "Accelerated Medical School Program".
Not only am I unsure about my major...I need to know what are the steps that I should be taking...
Someone please give me some advice.
😕

Whether you are a History, Physics, or Microbiology major will provide you neither an advantage nor a hindrance to becoming a dermatologist. Worry about getting good grades and getting into medical school. Then, when you do rotations, you can see if you are even still interested in derm anymore. You are thinking 10 steps ahead here. Pick a major you enjoy, period.

 

[dutchman]

I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I am just 17 years old. I've had a 4.0 GPA through my first 3 years of high school, and I will be a senior in September. I am a very hard worker, and I am interested in helping people out. I joined this site because I really don't know what career to pursue, but I do know that I want to help people. I am not interested in becoming a dermatologist for the "lifestyle", but simply because I don't think I could handle someone dying or bleeding on the table in front of me.

I would really appreciate it if somebody who is currently working in dermatology could advise me as to what to do NOW. Being only a senior in high school, I figure I have plenty of time to decide what I want to be, but I'm sure taking certain classes or trying out different jobs would benefit me in the future.

Should I take any classes next year like AP Biology or Chemistry, or can I just wait until college to take those classes? Also, does it matter which college I go to? I want to go to George Mason University (in Northern Virginia) so I can stay close to home, but if I go here will I be lessening my chances of becoming a dermatologist in the future?

I know those are a lot of questions to ask, but any advice at all would be GREATLY appreciated.

Thanks

Adam

You and everybody else. Get in line.

 

[nutcancer]

anyone notice how the derm board in particular attracts a lot of high school students. interesting. derm and neurosurg i noticed.

 

[brownsdawg]

I am just 17 years old.

Chill out.

Go to college.

Handle your business in college, but make sure, above all else, that you have a good college experience. Enjoy life, have fun, meet people, mature, party.

Make sure you really even want to pursue medicine.

Then get serious once you're in med school.

 

[LurkNoMore]

not to doubt you, but you have no idea what being a dermatologist means at all as a h.s. or college student, sure, you may have shadowed a derm, heck, even assisted with procedures in clinic, but until you have some insight into what they are doing from day to day, it will be hard for you to appreciate what it is they are actually doing.... take this from an MSIV who didnt start to appreciate it for what it was until going through 1.5 yrs of medical school plus his clinical rotations during MS3 yr before realizing how great it is (and most likely still doesnt). I say this not to demean you, or make you sound as if you are stupid, but to encourage you to do your best and keep you eyes/mind open to other possibilities in medicine... for every guy/gal that enters med school hoping to be a dermatologist/nuerosurgeon/cardiologist/etc. there may be a wonderful pediatrician/psychiatrist/pathologist/etc. that finds the field they actually love. If you really love the basis of medicine, and not what it looks like from the outside, then go for it, it is a long road, but in the end, going in to it for the right reasons (honestly) will reap great benefits.

 

[JustinFoldsFive]

Hello, I am currently an Accounting major at the University of Pittsburgh. Question: Is it possible to get into medical school if your receive a degree in business? From what I understand, it is preferable to have a background in biology, but is it absolutely necessary? Thanks in advance for your responses.

 

[LurkNoMore]

I have no idea why you are posting in this thread or forum (seems a bit off topic, but I'll respond anyway). Yes, you can get in, you will have to take extra science classes for pre-recs and study hard for the MCAT to get a good score on it, as well as have a way to show some interest and explain why you are interested in medicine coming from accounting but it can be done. A guy in my class worked as a banker for years before coming to med school, now he's going to go into ortho, so it is possible.

 

[CindyLou]

Brown University has a GREAT 8 year program (Program in Liberal Medical Education). Basically they encourage students to study and have an enjoyable undergrad, there are a few pre-med requirements, no MCAT, and you can choose to just do an MD, MD/MPH, MD/PhD program as well. PLME is how I got into Medical School, but I did a LOT of hard work before that to get into PLME. Basically I took every AP class offered, did 500+ hours of volunteer work at a local hospital and ambulance company, and realized why I wanted to be a doctor.

At you age, its a good idea to take rigiourous course work, study hard, volunteer, do some sports, and apply to a good college.

 

[Long Dong]

anyone notice how the derm board in particular attracts a lot of high school students. interesting. derm and neurosurg i noticed.

Yeah got to try to get more derm/derm res to post here. As for neurosurg I think those guys have no time for a life let alone post on the forums. While the derm guys are just to beasy enjoying their lives.😀

 

[Eshbai]

hello everyone, I am a high school junior who wants to become a doctor, a Dermatologist to be exact. However, I am affraid of Medical School, I dont know if i will survive it. i am also afraid that during residencies i will mess up big time. Sort of dont have confidence haha. Can anyone tell me how bad it really is. please. And also is it good to do just a 2 year undergraduate program??Thanks in advance

 

[Meatwad]

And also is it good to do just a 2 year undergraduate program??Thanks in advance

No. And this isn't the right place to ask about getting into college and stuff. Go to the pre-med forum.

 

[SadieBelle]

I'm going to save this little step by step list. There's something about it that really keeps my spirits up, thanks. You may be the difference in my confidence lasting me. haha 🙂

dude, there is nothing wrong with dreaming. But right now is not the time to think about dermatology. Do stuff in steps.

Step 1: get into a great/affordable college
Step 2: Have fun and get good grades
Step 3: Kick ass on the MCAT
Step 4: Kick back, relax and apply to med schools
Step 5: Go to the best med school you can
Step 6: Shadow a dermatologist
Step 7: Do some derm related research
Step 8: Relax
Step 9: Study and rock the boards
Step 10: Do well in your clinical years
Step 11: Relax and chill with your homies
Step 12: Apply broadly
Step 13: Go to a derm residency for few years
Step 14: Relax
Step 15: Congrats, you are a Dermatologist!

Pretty easy stuff if done in steps.

Focus on the first step and good luck!

 

[OnTheMoon]

^ agreed.