Teen daughter wants to be a Dr., NEED ADVISE PLEASE

[45408]

Just a word of caution, be VERY CAREFUL when taking courses at a Community College or at a University. If/When she applies to Medical School, AMCAS requires all transcripts from any work done at any post-secondary institution, even if she took those courses as a high-school student. They will include those grades into her gpa by the time she applies so depending on her performance, it may or may not come back to haunt her. Good luck.

Excellent point that I forgot about.

IF she takes classes, she must focus on doing as best as possible. Getting a few C's will actually really hurt her application. I'd actually suggest auditing a class or something, just for the experience, in case it turns out to be really hard for a 9th or 10th grader.

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[LizzyM]

My niece took some summer classes on a elite college while in HS. She didn't like it: classrooms in Ivy covered halls taught by grad students who didn't have much interest in HS kids, poorly supervised dorms with a lot of "experimentation". if you catch my drift.

I would reiterate the warning that unless the student can manage nothing less than an A- the chances are that these classes, if they count as college credits, can hobble a student's gpa.

 

[mybubbles14]

Wow, thank you so much for everyone's time and responses. My daughter and I really do appreciate it a lot. All of the opinions and advise were very helpful...yes, even the ones that are on the negative side of being becoming a dr.

I totally agree, my daughter is still young and has a long road ahead of her to change her mind. She amazes me because she is very interested in her education...not like the typical teen girl ! She is always talking about college. She is always talking about being a doctor. I mean, she is just so focused (at least as of right now) as to what she wants to do. She is very competitive. All in all (and not because she is my child), she is a good girl that has high goals. We (her parents) tell her to enjoy her youth. And she does. But over all, she focuses a lot in school. I think that she is also influenced a lot because all of her friends are Asians and they are really disciplined and are really smart (not to put any other race down by any means).

I want to get as much advise from those that have been there done that or are currently in that phase. I want to be able to gather as much information so that I may be able to better help her when she asks me for help.

I did not think about having her shadow a doctor before. How would I go about that? I am thinking about asking her pediatrician to see if she would be willing to allow my daughter to shadow her. Or is there some type of shadowing program that we are not aware of?

Another thing I need advise on.....

She has a couple of friends who are going to go to UC Berkeley in the summer (they are 9th graders) and they are going to take science courses. By doing this summer program at the UC, they will be able to skip a whole year of regular high school science and take up a higher level of science. By the way, it can be done for math also (and I think that it can be done for other courses as well, not 100% sure though).

So my question is...should I let her do all of the extra work during the summer? I mean, is it really necessary? I will be talking to her counselor on Tuesday, but would love to get some input from you all.

She tells me that she thinks it would be great because that way she is not only able to take a higher science course (which is what she enjoys), but she tells me that it will look good for her undergrad college application too (which by the way, she wants to aim for a high end college as well). I tell you, I have my hands full with my daughter 😱....(I say this in a positive way of course ).

I am so blessed to have found this forum 🙂. I think that it is great to have a place where we parents, students or whom ever for that matter, can have a place where we can come and gather information.

Once again, I want to thank everyone! And I want to congratulate those that are in med school already and wish those that are pre-med students the best of luck !

We all need support. We all need advise. We all need each other.

Thanks!
😍

Everyone has a point regarding grade reporting and AMCAS. However, are these actual college level courses?...or just courses offered at Berkley for high school students? If they are for high school students I don't see why not...but they certainly are not mandatory. I spent many summers at Northwestern taking classes in a program designed for 7-12graders. Depending on grade level you could even take some AP courses I believe...or courses that would allow you to skip high school classes as you say. I took chemistry one summer which allowed me to go straight into AP chemistry at my high school and place out of our 10th grade chemistry course.

 

[searun]

With all due respect, why so much energy in trying to advise a 9th grader on how to get into med school. What about 5th graders or 7th graders. This is silly and rediculous, and Mom, relax, and let your daughter grow up and find her own way.

I would worry more about my 14 year old daughter getting knocked up than trying to figure out how she can have a great medical career. This thread is rediculous.

What are the odds that this kid will be interested in medicine, assuming that she even goes to college, despite the heliocopter mom? Assuming she does go to college, what are the odds that she will be premed after her freshman year? What are the odds that she even has the intellectual capablity or interest to do medicine plus the personality and drive to get an MD.

Calm down, Mom. And the rest of you guys, get some perspective. This whole thread is absurd. We are talking about a 9th grade girl, right? Do you guys remember what you were like in the 9th grade? Please. Those of you who were guys in the 9th grade were trying to figure out why you did not measure up to the bannana.

 

[Beta Cell]

With all due respect, why so much energy in trying to advise a 9th grader on how to get into med school. What about 5th graders or 7th graders. This is silly and rediculous, and Mom, relax, and let your daughter grow up and find her own way.

I would worry more about my 14 year old daughter getting knocked up than trying to figure out how she can have a great medical career. This thread is rediculous.

What are the odds that this kid will be interested in medicine, assuming that she even goes to college, despite the heliocopter mom? Assuming she does go to college, what are the odds that she will be premed after her freshman year? What are the odds that she even has the intellectual capablity or interest to do medicine plus the personality and drive to get an MD.

Calm down, Mom. And the rest of you guys, get some perspective. This whole thread is absurd. We are talking about a 9th grade girl, right? Do you guys remember what you were like in the 9th grade? Please. Those of you who were guys in the 9th grade were trying to figure out why you did not measure up to the bannana.

I was trying to figure out how not to embarrass said banana. 🙂

 

[dokein]

The fact that you, and not your daughter, posted means the only advice you should get is:

BACK. THE ****. OFF. and let her make her own choices about what field to go into.

 

[jvesco22]

The fact that you, and not your daughter, posted means the only advice you should get is:

BACK. THE ****. OFF. and let her make her own choices about what field to go into.

 

[KingJames23]

1. It's going to cost about $150,000-$200,000 total

2. See if you can sign up for a humanitarian trip to Haiti or Sudan. That's something that gets a lot of attention when she applied for medical school. It's usually better to do something significant and newsworthy rather than waste time volunteering at her local church or hospital.

3. Nothing less than Ivy League, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, or Stanford for undergrad. People who go to a non-elite schools experience problems getting into medical school.

4. Probably something challenging like Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Physical chemistry, or Molecular Neuroscience or one of those "hard science" majors. Don't major in film or underwater basket weaving or anything like that. The adcoms can see past the bluff if you pick an easy major.

5. Don't settle for anything except one of the top 20 medical schools. The lower ranked medical schools are a joke and your daughter will not be able to find a residency or a job if she graduates from one of those schools. There are going to be a lot of people who say that this isn't true, but those people are the ones who are unusually lucky and snagged a residency or who are in denial because they know that they will not be able to find a competitive or any type of residency after medical school.

6. It's going to reduce physician salaries to about $150,000 per year and outsource the non-clinical jobs. So if your daughter becomes a radiologist or pathologist (both a physician specialties), those jobs will probably go to India. You're daughter will be in debt by about $200,000 but her take home pay (after taxes, malpractice insurance, rent, and cost of living) will be about $5,000 per year. She can make more by going into law or getting an MBA.

It doesn't matter where you go to school for undergrad UNLESS you're applying to Mayo or Hopkins. They might not consider you if you're not from a "big Name" school. This doesn't exclude you from being accepted though.

 

[KingJames23]

The fact that you, and not your daughter, posted means the only advice you should get is:

BACK. THE ****. OFF. and let her make her own choices about what field to go into.

Did you read what she initially put? Was it ignorance or curiosity that killed the cat?

 

[potpuniludak]

2) What type of volunteer work should she be involved in right now during her high school years? She's a 9th grader with straight A's ....so far so good =D .
for highschool just make sure that her environment and schedule always has some structure and maintain healthy practices - sleep at night, hygiene

3) What type of college (state, UC, private) should she aim for to get her undergrad degree?

For med school any legit undergrad that has professors involved with research.

4) What type of degree should she focus on getting? I know science is advised, but what type is best? Or does it matter at all?

It doesn't matter so long as she takes all prereqs in two years just like the bio majors. It's a matter of keeping it structured.

5) Any other advise that you can give me to give to her?

Happiness is sometimes difficult to maintain in this process. I am happy that my family was there for me when I needed help in my 1st year.

Also, I am very concerned about the health care system in general and how that is going to affect her career choice.

Medicine is not a career choice. It is a way of life. For people like your daughter who want to follow medicine at an early age: eg love of science and people. I think that means she has a calling.

6) In what way do you think doctors are going to get affected if we end up with a "health care for all" system?

Politics are not an issue in medicine. If the US medical system falls apart (which it won't) doctors will flock to China. Just look at doctors educated in Canada and coming to the US. like wtf/why? Maybe we should just not give a **** about the politics. That is the ugliness of humanity - politics and law. EWWWWWWW

Your advise/input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
😍[/QUOTE]

You are an amazing amazing mother by the way.

 

[SwineSue]

Hi,

I am in need of advise, so that I may help my daughter out with reaching her goal of becoming a Dr. one day. I want to be as supportive as I can be, all while being realistic. As a mother, I would hate to discourage her from dreaming big. But I also do not want my daughter to get dreams crushed (for example....investing all those years of college, being in debt and then for the health care system, especially here in California, to go down the drain and for doctors to get paid peanuts).

My questions are these:

1) About how much is the cost of med school in CA? And if admitted to an out of state school, about how much would that cost?

2) What type of volunteer work should she be involved in right now during her high school years? She's a 9th grader with straight A's ....so far so good =D .

3) What type of college (state, UC, private) should she aim for to get her undergrad degree?

4) What type of degree should she focus on getting? I know science is advised, but what type is best? Or does it matter at all?

5) Any other advise that you can give me to give to her?

Also, I am very concerned about the health care system in general and how that is going to affect her career choice.

6) In what way do you think doctors are going to get affected if we end up with a "health care for all" system?

Your advise/input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
😍

Stop being a helicopter parent, get off of the internet forums, and let your daughter live her life. Just make sure she works hard, finds activities she enjoys, and does some service for the less fortunate. The average bachelor's college student changes majors 7 times and career paths 3 times. I didn't decide on medicine until about a year and a half ago, but it worked out.

 

[xnfs93hy]

1. It's going to cost about $150,000-$200,000 total

2. See if you can sign up for a humanitarian trip to Haiti or Sudan. That's something that gets a lot of attention when she applied for medical school. It's usually better to do something significant and newsworthy rather than waste time volunteering at her local church or hospital.

3. Nothing less than Ivy League, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, or Stanford for undergrad. People who go to a non-elite schools experience problems getting into medical school.

4. Probably something challenging like Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Physical chemistry, or Molecular Neuroscience or one of those "hard science" majors. Don't major in film or underwater basket weaving or anything like that. The adcoms can see past the bluff if you pick an easy major.

5. Don't settle for anything except one of the top 20 medical schools. The lower ranked medical schools are a joke and your daughter will not be able to find a residency or a job if she graduates from one of those schools. There are going to be a lot of people who say that this isn't true, but those people are the ones who are unusually lucky and snagged a residency or who are in denial because they know that they will not be able to find a competitive or any type of residency after medical school.

6. It's going to reduce physician salaries to about $150,000 per year and outsource the non-clinical jobs. So if your daughter becomes a radiologist or pathologist (both a physician specialties), those jobs will probably go to India. You're daughter will be in debt by about $200,000 but her take home pay (after taxes, malpractice insurance, rent, and cost of living) will be about $5,000 per year. She can make more by going into law or getting an MBA.

Troll.

 

[JJMrK]

Hi,

I am in need of advise, so that I may help my daughter out with reaching her goal of becoming a Dr. one day. I want to be as supportive as I can be, all while being realistic. As a mother, I would hate to discourage her from dreaming big. But I also do not want my daughter to get dreams crushed (for example....investing all those years of college, being in debt and then for the health care system, especially here in California, to go down the drain and for doctors to get paid peanuts).

My questions are these:

1) About how much is the cost of med school in CA? And if admitted to an out of state school, about how much would that cost?

The UCs are are 30k/year in tuition. Most private and out of state public schools are around 45k/year, with a range of ~30k/year-60k/year.

2) What type of volunteer work should she be involved in right now during her high school years? She's a 9th grader with straight A's ....so far so good =D .

High school volunteer work doesn't count when you apply to medical school; you are instructed not to include it on your application. She should really just be having fun.

3) What type of college (state, UC, private) should she aim for to get her undergrad degree?

It doesn't matter. The place she is most comfortable is the best school to attend. You can get into medical school from any undergraduate institution.

4) What type of degree should she focus on getting? I know science is advised, but what type is best? Or does it matter at all?

It doesn't matter at all. A science degree is probably the fastest and most economical way to get it done, since all (or at least most) of the pre-reqs count toward the major. Any degree is fine, though, as long as the pre-reqs are met. Again, no real need to worry about this right now, as she has 3 years before she even gets to this stage.

5) Any other advise that you can give me to give to her?

Have fun now, worry about getting a 4.0 later. Obviously you need to learn your stuff in high school to do well in college, but medical school admissions committees are very interested in accepting well-rounded and socially competent individuals. Your daughter is what, 14? I think I learned the most about interacting with people (especially the opposite sex), relieving stress, and having fun between the ages of 14 and 20. It's an experience everyone needs to have, and focusing too much on school may lead to regrets later on.

Also, I am very concerned about the health care system in general and how that is going to affect her career choice.

6) In what way do you think doctors are going to get affected if we end up with a "health care for all" system?

The bill currently in congress probably won't have the wide-spread effects you're thinking about. Compensation may decrease, especially for some specialties, but physicians are not suddenly going to have no earning power. Of course, it's always wise to minimize debt whenver possible. Attending a cheap undergrad is one great way to do this.

Your advise/input is greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
😍

Wow, thank you so much for everyone's time and responses. My daughter and I really do appreciate it a lot. All of the opinions and advise were very helpful...yes, even the ones that are on the negative side of being becoming a dr.

I totally agree, my daughter is still young and has a long road ahead of her to change her mind. She amazes me because she is very interested in her education...not like the typical teen girl ! She is always talking about college. She is always talking about being a doctor. I mean, she is just so focused (at least as of right now) as to what she wants to do. She is very competitive. All in all (and not because she is my child), she is a good girl that has high goals. We (her parents) tell her to enjoy her youth. And she does. But over all, she focuses a lot in school. I think that she is also influenced a lot because all of her friends are Asians and they are really disciplined and are really smart (not to put any other race down by any means).

I want to get as much advise from those that have been there done that or are currently in that phase. I want to be able to gather as much information so that I may be able to better help her when she asks me for help.

I did not think about having her shadow a doctor before. How would I go about that? I am thinking about asking her pediatrician to see if she would be willing to allow my daughter to shadow her. Or is there some type of shadowing program that we are not aware of?

Another thing I need advise on.....

She has a couple of friends who are going to go to UC Berkeley in the summer (they are 9th graders) and they are going to take science courses. By doing this summer program at the UC, they will be able to skip a whole year of regular high school science and take up a higher level of science. By the way, it can be done for math also (and I think that it can be done for other courses as well, not 100% sure though).

So my question is...should I let her do all of the extra work during the summer? I mean, is it really necessary? I will be talking to her counselor on Tuesday, but would love to get some input from you all.

She tells me that she thinks it would be great because that way she is not only able to take a higher science course (which is what she enjoys), but she tells me that it will look good for her undergrad college application too (which by the way, she wants to aim for a high end college as well). I tell you, I have my hands full with my daughter 😱....(I say this in a positive way of course ).

I am so blessed to have found this forum 🙂. I think that it is great to have a place where we parents, students or whom ever for that matter, can have a place where we can come and gather information.

Once again, I want to thank everyone! And I want to congratulate those that are in med school already and wish those that are pre-med students the best of luck !

We all need support. We all need advise. We all need each other.

Thanks!
😍

The shadowing might be a good idea as it can help her gauge her interest. Just be aware that it's not going to be going on her med school application when that rolls around.

I'd advise against going to the summer college program. That sounds like a very good way to burn out. If she's really interested, a much better route is probably to take a few courses at a community college over the summer. I wouldn't take more than 1 or 2, and even then be aware that whatever grade she gets is stuck with her while applying to medical school. If she's going to do this, have her focus on classes that would count for GE credit at a UC or CSU.

 

[quiltlady]

A better use of the summer is camp. Do a counselor in training program now so that when she is a little older she could counsel at a camp for children with health issues. This shows altruism and a concern for sick people. Hot shot students are a dime a dozen, caring people who can sacrifice time aren't so common.

 

[dw2158]

i'm sorry, but since it's been used repeatedly in this thread, i'd like to say...
advice = noun
advise = verb
(and i checked OED just to make sure i wouldn't get flamed 😛)

phew, glad to get that off my chest. carry on.

 

[Beta Cell]

i'm sorry, but since it's been used repeatedly in this thread, i'd like to say...
advice = noun
advise = verb
(and i checked OED just to make sure i wouldn't get flamed 😛)

phew, glad to get that off my chest. carry on.

I noticed that too, just not enough to actually mention it .

 

[bayarearesident]

Seems like some of you have some serious issues...like "dokein (or how ever you spell it ).

No, I am not a helicopter mom. Yes, I am letting my daughter be a teen. And since when is it a bad thing to do research on careers? And where does it say that a parent cannot do any type of informational search when it comes to their children's education? And the reason I am the one posting on this forum is because I am the adult and my daughter is a minor.

For those that responded with a negative attitude....
YOU want to be a doctor ? Please do tell me when you become one so I can make sure to stay away and advise family and friends to stay away from you. God only knows what type of doctor you are going to end up being with such negative attitude.

Based on your response, seems to me that you are going into the medical field for the wrong reasons. You should consider another field, don't you think? We already have plenty of jack ***** doctors around, we do not need any more pun$ doctors. So do us all a favor and re-think your career choice please.


Also,
If by the grace of God you do become a doctor, I hope and pray that you change your negative attitude by the time you end up taking care of patients. Doctors that have nasty attitudes have a higher chance of get sued (gathered that info while doing research this morning and I'd thought I'd pass it along to you because based on your response, you do not know that), fired and/or given bad reviews.

May God bless you,
😍

 

[SwineSue]

Seems like some of you have some serious issues...like "dokein (or how ever you spell it ).

No, I am not a helicopter mom. Yes, I am letting my daughter be a teen. And since when is it a bad thing to do research on careers? And where does it say that a parent cannot do any type of informational search when it comes to their children's education? And the reason I am the one posting on this forum is because I am the adult and my daughter is a minor.

For those that responded with a negative attitude....
YOU want to be a doctor ? Please do tell me when you become one so I can make sure to stay away and advise family and friends to stay away from you. God only knows what type of doctor you are going to end up being with such negative attitude.

Based on your response, seems to me that you are going into the medical field for the wrong reasons. You should consider another field, don't you think? We already have plenty of jack ***** doctors around, we do not need any more pun$ doctors. So do us all a favor and re-think your career choice please.


Also,
If by the grace of God you do become a doctor, I hope and pray that you change your negative attitude by the time you end up taking care of patients. Doctors that have nasty attitudes have a higher chance of get sued (gathered that info while doing research this morning and I'd thought I'd pass it along to you because based on your response, you do not know that), fired and/or given bad reviews.

May God bless you,
😍

Yes, ever since the Safe Interwebs Act of 2005, you need to be at least 18 years old to use the Internet.

 

[searun]

Yes, ever since the Safe Interwebs Act of 2005, you need to be at least 18 years old to use the Internet.

Good point. The Safe Interwebs Act of 2005 has been thwarting the sex education of alot of boys in their early and mid teens and now they have to do their own "hands on" search...although there is something to be said for acquiring knowledge the old fashioned way.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Seems like some of you have some serious issues...like "dokein (or how ever you spell it ).

No, I am not a helicopter mom. Yes, I am letting my daughter be a teen. And since when is it a bad thing to do research on careers? And where does it say that a parent cannot do any type of informational search when it comes to their children's education? And the reason I am the one posting on this forum is because I am the adult and my daughter is a minor.

For those that responded with a negative attitude....
YOU want to be a doctor ? Please do tell me when you become one so I can make sure to stay away and advise family and friends to stay away from you. God only knows what type of doctor you are going to end up being with such negative attitude.

Based on your response, seems to me that you are going into the medical field for the wrong reasons. You should consider another field, don't you think? We already have plenty of jack ***** doctors around, we do not need any more pun$ doctors. So do us all a favor and re-think your career choice please.


Also,
If by the grace of God you do become a doctor, I hope and pray that you change your negative attitude by the time you end up taking care of patients. Doctors that have nasty attitudes have a higher chance of get sued (gathered that info while doing research this morning and I'd thought I'd pass it along to you because based on your response, you do not know that), fired and/or given bad reviews.

May God bless you,
😍

LOL!!! 🤣