How To Become A Doctor

Doctors are some of the most respected professionals of all. It is a career that requires a very high level of training, and those who achieve the position of doctor enjoy a rewarding career, excellent compensation, and the respect of their peers. The journey towards becoming a doctor is a long and difficult one, but for many the payoff is worth it.

Is a Career in Medicine Right for You?

Before you jump in and start trying to become a doctor, consider whether a career in medicine is really for you. Many people want to become a doctor because of the prestige and pay. However, if this is your only reason for becoming a doctor, consider another career. Becoming a doctor and actually being a doctor are very stressful endeavors. If you don’t have a passion for the actual work that you are doing, you stand a good chance of burning out and being unhappy with your career. Since other people’s lives will literally be in your hands, you want to make sure that this is something that you really want to do.

One of the best ways of seeing whether a career in medicine is right for you is to get as much experience with it beforehand as you can.  Try volunteering at a hospital, or even as an EMT. This way, you can see how you like working in that environment. Another good idea is to try shadowing a doctor or surgeon for a day, and seeing what it is like. Anything you can do to get a better idea of what day-to-day life for doctors is like, the better chance you have of finding out if this is the right career for you.

How to Become a Doctor

So, you’ve decided that becoming a doctor is what you really want to do. The first step is to get a solid four year degree. You can typically major in anything you want to, but there are certain courses that are required for admission to medical school. You will want to check with schools to see which courses these are, but they typically include organic chemistry, biology, physics, and calculus. It is very important that you excel in these studies. Medical school admissions are very rigorous, so maximizing your GPA will greatly increase your chances of getting into school.

The next step before applying to medical school is to take the Medical School Admissions Test, or MCAT. This is a challenging exam that tests your verbal reasoning, physical science, biology, and writing skills. In order to maximize your score on this test, try taking practice tests to hone your skills. This is a hard test, but the better your scores are, the better your chances are getting into medical school.

Now, it’s time to start applying to medical schools. This application process requires several letters of reference, essays, and interviews. It is important to put your best foot forward during this process. Show up to interviews on time, clean, and well dressed. If necessary, practice interviewing in order to perform well during the process. The application process can be quite lengthy, so you need to plan ahead. Many applicants take the year off while waiting for acceptance to medical school, while others are able to start right after finishing their bachelors degree.

Once you’re in medical school, the real work begins. The first two years of medical school are very academically focused, where you will learn the basics of medicine. The next two years are more practically focused. During this time, you should decide which field of medicine you want to go into. During your fourth year, you’ll begin the process of finding your residency program. It is important to find a residency program that matches your interests, so be sure to do your homework and investigate the different options.

Once you graduate from medical school, residency begins. During the residency period, you will work as a doctor under the supervision of others.  This gets you practical experience. The length of your residency depends upon your specialty. Most residencies take about four years, but some specialties, surgeons in particular, may take as long as nine years. The residency period is usually quite stressful. The first year, called intern year, is well-known for transforming for bright, motivated medical students into mindless, sleep deprived zombies. You will be paid during this residency period, but not extremely well. However, once you have finished your residency and completed all necessary certifications, you’re now ready to become a doctor.  Finally.

As you can see, the process of becoming a doctor is very long and strenuous. Not everyone who tries makes it, so it is often prudent to have some sort of backup plan. Once you become a doctor, you also need to prepare for the long hours and stress. Unfortunately, today’s doctors often have to worry about factors that extend beyond their expertise in medicine. Practicing doctors have to consider malpractice issues, and deal with insurance companies. All this put together to make medicine a stressful career.

However, if you have the passion, the drive, and the fervent desire to succeed as a doctor, then no other career will do for you. If this is the case for you, keep pushing for your dream. It will take a lot of hard work, and possibly some failures, but the journey will be worth it.