How to be a doctor

To become a doctor takes more than courage and ambition, but those are both important. You have to want it, and love what you do. People are going to depend on you day in and day out to save lives and meet your patient’s needs. To help you understand more I am going to take you through steps to become a doctor.

Step one is to volunteer. Get a taste of what you are getting yourself into. Make sure that this is really what you want to do. You need to be able to handle the sight of everything and keep your emotions low. Your life will revolve around your career because of the long hours and people will expect you to care for them no matter what and any time of day.. Volunteering will give you a sight of the skills and most important the grades you will need to get into medical school. So yes, the way you live life in high school will matter also.

Step two is Excel. You have to be a well- rounded person and just like I talked about in step one, you have to have great grades and volunteer work will look great in the long run. Get to know your teachers and supervisors, there letters of recommendations might help you get into medical school.

Step Three is commit. The path to get a MD is well defined. Success mainly depends on the commitment to your goals and how well you pursue them. When you interview to for a spot in Med- School they want to see if you can accomplish your goals.

Step four is graduate from a 4- year college or university. Choose a college with a strong pre- med program. In order to qualify for admission to Med- School you need to have taken these courses, along with other subjects:

· 2 year of freshmen chemistry with laboratory courses.

· 1 year of organic chemistry with laboratory courses.

· 1 year of biology with laboratory courses.

· 1 year of physics with laboratory courses.

· 1 year of English

· 1 year of calculus.

Step Five is taking the Medical School Admissions test (MCAT). You will be tested in the following areas and some will be graded using a scale of 1-15.

· Verbal reasoning.

· Physical Sciences.

· Biological sciences.

· Writing sample.

Step Six is completing medical School.

· First two years: emphasis on education and introduction to medical specialties. You will learn to take medical history and examine patients.

· USMLE

· Third year is 1-2 months of the major specialties, and work with patients under the supervisions of supervisors in a clinic.

· Fourth year you take electives based on your specialty.

Step six is entering your residency training period. This is where you get paid while still training. It begins in July after you graduate medical school. You are responsible for patients and are supervised by senior physicians. Residency usually lasts about three years.

Being a doctor is not only an honor but a responsibility, be sure this is what you want to do and be prepared.