How to Prepare to Become a Doctor

Becoming a doctor takes years of preparation.

Working as a doctor can be one of the most rewarding and best-paying professional careers in the United States. Doctors can expect significantly higher-than-average employment growth of approximately 22 percent through 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, and they earned an average median yearly income of $262,891 in May 2008. Becoming a doctor takes a great deal of time and effort, however. Aspiring physicians must complete undergraduate school and medical school, which takes up to eight years, followed by an internship and residency, which may require a commitment of up to eight more years.

Instructions

1. Study subjects in high school that are relevant to the medical profession, such as science and mathematics. Make sure to earn good grades and seek academic assistance--for example, counseling, study groups or tutoring--to develop better study habits if courses become too difficult.

2. Enroll in a four-year college for undergraduate study. Aspriring doctors can only enter medical school, which typically lasts four years, by completing a bachelor's degree first or enrolling in a special program that combines undergraduate and medical school studies. Combination programs often take six or seven years to complete, instead of the eight years commonly required when students complete college before attending medical school.

3. Participate in a premedical undergraduate program while in college, which prepares prospective physicians for medical school and a career in medicine. Such programs include coursework in relevant subjects, such as biology, English, inorganic chemistry, mathematics, organic chemistry and physics. As in high school, seek academic assistance if courses become problematic.

4. Volunteer at a medical facility, such as a clinic or hospital, during high school and/or college to gain first-hand experience and exposure to health care environments. If possible, take advantage of such volunteer opportunities to speak with doctors who work in the facility in order to learn about their perspective on the profession and any advice they may have.

5. Speak with your high school guidance counselor and/or college advisor to explore which medical specialties might be best for you and to get advice on the best medical schools for you to consider and related financial planning. Guidance counselors and advisors can also recommend helpful extracurricular opportunities, such as career fairs and summer programs. Make an appointment to discuss such issues and your career plans as soon as possible to ensure you begin taking the proper action, such as enrolling in necessary classes or requesting applications, in a timely manner.

Tips & Warnings

• Gaining admission into medical school is very competitive and difficult, so the sooner students start preparing in high school or college, the better. Medical school applications generally require college transcripts, demonstration of extracurricular activities, recommendations and often an interview with representatives from the admissions department. In addition, medical schools typically evaluate the personal attributes of applicants, such as character and leadership abilities, and students must complete the MCAT, or Medical College Admission Test, no more than three years before applying to medical school and submit the scores with their application.

References

• Association of American Medical Colleges: About the MCAT Exam
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook - Physicians and Surgeons

Resources

• Association of American Medical Colleges: Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
• Association of American Medical Colleges: Resources for Future Physicians