Want to be a Doctor??

Question

I'm 13 years old and I want to become a doctor. I have a few questions though:

~In grade 7 my grade average was 82%. I know this isn't the best, but I will try to improve a lot in grade 8. Will this low mark affect my chances of being a doctor?

~To be a general surgeon about how many years of school will i need?

~In residency, do you actually live there or stay overnight?

~If you don't do any sports in university, will Med school still accept you (because you have to be a well rounded person, right?)

~Do you have to have really good social skills? Because I noticed that many doctors are kinda awkward and they don't seem like their very social lol

~And when your in school do you have a life? Or is it all studying?

~If it's all studying, do you have time to talk to your parents at all, or be able to sleep for 8 hours?

~And lastly, what should I be studying right now? Should I be doing anything extra at home aside from what their teaching me in school? Like should I studying chemistry books and stuff?

Sorry for the REALLY long question, all help is appreciated!=)

Answer 1

I don't know the answer to many of these, but I can tell you that you're middle school marks won't really matter. Not to say that you shouldn't work hard, but don't losse sleep over them. Your high school grades are much more important. I would also advice you to take a lot of science classes in high school.

Answer 2

~ Just try your best to do well in school, get good grades and score well on your SAT and ACT to get into college and major in Pre-Med, biology or pharmacy... that way when you start med school, you will have already taken some base courses your 1st year ("M1")

~ General surgery, without a specialty... that would be 4 years of med school after 4 years of undergrad plus a residency. A residency is going to be at the very least 2 yeard but more likely 3. You may decide to specialize (you don't have to go straight through all at once, you can finish residency, work as a physician/surgery and specialize later if you like)

~In residency, no, that is not what the name means. Even in medical

school, there will be times when you are "On Call" or "Overnight"

when you DO stay overnight at the hospital. There is a small room,

like a dorm room and you will be given a general locker, but NO,

during residency, it is more like a status and not a state of living.

~ you don't need to be an athlete - although an athletic scholarship

would help to pay - you will be well rounded in other ways and

doctors themselves mostly look at the pedigrees of collegues, not

necessarily the admissions offices of schools

~ Doctors are all kinds of people just like everyone else in the

general population. Period.

~ there is a LOT of studying but you must still have a life, you

just have a more STRUCTURED life. You must work hard

and also play hard because your MENTAL state is so effected

by the pressures of the medical field. Your play is vital, actually.

~ You will make time for all the things in your life,

but you will also learn to sacrifice in order to study. It is imperative

that you study and prepare for your work and in order to pass

your boards and exams and classes.

~ No, it won't really help for you to add extra things outside of

striving to do your best in your present courses. Get comfortable

with science, math, chemistry and excellent study skills.

It is very cool that you are preparing and aspiring to be a doctor. You will make it! Good going! Believe you can and you WILL achieve. Determination is half the battle.

3 minutes ago - 3 days left to answer.  

Answer 3

1.) Medical school admission committees only see your college grades. High school grades aren't even considered except in rare cases. The subjects of study focused on by admission committees are cell biology, physiology, genetics, inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, physics (from Newtonian mechanics to general and special relativity), english, and 1 or 2 semesters of calculus...but don't worry. If given 4 years to do it all, it's easy. But you should prepare for these difficult subjects well ahead of time and make the best use of the education you are pursuing at the moment.

2.) Out of high school, a prospective physician will do 4 years in college pursuing a bachelor degree, 4 years in medical school becoming a doctor, and a prospective general surgeon will typically train for 5 years in residency after medical school. To sub-specialize (e.g. cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, etc.) the general surgeon can also apply for fellowships which may last anywhere from 1 to 2 years. Assuming the highest level of training possible, a highly qualified surgeon may accumulate nearly a decade and a half or more in overall training in addition to years of experience.

3.) In residency, many doctors have an apartment or home, but they spend most of their time at the hospital. 80-120 hour work weeks are typical but diminishing in popularity. So, there are accommodations available for the residents to sleep, shower, store personal items, eat and relax.

4.) you don't have to do sports, just maintain a healthy lifestyle

5.) Socially skilled doctors are preferred, but as you pointed out, not all doctors are socially skilled. So, it is not a requirement.

6.) College is cake, really. Med school is studying from the time you wake till the time you sleep if you're above average and studying for only a full work day if you're a friggin genius. Residency is virtually non-stop.

7.) There's time to talk to your parents... and get (mostly) enough sleep.

8.) Just do the best that you can and always take the toughest classes in every subject at every level of education, from now till you finish college. Aim to become a very good reader and a very curious, life-long learner.  

Answer 4

1. Well first of all you're only in middle school so grades received then doesn't really affect anything when it comes to getting into med school. When you're in high school is when grades matter in order to get into a good undergrad school and from there you have to do well to get into a good medical school. So just make sure when you're in high school to get the best scores possible.

2. To be a surgeon it takes a lot longer specialty training...you would do 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of med school, about 4 years of residency, and probably about another 2-3 years for surgery.

3. sports doesn't necessarily make you a well rounded person...clubs and volunteering will make you a well rounded person. med schools want students who do things geared towards medicine.

4. during your first years of residency you will have to work very long shifts and yes some of them will be overnight.

5. bed side manner and social skills will probably be something you will study in med school. having better social skills will always make you a better doctor.

6. med school is a lot of work and requires a lot of studying...depending on how passionate you are will show in how much studying you put in.

7. sleep deprivation is common in college for those who strive to do well and med school will only be harder.

8. again you're so young! so just have fun for now and worry about all the extra studying for when you get in high school!

Answer 5

let me just say that its really good of you to start planning this stuff now. you really are a smart/amazing 13 year old. work hard and focus on your goals, i'm sure you can do it. starting working towards your goal at age 13 will give you a h**l of a head start.

Answer 6

While everyone else is out partying, dating, socializing, the poor pre-med student has his nose in the books- he cannot afford a "B".  In Medical School, it is even more intense and you are more isolated socially. You have time for contacts with your classmates only.  So, yes, a lot of doctors are a bit behind in social skills.   You want a doc who knows what they are doing, not a charmer, anyway.  I did not get to sleep for 8 hours straight until my 3rd year in Medical School.   Got caught up on weekends. Sure, you have SOME free time, but not what most are used to.