I'm 15 and i'm very interested in medecine. So I'd like to know from the experienced people how hard it is to

Question

be a doctor and how many years it takes. Is there anythingi can do to prepare myself?

Answer 1

Hey, im currently in my first year of medical school. Just finsihed my university exams as lately as today.

as of doing medicine, first of all, before anything at all- MENTAL preparation! its really important to know what to expect.
It takes an average of 5 years. Some medical school require to be in the school for 6 years including clinicals.

Its all about memorizing. In my first year, we have Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology. I personally prefer physio.

Anat is about the structure of ur body. the ones u can see its called Gross Anat, Then you have Microscopic - Histology and Embryology- how the structure of our bodies developed.

Physio is about how the body works under normal conditions.

Biochemistry is the reactions.

Well, if u have anythin, u can alwayz ask me. Im here to help. =))
Have to be really strong mentally and emotionaly, realli. chalenging in that department. Load is heavy unless u really study everyday.

Answer 2

I agree with the first poster. The first 2 years of medical school is simply learning a new language. Its almost all bookwork. And If I can do it, anyone can. The last 2 years are more hands on. You will be in a hospital or private Dr's office learnig how to act like a doctor. Residency is where you actually do work, and you get a small paycheck for it
In the USA you need a 4 year degree first then medical school is another 4 years. Residency depends. Surgery is 5 years plus ehatever you want to specialize in. Plasics is usually 3. Ob/gyn is 4 years. The others vary, and I am not too sure what the standards are.
What can you do to prepare yourself? The people who will accept or deny you will look at everythin. My hospital does not look at grades or the MCAT (see below) as much as the admissions board looks for mature people whe have been out of school and in the workforce for a few years. Hospitals do this as a cost issue. We get (for the sake of conversation-the real figures are not allowed to be public knowledge) a hospital gets $100,000 per resident per year. The hospital then gives each resident $40,000 per year. The other 60,000 goes back into the hospital mostly for malpractice purposes. So the hospital hires 10 people for say,surgery,each spring, and when they start 6 of them will not like the program that they are in and leave. NOW the hospital is not only short-handed, but it owes part of that money back to its original entity.
To prepare, do everything you can to make yourself well rounded. Day 1 of college, start looking at MCAT books as well as your regular texts. Most omportantly, do your homework. What I mean is just get to know what it is you are getting into. Many, many people go all the way through college and medical school only to learn that they hate medicine and would much rather cook or be a reporter or whatever.
Above all, be a good person. If not to those around you then to yourself.
I hope this helps.

Answer 3

All about memorising? not intelectually challenging?

my bet is that none of the replies you've had come from people actually in the studies. ok, maybe the one in 1st year but that's because the first year you have to get a good rhythm and in the meantime you must use your memory far more than your analysis.

in fact, here's a simple tip for the extremely mediocre first answer (and your future career): memorise THE LATIN PREFIXES AND SUFFIXES, not the names. if you can't connect things just based on that, you shouldn't be studying medicine. plus, it's not only the bones you need to learn (well, i'm guessing you're no older than 16 so this is pointless.)

but PHYSIOLOGY based on memory? you have to be kidding me.

sure, there is a lot of memorising, but the amount depends on your own skills of better understanding things. if you get biochemistry you don't need to memorise half the things in physio or histology. anatomy is a different thing. Internal med, patophysiology and pathology all go down the same path. so does pharmacology. there's plenty of memorising, but far more logic and skill.

Answer 4

I am not currently studying medicine, rather a science degree but the subjects I am doing are quite similar to what a medical student may take on in first or second year. For example, Chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, neuroscience and neuroanatomy. If you are keen to learn and truly interested in the wonders of the human body it is not hard at all. Yes, it is a challenge but the key is good organisational skills and a pro-active approach so that you are willing to seek out information beyond the scope of the course when further explanation is needed. It is a highly dynamic and changing field so to embark on a career in medicine means you will be learning new things for life, which I think is the most appealing aspect. It may seem daunting at first but as you continue through your degree, right up to your internship and onward as a qualified Doctor your own experiences will give you confidence with time...no one is expected to know everything straight away. My advice to you is to approach a Doctor you are familiar with and ask them if they will be your mentor....Good luck!

Answer 5

It depends on how bad you want it. I have my home nursing degree, medical lab tech degree and patient care tech degree. I found it more rewarding to be the one overseeing the wellness of the patients, and doing the diagnosis. I have found in my feild, that drs only have the partial knowlegde it is the lab tech and the patient techs that make the difference. Drs know what tests to order blah blah blah, most have bad bedside manner, while it is the lab tech that runs the test and does preliminary diagnoses and tell the dr whats wrong with you, and the pateint tech is the one who will be at ur bedside making you feel better both emotionally and health wise. Ive worked with alot of drs, and that is why i will never become one. I feel more fufilled being there for my patients then worring about the income of a practice. So its all what you want and what you want to make of it. No matter what feild of medicine you go into, it is going to be hard alot of memory work on alot of very big wierd spelling words, but if that is where your passion is, then you can do it......you just have to set ur mind to it. Anything can be accomplished if you put ur mind heart and soul into it. Best of luck!!!!

Answer 6

Missy depending on where you live will depend on how long you will have to go to school. The average U.S. MD will attend school for 8 years just to finish and have the title Dr. then they must do a residency which will take between 3-5 years. you can start by taking AP algebra, Biology, chemistry,and Latin wouldn't hurt either. good Luck!~ reaper out................

Answer 7

Do you mean juju or what? If not juju but want to be a medical doctor then learn hard to get grade six and attend a medical school. The begining of everything is not easy so try to learn hard to make it.

Answer 8

... its a good thing that ur interested in medicine... cuz its really a good field:)...
i'm in second yr medical.. n its not THAT difficult... its all about managing ur time ....
well i dont know which country u belong to.... but in Pakistan ...u have to do matric in science group (thats 10th grade) then u have to do Fsc (pre medical).. thats 2 yrs .. n then 5 yrs of medical .... n then if u want to go to US.. then u have to pass USMLE .. n then do residency..n then fellowship etc....
best of luck!!!!!!!

Answer 9

You'd need to be good at memorizing thousands of facts, like the Latin names of all our bones. But intellectually, it's not very challenging.

Answer 10

IF YOU ARE MATHEMATICALLY AND SCIENTIFICALLY INCLINED, GO FOR IT! NO- IT'S NOT A BREEZE BUT IF YOU ARE DRIVEN, IT'S FAR FROM IMPOSSIBLE. IT'S FASCINATING AND INVALUABLE AND TO GET STARTED, YOU SHOULD VOLUNTEER IN ANY HOSPITAL/ CLINIC NEAR YOU. KEEP YOUR GRADES UP AND SEE IF THERE ARE COLLEGE COURSES AVAILABLE THROUGH YOU HIGH-SCHOOL.. 1ST IN IMPORTANCE; STAY FOCUSED!