To doctors: I want to be some kind of doctor for a career, what classes did you take in High School?

Question

And what other advice do you have?

A medical doctor

Answer 1

These are helpful courses for a general practicioner since you didn't mention which branch of medicine you're interested in. Hope this helps and good luck!

Helpful High School Courses

If you are interested in this occupation, you should take courses in high school that prepare you to enter college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

You should also take all the advanced courses you can in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school.

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this specific occupation. While you do not have to take all of them, you should consider them in course planning. Some of these courses are also available at colleges and technical schools.

Business
Introduction to Business
Business Management
Entrepreneurship

Computer and Information Sciences
General Computer Applications
Business Computer Applications

Elective Activities
Leadership
Community Service

English Language and Literature
English and Language Arts (Four years)
English Composition
Advanced English Composition courses
Technical Writing
English Grammar
Business and Applied English
Public Speaking
Forensics and Debate

Health and Safety Education
Health Education
Health and Fitness
Community Health

Health Care Sciences
Exploration of Health Care Occupations Careers
Health Care Occupations
Advanced Health Care Occupations
Medical Lab Technology
EKG Technology
Emergency Medical Technology
Surgical Technology
Health Care Sciences Work Experience

Life and Physical Sciences
Biology
Advanced Biology courses
Anatomy and Physiology
Chemistry
Chemistry in the Community
Advanced Chemistry courses
Life and Physical Sciences Lab Assistant

Mathematics
Algebra
Geometry
Advanced Algebra courses
Trigonometry
Advanced Geometry courses
Advanced Trigonometry courses
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Advanced Calculus courses
Probability and Statistics

Physical Education
Physical Education
Fitness and Conditioning Activities
Weight Training
Lifetime Fitness Education

Second Language and Literature
Second Language
Classical Language

Social Sciences and History
U.S. Ethnic and Gender Studies
Business Law
Consumer Law
Legal System
Social Science
Psychology
Advanced Psychology courses
Sociology
Anthropology

Many family and general practitioners are self-employed. If you are considering self-employment make sure courses such as business management, accounting, and business computer applications are on your list.

Licensing and Certification

Doctor of Medicine
Applicants must:
1) Have completed a doctor of medicine program at an AMA Liaison Committee for Medical Education (LCME) approved medical school.
2) Have completed 3 years of accredited postgraduate training (unless applying by endorsement of license).
3a) Pass the United States Medical Licensing examination; or
b) Be board-certified by one of the specialty boards of the American Board of Medical Specialists and pass a state written licensing examination.
4) Pass other State Board required written and/or oral exams relating to the practice of medicine in your state.
5) Applicants applying by endorsement will be required to appear before the Board and may still be required to take an exam or meet other requirements.

An applicant may also be required to take the Special Purpose Examination (SPEX) if he or she has not taken a major written exam within the ten years prior to the date of application.

Foreign medical school graduates must submit proof of the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its equivalent. Foreign graduates must also hold the standard certificate given by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) or have written proof of having passed the examination given by the Commission.

The State Board may grant a license in one of the following categories to an applicant who has received a license in another state or who is otherwise eligible for a permanent license. The categories of licensure include locum tenens, special, temporary and endorsement.

Fees
Fees may be subject to change. Fees are: application--$400; biennial registration--$600; resident physician application/licensing per year--$250/$50, respectively.

Here's some extra info I picked up from my sister and the web(she is trying to become a pediatrician).
At a glance:
-Constantly interact with patients and other medical workers
-Usually work more than 40 hours per week
-Training lasts about 10 years after high school
-Have a state medical license
-About 17 percent of doctors are self-employed
-Earn $137,670 per year (national average)
-Work in offices, clinics, hospitals, or medical schools

Answer 2

Ask your guidance counselor; actually, by this time, your courses should already be "set" for the rest of your high school career, but it depends on what state you live in (if you're in the US) as to what your college requirements are: In WV, a junior has to have English 11; math; science; history; (at some point) two years of a foreign language; etc. At some point, you should have chemistry, anatomy and physiology, physics, trig/calc; (any AP classes will help a lot too)

Answer 3

It is impossible to answer this question. Variations occure not only from country to country but often from state withun a country and from university to universtiy within a state.

Here, most uni's only offer Medicine as a second degree and the subject of the first degree doesn't matter.

Chemistry, biology and maths may be useful tools. However these are often "assumed knowledge" not "prerequisites".

It is VERY important that you see your careers councellor / careers teacher / careers adviser (whatever you call it where you are). Talk to him/her to get all the info yoiu need. You will have to start studying very hard YESTERDAY to get the UAI / SAT / A levels or whatever to get into the course as medicine is very competitive. Have plenty of money too, these courses are expensive too.

"To doctors", Do you really think that they would have time to visit? They are usually busy keeping up with new developments in medicine or have better things to do with their time.

Ask God for wisdom and guidence, He will give it to wou with much pleasure - as He loves you!

Answer 4

Mathematics (Calculus, Statistics, as much math as possible), science (biology, chemistry, physics), English/Language Art/Literature, history/social studies, foreign language.

These are good choices. Mathematics, science, and English are must.

Answer 5

doctorates are avaliable for any field... a PHD can be in almost any subject... if you are talking about a medical doctor, then I suggest taking sciences, especially biology and chemistry

Answer 6

don't they have counselors in high schools anymore? If so that would be the person to ask