I'm about to graduate high school. I want to go to college to be a doctor. What do I do???

Question

So I'm going to graduate high school this year. I definitely want to become a doctor. Do I have to go to a regular 4- year college first, then go to medical school (university). If so, how many years do I have to spend in medical school (interns...etc.) to become a doctor? And in the regular 4- year college, what do I learn? Is it kind of like high school? Does it have regular subjects like math, science, biology...etc? Please help. I'm basically clueless.

by the way, I want to become a regular family doctor (doctor who has her own office)

Answer 1

I normally wouldn't have answered due to the number of responses, but there were too many answers that were just a little too off IMO.

Basically, here's your path.

Go to college for your bachelors degree. It doesn't matter in what. A lot of med students nowadays don't have the degree in a hard science. You just need to complete the required courses med schools want (check each individual med school to see what they want). Your college may have a structured pre-med program, but you still need to check with each med school to make sure you've taken all the courses they want.

You learn whatever you want in college. Yes, the college likely has a General Education requirement, which has a variety of subjects they want you to take, but there are a ton of courses that will fulfill those categories. Med schools like you well rounded anyways. I wouldn't double major unless you really love those two subjects. The required courses for med school will be hard enough. You want to maintain a high gpa to get into med school.

Med school is another 4 years. (you're currently at about 8, assuming you only took 4 years to get your bachelors).

Since you just want to be a general doctor, you'll likely do a family medicine residency. That's about 3 years.

Answer 2

i went to law school but had originally planned on going to medical school and had plenty of friends in medical school and so heres the goods: you have to get a bachelor's degree of some sort...it can essentially be in any field, but you will have to fulfill certain requirements in order to get into medical school

if i were you and this is only a suggestion, I would get a degree in something you can get a job in after college in case you change your mind about medical school.....going premed can be useless if you are not careful and then dont end up going to medical school

*****Don't forget though....all medical schools have certain criteria that you must have completed in undergrad and although it varies...there are some basics that usually are the same for most******

College to me was much like high school, but more fun.....youll love it

medical school will be another 4 years i believe and then you do your residency, which can be in whatever you choose to go for and that will determine how long your residency will be....if you want to be a brain/heart surgeon, I'm sure it is longer than it is to be some other kinds

go to the biology department and sign up to meet with a career counselor who can help you plan all this stuff out before you even begin....you can seriously have your entire undergrad planned out before you even start school


Uuuummmmm......didn't LINKIN from down below essentially just say what I said all over again and what many said all over again and then act as though it was brand new info that he came up with on his own? Oh and for Anna....in the US there is no difference between University and College and you need more than a Master's degree to be a doctor....you need a doctorate which is superior to a Master's degree.

Answer 3

You definitely need a bachelor's degree (that's what you get at a four-year college) before you can be admitted to med school. Many four-year colleges have "pre-med" undergraduate programs, in which you will take subjects such as organic chemistry, basic anatomy, and pre-med biology, in addition to core classes such as English and math. Once you graduate from the pre-med program, you will need to apply to medical school, either at the same college where you completed your pre-med or at a different college. You will have to take a test called the MCAT, which is like the SAT for med school admission, and they will expect you to have a rather high GPA. Medical school typically takes about 3 years, and then you will graduate and (hopefully) get accepted to an internship program at a hospital. You will be an intern for about a year and a half or so, and then you will begin your residency, which will last anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2 years. During this time period, expect to have to work long hours (30-hour shifts sometimes!) for roughly as much as a waiter makes. Once your residency is complete, you may either get employed as hospital staff or open your own private practice. Depending which specialty you choose as a doctor, there are different advantages and drawbacks. Good luck!!

Answer 4

After you graduate from high school, you have to go to a 4 year university and get your bachelors degree first. You can major in anything you want from english to even music. However, you must take the required courses (mostly science and math classes) that medical schools require before you apply to med school. Some common classes they require are organic chemistry, general physics, calculus etc. College is going to be different than high school, but if you did well in high school and you concentrate in college, you'll do fine. To become a doctor, it is going to take you about 8-10 years, 4 years of college first, then 4 years of medical school, and couple years of internship and residency.

Answer 5

You only need to get your BS (4 years) degree prior to entering into medical school..... Pick a good university... undergrad... major in premed, biology, chemistry, or biochemistry.... DO WELL get good grades... an above average GPA is necessary to get accepted into any medical school.... Look at medical schools that interest you, are in locations you will be able and willing to live in .. and make sure to take the courses that they require.....Take your MCAT... (study.. this is hard ... even if your a stellar student).... medical school takes at least 4 years.... the time required for your internship and residency .. are dependant on what type of doctor you want to be.... General practice is short compared to other specalities...... ----MOST advisors will say NOT to go to graduate school and get your masters or phd if your planning on going to medical school...which is more for people wanting to do research or teach..... I was a nurse... went back to school.... 4 years .. premed... biology major/chemistry minor.... and now.... well took MCAT got a decent score..(after taking kaplans study course).... ...Due to divorce..etc... have decided to go onto grad school before going straight to medical school... BUT Almost everyone I have talked to .. dont recommend this route.... GOOD LUCK>> ;-)

Answer 6

You'll need 4 years of undergrad, then 4 years of grad school, then 3-4 years of residency/internship/training AT LEAST.

You'll probably double major in bio and chem so you can take all the classes you need to pass the exams to get into med school. No, it's not like high school. It's a lot more work and the teachers won't care if you fail or be reluctant to fail you for not learning the material or putting in the work. You'll have to be much more responsible. But you will mostly take math and science courses, with some 'general' credits thrown in, like English, language, history, etc depending on what the school requires.

Good luck!

Answer 7

To become a doctor you needs a Master degree. My first suggestion is that you should go to University insted of wasten your time in College. My second suggestion is you should go talk with your favorite adviser or your best teacher for help. Because they know what going on in school and they can show you the right way to go.

Answer 8

take class on doctor on college when you go