I would like to be become a doctor when i grow up.....?

Question

I will be a senior next year in high school and ive always thought about being a doctor for my profession. I'm totally committed in school, i get straight A's and love learning about the human body and all that stuff. Do you think it's worth becoming a doctor? And how hard is it exactly?

Answer 1

Medical school has a way of sucking the life right out of those inspired dreams of becoming a physician. I won't lie to you, it is one of the hardest things you can do with your prime years. There are many obstacles along the way besides getting the grades. The physical and emotional toll medical training can take on a student is very high. I'm at the end of my 3rd year of medical school right now and everyday I wake up at the bottom of the hospital food chain.

You are still young. Don't think so far down the road and enjoy care free school. Take one day at a time. Everything you need to know you will learn in time and much can change from now until then. If it's still something you want in 4 years, then I say give it a shot. Just make sure it is what YOU want and you are doing it for reasons other than money/prestige/power... because those are just illusions and you'll reget it.

Answer 2

Being a doctor is definitely worth it if you're in it for the right reasons.

If you like helping people, then yes becoming a doctor is definitely worth it.

However, being a doctor isn't as glamorous as a lot people think it is or think it should be. Doctors have to work overnight shifts (12 PM - 8 AM,) long days, and do so off very little sleep.

Watch some medical drama TV shows (Scrubs, ER, House). Yes, they are not exactly what it is like, and there's definitely not that much drama in real life, but that will show you a little bit about what it's like to be a doctor.

If you want to do it because you think you'll make a lot of money, I suggest another profession.

Answer 3

I say go for it, if that is what you really want to do, and your reason is that you want to help others and not for the money than by all means go for it. Becoming a doctor is really hard, right now I am a college student in the pre-med track and well it's been really hard, depending on the college you go to all, because your work load changes but either way if you are a pre-med student, you will spend hours behind books and that still won't be enough, and don't like that scare you because if you truly believe that becoming a doctor is what you really want well than all that hard work will pay off. Just make sure you stick to it because once you are in college it's a whole different ball game. I would say more but long story short, just go for it.

Answer 4

Rewards of being a doctor:

1. patient interactions
2. patient appreciation
3. applies science to helping people
4. changes all the time and stays interesting
5. job stability

Downsides of being a doctor:

1. long hours
2. endless paperwork
3. patient non-appreciation (becoming more common)
4. risk of malpractice lawsuits
5. may be financially unrewarding (medical school is expensive, residency pay is lousy, and even after you're done, you don't get paid that much for the number of hours you put in)
6. competitive

Whether it is worth it or not depends on how you prioritize the things listed above. I find that the happiest doctors do it for intrinsic reasons (e.g., an innate desire to help others, an innate interest in the science of health, etc) and not extrinsic reasons (financial stability).

The broad steps to being a doctor:

1. take premed courses in college (you can major in whatever you want, but you will need to take some English, math, biology, chemistry, and physics courses)
2. take the MCAT (standardized test for medical school, kind of like the SAT for getting into college)
3. apply and get accepted into medical school
4. 4 years of medical school
5. take the Boards twice during medical school (standardized test for getting into residency)
6. figure out what kind of doctor you want to be
7. apply and get accepted into residency
8. survive residency (ranges from 3-5 years)
9. decide if you want to specialize (if so, add on anywhere from 2-5 years)
10. find a job
10. congratulations, you are now a doctor

Sounds hard, but thousands of doctors are trained every year so it isn't impossible.

Answer 5

First of all, it will require a LOT of dedication...both to the education and to your future. Make absolutely sure this is what you want to do...you'll be in school for at least another 8-10 years after high school.

And it's not cheap. Medical schools are more expensive than law schools (and those can run in excess of $100K for 6 years).

You should talk to your guidance counselor and make sure this is what you want. Also, you should start applying for scholarships NOW, rather than waiting for graduation.

Good luck. Not everyone that thinks they want to be a doctor will become one, but the ones that do are good people.

Answer 6

A doctor's first duty is to work 24 x 7 hours.
If you are prepared to be a doctor who can work for the poor,not demanding anything in anything,except serving the poor,you are a jewel on this world.

Answer 7

Yes, I think it's worth it. Nobody ever said life would be easy. If something is worth attaining, it's worth working for. I like your attitude. Set your goal, and do anything necessary to reach it.
The medical profession needs more dedicated minds like yours. Go for it.

Answer 8

Good Luck