My daughter is in high school now but she is really interested in becoming a pediatrician?

Question

Can someone advice her on this, like one of her questions is, how many yrs of university she needs to take, and what courses etc. Thank you in advance..

Answer 1

During high school she will need to take all the Science classes she can. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus are the best prep for her.

In college she can major in anything she wants to, as long as she does the specific requirements for Med School. Most colleges have a Pre Med program, so I would recommend a minor in that.

After she graduates from college, she will need to be accepted into a Medical school. Admissions requirements for these vary a lot, so she should pick out a few to focus on around her Junior year of college.

After she graduates from Med School, she will do 4-6 years of residency, then specialize in Pediatrics for another 3-4 years before she is Board certified as a Pediatrician.

Any more questions, please feel free to email me.

Answer 2

In the US, most med schools require a four year degree with very strong grades (mostly As) in Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Organic Chemistry. Some schools also require a year of Calculus. These courses (esp. Organic Chemistry) at many schoools are called "breaker" courses because they help determine who'll be able to continue on to medical school.

There are a very few programs that will admit students before they begin college or very early into their college careers if they are exceptionally well-qualified (as in astronomical SAT scores and high school GPAs.) They still have to maintain strong grades in college, though.

Answer 3

She'll need all the science classes she can take in high school. Chemistry and biology are really good ones, physics will help, too.

In the US, she'll need a science-related undergraduate degree, and then go on to medical school. Depending on where she goes, that's 3-4 years of college, plus residency of 2 or more years, depending on what field she wants to specialize in.

She can talk to the career advisors in her school for more information, and start researching medical schools in her area. It's not impossible to do, but it's a lot of work, and she has to be committed for the long haul. Good luck to her!