any pediatricians who can offer advice to a freshman?

Question

ok i want to become a pediatrician since 7th grade but i need to ask some questions first.
were you always number 1 in your class?
is it tough and am i choosing a career to early?
is it fun?i love kids so i thought this would be the career for me and i am interested in biology and medicine
any advice would help

Answer 1

No, but I got good grades and studied a lot.

In college and medical school you will be exposed to many different career opportunities. Keep an open mind.

I thought of other careers, but was drawn to pediatrics. At first it was quite different from what I had expected, and I wondered if I made the right choice. A prof told me that pediatrics was a doctor - parent relationship. After realizing that, I enjoyed it more. But as my patients grew into pre-adolescence, that part of practice became a doctor - patient relationship. I liked that even more.

Is it fun? Yes, but it is a lot of hard work, too. I had a mostly enjoyable career. Long after retirement former patients and parents still greet me warmly.

Answer 2

i'm not a pediatricain, but i'm sure you dont have to be number one at everything. but getting a decent grade point average will get you into the best college and then medical program.
Take a lot of science and math if you can in highschool. biology and chemistry specifically. Math isn't exactlly NEEDED on the job, but it'll set you apart from other people who want the job.

I think that it would be a lot of fun to be a pediatrician. If it seems a bit too daunting a task you could always considering going to school to be a nurse or a nurse practicianer too.

Answer 3

my lecturer (not a paedetrician though) tells me that practicing medicine is only 10% academic. the rest are human factors and common sense xD i sort of believe him...we'll see when my time comes!

so relax
go with the flow but keep your eye in paedetrics...it really may be your true calling :)