The medical profession is probably the most prestigious and honorable profession in the world. After all, as a doctor, you’re improving people’s lives in a very real and direct way, day after day. As a doctor, you’ll be well payed, well respected, and have askill set that can never be outsourced or easily replaced.
So, what does it take to become a doctor? As you probably already know, becoming a doctor is a very long, lengthy process. In the following article, we’ll look at why you might want to become a doctor, why you might not, and how you can go about accomplishing your goal.
Is Being A Doctor For You?
So, do you think you want to become a doctor? It is critical that you have the proper motivation, because if you’re just in it for the money, the level of hard work and stress you have to go though will make your life very unhappy. However, if you love the thought of being able to help people in the mostfundamental way possible, becoming a doctor may be the perfect career choice for you. As a doctor, you have the power to heal people, and even save their lives. If this sounds like what you want to do with your life, read on to find out more.
Before going into medicine, you should have some idea of your scientific skills. Becoming a doctor and becoming a scientist are very different things, but you need to have a good solid academic base, and be fairly comfortable with the sciences, with an obvious emphasis on the life sciences. If the thought of memorizing another biology term is too much for you to bear, you should probably look elsewhere for a career. If, however, you’re excited to learn about the human body and how it works, then you might have what it takes to become a doctor.
Why It Rocks
As stated before, being a doctor is one of the most honored professions in existence. As a doctor, you can directly impact people’s live by attempting to improve their health. For many, this is the most rewarding thing in the world.
In addition to this, you will also enjoy high pay and status as a side benefit. Though this should not be your only motivation, of course, but its not a bad thing as far as perks go. Doctors, because of their high level of training, are highly paid. Because of the difficulty of achieving the position, as well as nature of the job, doctors also enjoy a very high social status. Not bad things at all, if you can get them.
Why It Sucks
Stress. Throughout your entire career as a doctor, from the education to the practice, you will be under intense stress. Starting with the grueling, demanding medicals schools,continuing through the sleep free residency years, and finally practicing medicine where people’s lives and health are in your hands, being a doctor is always an intense experience. Make sure that you perform well under stress, or else this career won’t work well for you.
Additionally, those who go into medicine just for the money and status tend to be very unhappy with the profession. Yes, they have money and status, but now they also have a hectic work schedule with long hours and lots of pressure. If you don’t have a genuine love of medicine, all this will make you hate your life. “Love what you do” is a common platitude, but only because its always good advice.
How To Become A Doctor
As you probably already know, becoming a doctor is a long, difficult process. As might be expected, the first thing you’re going to need is a bachelor’s degree. It doesn’t actually particularly matter what you get this degree in, as long as you fulfill the core requirements for getting into med school. In most cases, these requirements include basic math and science courses, with an obvious emphasis on the life sciences with labs. Other than these requirements, though, you’re pretty much free to major in whatever you happen to enjoy. Be sure to get good grades and participate actively in the student life to improve your chances of getting hired.
After you finish your undergrad education, its off to med school with you. Applying and getting into med school is a whole other topic which we’ll cover here later, but basically you’ll need to take theMCAT exams, and have a solid undergrad resume to show. Once in medical school, you’ll study for four years or more to learn the basics of practicing medicine. This will be a lot of hard work, but if you’re dedicated, you should make it through. Medical schools have a very highretention rate in general, because most people going through it are committed to achieving their goals, and will do whatever it takes to stay in.
After school, you will most likely have to complete a residency period of some sort, where you will practice in your specialty to learn how the day to day operations go, and gain real experience with real patients. The hours during this period are often long and hard, so be prepared to work. However, once you get out of this period, you’ll be a full fledged doctor ready to go out and practice medicine! Your long journey is complete, or possibly just beginning, depending on your perspective.
Conclusions
As you can see, becoming a doctor is not a simple thing at all. You will face many challenges along the way, but if your life’s true passion is to become a healer, then this long path is certainly worth the trouble. Just be sure that you’re being motivated for the right reasons, though, or things will not go well for you. For those who have the passion, though, every bit of the struggle will carry with it the reward of achieving a dream few others ever will. Don’t give up, and you too can experience this feeling.
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