You have a calling to be a healer, and the world needs good doctors more now than ever. Still, the field of medicine is as challenging as it is rewarding, and you want to prepare for what you’re getting into.
Becoming a doctor isn’t a fly-by-night decision. You’ll go through rigorous training, invest a lot of time and money in your education, and put substantial hours into studying. But if you’re passionate about the career, you’ll be successful, and all that hard work will pay off ten-fold.
The healthcare industry has a job growth rate of 3% for physicians and surgeons over the next decade, with a median pay that should cover much of your student loans.
If you’re ready to jump right in, you’re in the right place! This guide will take you through the steps of becoming a doctor, starting with college applications.
1. Choose Your College Carefully
You’re about to graduate high school, and there’s nothing you can do about your grades there. Whether you excelled or slacked, the important part is to pick the right college.
Starting out with great grades in high school helps here. Your ACT and SAT scores can put you in front of the other applicants at choice colleges. However, if your grades weren’t stellar, don’t let that stop you from applying. If you have letters of recommendation and do well on your personal essay, you can still get into a good school.
2. Take College Seriously
Your academic career is the foundation of your professional life. Use this time to gain all the knowledge you can. It will make your job easier when you’re treating patients.
This is your chance to get hands-on research experience, connect with professors and mentors to learn from them, and build a network that will streamline the transition into your career.
3. Take the Medical College Admission Test
In high school, you have SATs. In medical school, there’s an MCAT. This admission test is used to predict how well you’ll do in med school. It’s a vital part of your application, so you want to do well on it.
Luckily, you can take it up to three times in a single year until you’re satisfied with your score (although there’s a hefty fee that you’ll have to pay, and the test takes seven and a half hours).
4. Apply to Multiple Med Schools
The more applications you submit, the better your chances of acceptance are. Research your options and select at least a dozen to apply to.
It’s okay to get accepted at more than one, then let those you don’t need anymore know you’ve decided to go somewhere else.
5. Get Through Med School and Boards
This part is the real challenge. Med school isn’t for the faint of heart or those who don’t want to put effort into studying. You’re going to have to put more hours into your day learning the field than you do sleeping and having a personal life.
This hard work will be what gets you through taking your boards, and then you’ll be done with the “class” part of your degree.
6. Complete Your Residency
Most physicians-in-training take about three years to do a residency. This helps you gain experience in various settings that are designed to prepare you for the real world.
International medical graduates have to go through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) before they can apply for a residency.
During your residency, you’ll get a small salary as compensation. It’s typically enough to cover your basic living expenses and make the minimum payments on your student loans.
The first year of your residency is when you’ll take the last exam you need to pass to get your license. This is the USMLE-3, and it verifies that you’re able to work unsupervised.
After your residency, you should have all the knowledge you need to pass the final set of boards.
Conclusion
With that under your belt, you’re a licensed physician! Aside from any additional state requirements and your continuing education credits, you are now free to enjoy the results of those years of blood, sweat, and tears.