Should I become a doctor?

Pre-Med & Medical School High School Student Topics
1

<p>I'm not sure whether I should become a doctor. I know I definitely want to go into a career in the sciences, and my parents are constantly pressuring me to be a doctor. It's not a bad sort of pressure, per se. They just honestly believe that being a doctor is the best career choice for me. But they won't force me into the career if I tell them I genuinely can't stand it, and they will support me no matter what career I choose to pursue in the end (well, you know, as long as it's not something stupid like I want to become the store manager of a McDonald's or something).</p>

<p>I can see myself as a doctor. I love helping people out, and definitely being a doctor is one of the best ways to do that. But I don't have the all-consuming passion to, like, be a doctor that people say you have to have in order to get through med school and not resent all the hard work. At the same time though, I can't imagine myself as anything else except for a doctor. I can't say I'm in love with the idea of being a doctor, but if I don't become one, I really don't know what else I'd like to do.</p>

<p>Either way, do I have a chance of getting accepted into a good med school? I'm a sophomore in high school, so I haven't really had the chance to take any AP classes, but here's my transcript anyways. (Our school doesn't offer Honors Spanish classes until you reach Spanish 4, and the only advanced science course our school offers is "Honors Integrated Science" (until you reach junior year. Then you have more freedom.) Also, in our school system, the only way to get an A+ is if you have a 99% average in the class or higher.)</p>

<p>FRESHMAN YEAR
Honors English - A+
Honors World History - A
Spanish 1 - A
Geometry - A
Honors Integrated Science 1 - A+
Creative Drama - A</p>

<p>SOPHOMORE YEAR
Honors English - A
Honors US History - A
Spanish 2 - A+
Honors Algebra 2 - A
Honors Integrated Science 2 - A
Intermediate Drama - A
Technical Theater - A</p>

<p>Next year my adviser recommended I take either AP or Honors English, Spanish 3, Honors Pre-Calculus, either AP Chem or AP Bio, AP or Honors European History, and Advanced Drama. During the summer years, I plan to take a psychology course at our local community college, and maybe an anatomy or physics course next summer (also at the local community college). I also have about 50 hours of volunteer service at a local hospital. I haven't taken the SAT yet, but I got a 215 the first time I took the PSAT and a 221 the second time, so I hope I'll do well on the SAT!</p>

<p>But just... the final question is, should I really become a doctor if I don't love it? I know it's fourteen years of my life I'll never get back, but at the same time I don't see myself as anything but a doctor. And should I choose to become a doctor, if I continue at school the way I am now, will I get into a good med school? Will I be able to handle the workload?</p>

<p>Meh.</p>

2

<p>No sense worrying about this now. Take the hardest courseload your school has to offer, including sciences. Go to the best college you can get into/can afford. (Best doesn’t always mean most prestigious.) No need to decide on medical school until after sophomore year of college.</p>

3

<p>Unless you intend to go into a BS/MD program there is no way to tell you your chances until well into your college career. Until you get your SAT scores, we can’t chance you in the BS/MD programs even.</p>

<p>Don’t become a doctor if you don’t love it. It’s a long time getting there to be doing something that doesn’t make you happy.</p>

4

<p>I have a son (HS Junior) who has about the same GPA as yours except that his PSAT is not as good. He once asked me about Northwestern’s 7 year medical honor program. I told him that we will talk about it if he can get 2300 on SAT since NW’s honor students have an average about 2270. I am encouraging him to go to a very good in-state university with a good prospect of full ride scholarship. In your case, you may look into NW’s honor program if you really want to be a doctor. You can get some more idea about your capability when you take the AP Cal, AP Chem, AP Bio while improving further on your SAT and EC’s to increase your chance. </p>

<p>Now, it appears that you also like drama/acting. I would guess that you may have talents that are very valuable to a number of other careers. You may be doing very well in business, engineering, law, etc. My son is good at cello and tennis but not at debate/drama. I think that bluedevilmike’s & philescere’s advices seem to be prudent.</p>

5

<p>mmmcdowe</p>

<p>Sorry, I mean your and bdm’s advices.</p>