If you want to be a doctor, one thing you can do now is try to get some shadowing experience, and volunteering. For the latter you may be too young, but if you check clinics, doctor’s offices and such in addition to hospitals you may find some that will let you help out.
If you plan to do the BS/MD route they’re going to want to see evidence that you know what you are getting into and have demonstrated interest in and commitment to that.
I agree so far with everyone that you need scores first, but for heaven’s sake post a resume or something if you expect college advice. Post anything you have, SAT practice scores, courses you’re taking, anything.
Also “doctor” is too vague. What kind, why, and honestly if you wanted to be one since you were little, you probably want to be one for the wrong reasons. I wanted to be a doctor when I was little because I loved House MD. “I want to help people” is the most cliche answer you could possibly use. Since you have a lot of time (and seem a little overenthusiastic about colleges), I would explore other avenues. Remember that you do have a major in college to get that isn’t “doctor,” and a good portion of doctors don’t have bio majors. So look into other interests! Try new hobbies. Don’t laser onto BS/MD programs, which pretty much dictate your future academic life, but spend time looking for new extracurriculars. Take the USABO, USNCO, or AMC 10. Shadow some physicians - you’ll be surprised how much paperwork there is. Volunteer at a hospital, beach cleanup, or whatever. Above all, develop as many interests as possible, and then focus on the ones that truly pull on you.
Good luck!
@OHMomof2 Thanks. I’m going to start shadowing soon, and when I’m 16 I can volunteer. I’ve already done all the volunteer paperwork and stuff.
@RegalDragon I want to be an anesthesiologist. Yes, I want to help people (doesn’t everybody?), but the main reasons are because the medical field is so politicized and corrupt, and the best way to effect change is from the inside. Now, that’s not been my reason forever, but just because I’ve wanted to be something for a long time does not make it a bad career choice. Also, I feel that medicine, and the specialty I want to do, in particular, requires a lot of precision and concentration, which I feel I have plenty of. Yes, I know that “doctor” isn’t a major. I don’t know why you thought I thought that. I’m planning on majoring in biology, biomedical science, or pre-medical studies depending on the college, but I plan to take the same track, anyway. I have other hobbies. I love sports, speech and debate team, and politics. Yes, I am planning to shadow. I will also apply for a medical internship to get some hands-on experience. I have plenty of interests. Thanks for the advice.
Also, I’m not “lasered in” on BS/MDs. Yes, I have looked at what they entail, and it seems like something I would be interested. Pretty much every other poster on CC that says they want to study medicine/be a doctor doesn’t get all of this “you want to be a doctor for the wrong reasons” stuff. Did I do something wrong?
You should not be targeting ANY of these colleges until you have standardized test scores and more than a freshman year GPA.
They’re just colleges I might want to go to. Some people plan to go to Harvard in like, 5th grade.
I suggested shadowing not only for admissions reasons, but also because it’s a good way to get a sense of what doctors do. Shadowing gave my D a lot to think about and in the end she decided against the pre med track. Or it may solidify your plans - either way, good to learn.
Instead of thinking about specific colleges, this is a good time to explore possible careers that generally interest you.
And you know, enjoy high school.
Yup and yup. I enjoy high school because it’s the next step to college
Do you have any hooks - urm, first-gen, low income, legacy? Those would also help. Anyway your college list does need some refining, you have a lot of different kinds of colleges which is fine at the beginning, but if you can visit a couple that are close by to see if you like a larger city vs smaller campus vs. more rural
As a fellow rising sophomore, I am here to say a few things:
You should not be overly stressed about college. Columbia should not be your profile picture, as it is unhealthy to focus that much on a college that is a reach for everyone. Columbia is a dream, and you can work hard to get there, but you can’t obsess about college as a sophomore when so much can change between now and when you submit applications.
Have a nice day!
Low income. Does first person in my family to take a traditional education route (no, community college, gap years, getting bachelors degrees in their 40’s, etc., which both my parents did) count?
That doesn’t count - if your parents have degrees, you’re not first gen. But you talk about that and how it impacted you, if did.
Ok, thanks for telling me. Like I said, I wasn’t sure. Is it true that AO’s “score” your parent’s education (less education=higher “score”?)
I know like everyone’s going to berate me for this. I saw that thing about the “score” on the PrepScholar article about Allen Cheng’s successful Harvard application. So is that actually a thing?
BUMP
What was the point of bumping this? You are not supposed to be bumping anyway. Enough. Step away from your computer.
Why not? people do it all the time. My question hasn’t been answered, and I would like one.