<p>I am interested in becoming a doctor. I am interested in family practice medicine or a specialty like dermatology. I think I would like to work in a suburban or rural area as opposed to an urban environment. I would like to be able to work in medicine and best serve patients. I am not sure if I would be better off pursuing a specific medical career like nursing. </p>
<p>Q1-<br>
How can I figure out if I have what it takes to be a doctor or work in a medical career? </p>
<p>Q2-
What are some good schools that really emphasize getting experience and a good knowledge of the field of medicine?
(Im at a liberal arts school now and they dont provide a lot of extra education or other information on medicine outside of regular science classes).</p>
<p>Q3- What can I use to help me figure out what I am most qualified and able to do before I put a significant amount of time or effort into a career in medicine?</p>
<p>Q4- Are there any alternatives to going straight into school fresh out of high school especially if Im not completely sure what I want to do?</p>
<p>Q5-
What does it really take to be a doctor and work in the medical field?
Most things I read about this career path makes it sound very, very difficult and discourage me from actually pursuing this career. The doctors I have met seem like intelligent people who work very hard. </p>
<p>Q6- Where can I get good, realiable information on medicine and medical careers? I do use the Mayo Clinic website and I have looked at the U.S. government career website </p>
<p>Background: </p>
<p>I am a student in my first semester of college. I am interested in the medical field. Much in the same way some students choose to go to community college before regular college I chose to go to a lower level college so I could better adjust to living on my own and have some time to get a better idea of what I want to do. Right now I am trying to get set up as a volunteer in a nearby hospital. Im not sure what I want to do. Many of the students in my high school class were pursuing careers in medicine and hoping to become doctors. </p>
<p>My mother is an RN with her BSN who has been working in hospitals and in public health for over 20 years. She suggested I think about nursing, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or physical or occupational therapy programs</p>
<p>Why I think I want a career in medicine: </p>
<p>-My high school education was strong in the sciences </p>
<ul>
<li>The physicians and medical professionals in my local community are overworked and desperately want and need more people to work in the medical field<br></li>
</ul>
<p>-There are some poor doctors from other countries working in my community whose educational background is not what it should be
I live in a country where I have an opportunity to receive an adequate education and where there are many good educational programs in the medical field</p>
<p>-I had A and B grades in high school and I am capable of attaining those grades in college </p>
<p>-I really enjoyed my anatomy and physiology class in high school and got through my AP Physics and Chem courses </p>
<p>-I write everything down </p>
<ul>
<li><p>I enjoy researching things. I really enjoyed doing research projects in school on rare diseases and medical ailments </p></li>
<li><p>I find medical ailments and disease fascinating </p></li>
</ul>
<p>-I enjoy the natural/ biological sciences</p>
<ul>
<li><p>My brother is majoring in biology and the stuff he gets to do in his internships interests me </p></li>
<li><p>I really admire my Mom who is an RN with her BSN. I think she gets to do really interesting things in her work. I could see myself doing some of things she does in her job. </p></li>
<li><p>I enjoy observing other people and their habits</p></li>
<li><p>My family practice physician, dermatologist, optometrist and dentist are all really good doctors that always explain things well and have helped me to become a healthy person. I admire these people and appreciate the affect they have had on my life</p></li>
<li><p>I have had doctors explain things to me and I often find what they say really interesting </p></li>
</ul>
<p>-I would like to be in a field where I feel needed and find what Im doing useful to myself and other people </p>
<p>-I have worked in teams and groups before in school science labs</p>
<p>Whats preventing me from pursuing my career: </p>
<h1>1 -Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics</h1>
<h1>2- Being at a school which puts little emphasis on the medical professions and careers in the medical field</h1>