<p>All right, call this my "having doubts" tangent, but I've been wondering a couple of things. What makes a doctor? As a rising junior high school student, I know that not much will actually prepare me for medicine at this stage. However, what are some of the sings that show whether a future doctor is at hand? What about test scores? If one doesn't do well on the math or science portions (when I say well, I mean 700-800 or top schools' definition of well), does that mean that they are not meant for a career in medicine?
Also, what exactly makes a doctor? Does hard work play a dominant role or is it just encyclopedic knowledge?
I'm sorry if I keep going on and on, but call these the normal(?) doubts of an M.D. hopeful. Summer gives me way too much time to think about things, I guess!</p>
<p>1) Getting into medical school.</p>
<p>2) Sticking with it.</p>
<p>Yes, but how do you truly know if you're medical school material before you get there?</p>
<p>Well in undergrad you'll be exposed to pre-med courses. Depending on how you fare and how you feel about it, you'll move on to the MCAT and go for med school.</p>
<p>I've heard that premed courses will have only tangential relationship to real MEDECINE. It's not by taking chemistry or biology that you can know if medecine is for you.</p>
<p>What makes a doctor - largely self-determination. It's all up to you.</p>
<p>Thanks, everyone! I guess it's hard not to have doubts, huh?</p>
<p>according to the book barron's guide to medical and dental schools, the ideal characteristics of a doctor are:
1) intelligence (duh)
2) scientific interest
3) favorable personality
4) physical and emotional strength
5) ability to tolerate uncertainty and frustration
6) well -organized work habits
7) capacity for self education
8) social awareness
9) achievement
10) creativity</p>
<p>I suggest you read this book to get an insight.</p>
<p>Title - The Soul of a Doctor
Harvard Medical Students Face Life and Death
Authors - Susan Pories MD, Sachin Jain, MD and Gordon Harper, MD</p>
<p>Has anyone read 'The High School Doctor' or 'From High School to Medical School'?</p>