If you are curious about becoming a surgeon, you can also look at various texts that discuss a surgeons’ personality and profile. For example, the American College of Surgeons sells a variety of guidance texts online. [2] X Research source
Taking extra classes at the AP or advanced level is always a good idea, as it will leave you with more flexibility in college. Try to do your best in all of your classes as your final scores will help to determine which college program you can enroll in. It may also impact the degree of financial aid that you receive. If you are unable to complete high school on the traditional schedule, you may be able to take the GED (General Education Development) exam instead.
Try to space out your difficult math and science courses over a period of four years to avoid getting burned out early on. However, you will want to have your major requirements completed by your senior year, to fully prep you for the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) or other admissions test. Be aware that the expectations facing undergraduate students can vary according to location. In the United Kingdom, a student receives a medical degree upon completing their undergraduate education.
Be aware that you may also need to provide letters of reference from your college professors as part of your medical school application package. Go to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website to find out U. S. medical school admissions requirements. If you are applying outside of the U. S. , you will want to contact the school and ask for their requirements. Many locations have equivalent testing to the MCAT. For example, in the UK, students are expected to take the UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT).
It is a great idea to identify one or more of your professors as potential mentors. Your relationship with them can continue after you complete school. And, they can provide you with much needed letters of reference and connections.
Obstetrics, pediatrics, and cardiology are just a few of the specialties that you may encounter on your rotation. Once you graduate, you will be awarded with a degree. In the U. S. , you will receive either a Doctor of Medicine (M. D. ) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D. O. ).
Residency programs usually focus on a particular area of medicine, such as urology or critical care. This is the time where you will truly hone your skills in a more specific way. As another example, in the United Kingdom you move into a phase called “Foundation Training” after receiving your initial medical degree. During this two-year period, you work with patients and begin to explore a field of specialty.
It is always a good idea to talk with a fellowship program about where their graduates are working now. This will give you a better idea of your career options post-fellowship.
After you’ve built up a practice, you can often take a leave of absence to pursue additional fellowships or to develop your skills as needed. In some locations, general practice exposure is not optional, such is the case in the United Kingdom. In the UK, each doctor is required to spend at least three years working in general practice, culminating with a Specialty Certificate Examination (SCE).
This process also takes place in the United Kingdom and is called Core Medical Training or Acute Care Common Stem and lasts for approximately two years. During this time, you will also need to pass the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP) exam. You then move into four to six years of additional specialty training. [16] X Research source
Some areas regulate this process more closely than others. In the UK, a doctor is required to a certain number of continuing development hours per year in order to stay licensed.
