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Re: About becoming an OBGYNFrom: Gary (gagena@vcu.edu)Tue, 26 Nov 2002 21:43:50 -0600 (CST)
At Mon, 15 Jul 2002, Kristen Butler wrote: > >I will be graduating from highschool in 2003. I have wanted to be an >OBGYN for as long as I remember.I love babies an I can't see myself >being any other type of doctor.I would like to know what it is like to >be an OBGYN? I know it takes alot of hard work and dedication to become >a doctor. How hard is it to become a doctor? What are the steps? What >was your experience like? Thanks for taking the time out to read my >message. Hi Kristen. I am a first year resident in Ob/Gyn in Virginia. Congratulations on your foresight into what you want to do with your life. Before you start arduously pursuing your career in medicine, you should first explore all of your possibilities. I felt the same way as you when I was in high school. I had to suffer through burning out on science before taking a break then coming back to medicine. I think everyone should experience all they can in terms of possible career options before selecting one. Once you come to choose medicine as a career get ready for a long road. These are the hard facts: 1. Approximately 1/3 of people who apply to medical school get in 2. The grades required vary from school to school, but to be a competitive candidate at your state school (excluding California) you should average around a 3.5 in college 3. The entrance examination is the MCAT (medical college admissions test) STUDY for this exam. Some people naturally do well on it, most don't. Preparation courses like Kaplan and Princeton Review seem to help many people. 4. Pursue other interests. When it comes time to interview, the school wants to see more than just a good grades machine. Explore hobbies, read, travel. Do what you feel to become yourself and learn about the world. 5. Volunteer. Medicine is not a career for people who just want to make money. If that's what you're after, there are many easier ways of doing it (like Law School...just kidding) Be certain you want to spend your life helping those who cannot help themselves. 6. Get in the Hospital!!! Don't waste four years of medical school only to find you don't like your job. Shadow a physician. Contact your own doctor or any doctor associated with a teaching hospital. 7. Have fun. College for many only comes once. Enjoy yourself. If you find you hate science courses but love history, listen to your instincts. This may come across as sounding negative, but I don't mean it to be. These are just things I wish someone had told me before I started college. All the best and good luck with your senior year.
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