What majors would I take if I want to be a peditrician or obstetrician?Answered
I was looking at jobs within the medical field so when I graduate highschool, I know what I want to be. The only problem is that I don't know what majors I need for these jobs. Another question is there any courses I can take right now in highschool that colleges want for a role in the medical field?
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2 answers
Hî @forever_silent!
There's no standard major you would take for these fields. You won't have to pick a specialization until you're in med school, so your main concern in college should be preparing for med school admissions.
Most students take something like biology or chemistry. Each med school will have its own requirements, though, so you'll have to branch out a bit into related STEM fields as an undergrad. I'd recommend applying for the major you have the most interest in, so you can back that up in your essays and resume, and then worry about med school once you've made it to college.
In the mean time, I'd focus more on extracurriculars rather than specific classes. Try to volunteer at a clinic or shadow a local physician, which will help you stand out from other applicants. And if you're looking for electives to fill out your transcript, anything medicine or biology related (especially AP) should do.
Hope that helps! Let me know if you have any questions.
Hi @forever_silent!
Awesome question! I have the same career dream as you! I'll be able to help you out...
So I'm assuming that you know that on top of your 4 years undergraduate you have to go to med school for 4 years then residency for 3-7 (depending on the specialty.) But your question asks about what majors you need and what electives you should take in high school, so I'll answer those ;).
As for the majors you take, you should try to major in a science. There is no specific field to major in. It is recommended that you major in Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, human anatomy, OR psychology. This choice is up to you.
BUT - - You have to make sure that the college/university that you want to go to offers a Pre Med Program. This isn't a degree or major, but it is a program that will help you take all of the classes you need to take in your four years of undergrad in order to qualify for Medical school. Also be careful, if you are applying to multiple med schools in the future, you need to make sure that you've satisfied the requirements in your undergraduate years before applying to the Med Schools.
Below I included two links for each of the jobs you want, if you want/need to read more about them.
Obstetrician majors - https://bestaccreditedcolleges.org/articles/careers-and-education/what-should-i-major-in-to-become-an-obstetrician.html
Pediatrician majors and more information - https://www.bestcolleges.com/healthcare/careers/how-to-become-a-pediatrician/
Now as for electives you can take in high school, take as many as you can! Colleges want to see that you have the initiative to be premed and go to med school, so take more science and math courses. I'd take courses like Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, AP sciences (Bio, Chem, Physics), Microbiology, Statistics, sociology, calculus, ethics, genetics, Health classes, Nutrition, etc. The more you take, the better. But also make sure that you don't overwork yourself and keep your GPA up.
Hopefully this answers your questions! If you have any other ones, feel free to ask again! I'm more than happy to help you if need be.
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