Topic
l wanna be a dermatologist and l know it requires a 4-year degree followed by med school, btu l was wondering what were the best under grad majors? best med schools? best place to intern? and any other helpful details.
How do you become a dermatologist
Everything gumdropgirl6 said plus a few added tips follow. It is great that u know what u want to do so early, because u will have a goal in mind & know what kind of marks to shoot for in medical school. I think it definitely enhances ur motivation when u know early on that u want a competitive residency.
Doing research in the field of interest can also enhance ur application & also help u gain connections within the field of interest. Connections can help a lot; I wish I had known that before in order to exploit this loophole. Remember though, ur research mentors will be used to dealing with serious students & colleagues, so be mentally prepared rather than entering into something you're not ready for. I tried doing research starting at age 18 but really was not ready to start impressing my mentors.
Hey do not forget me if this info helps u reach ur goals, especially if u become a stinking rich dermatologist like a Mohs surgeon! J/K.
How do you become a dermatologist
Dermatogoly is EXTREMELY competitive. Not a lot of med students match to residency programs & wind up doing other things. With that said.
It takes about 4 years to earn ur baccalaureate degree. Some finish early, many finish late. University reputation matters. My degree from UC Berkeley holds more cachet than a comparable candidate from a po-dunk school like Bob Jones University.
Baccalaureate coursework must include:
1 year general chem (with lab)
1 year organic chem (with lab)
1 year general biology (with lab)
1 year intro. physics (with lab)
1 year English
1 year calculus
Suggested coursework includes: psychology, statistics, biochemistry, humanities
And u can major in whatever u want to major as long as u complete the above curricula. The trick is to AVOID biology as a major. Too many med school applicants r bio majors (I was one of them). The trick is to major in the humanities to pad ur GPA & to make more time available for med prerequisite courses. It also makes u look ''well-rounded'' to the admissions committee.
Take the MCAT in April of ur junior year. Score *at least* 30 (straight 10s). This will make u available to apply & interview senior year.
Apply to a med school based on YOUR needs, not the rankings. If u needed to know, US News & World Report says Harvard ranks #1 for research medicine, U of Washington ranks #1 for primary care. But those schools might not be a good fit for you. For example, if u like international medicine, Loma Linda has a strong medical mission program. They r Seventh Day Adventist, & they send their students abroad to study & practice. Of course, they r very Christian, too, so if you're not into church, LLU is not a good fit. Visit campuses during ur spring breaks & talk to both students & faculty. They can give u a real feel for the school.
Once you're in, u do 4 years of med school. Two years classroom-based, two in rotations. In between years 2 & 3 u take the USMLE step 1, & after u finish med school, u do USMLE step 2. During spring of 4th year, u r matched to a residency program.
After u graduate & match, u do residency. Dermatology residency is about 4 years.
That is TWELVE years of school before u r a dermatologist. Oh, & u might wanna take the diplomate exams, too. That will get u certified.