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The Road To A Career In Medicine

Doctors save lives, cure disease, and teach people how to develop healthy lifestyles. It's safe to say that their job is one of the most truly important in the world. But it's not easy to become a doctor.

Once you decide to become a doctor, you have about seven years of training ahead-not including your undergraduate degree. Medical school programs last four years, and afterward you'll complete a three-year residency. These can be longer for some concentrations.

The first step to becoming a doctor is to get good grades in college. Medical schools are extremely competitive, and you'll be up against the best. Concentrate on science in college...it makes you look good to admissions officers and prepares you for the MCAT. But you'll also need to write well and think critically, so don't neglect the humanities entirely.

Once you graduate from college, you'll take the MCAT. This is a timed test broken up into four sections: verbal reasoning, physical sciences, biological sciences, and writing. It consists mostly of multiple-choice questions, along with some timed essays.

Once you've finished the MCAT, you can apply to medical school. Most medical schools accept the AMCAS common application, which can be filled out online. You'll need to include a personal statement, recommendations, and your transcript.

If your transcript is strong and your MCAT score is competitive, you'll go on to complete medical school, choose a concentration, and start your residency. You'll work with patients in a supervised setting and have opportunities to try different specialties. By the end, you'll be a doctor.

If you want to become a doctor, you'll have to invest time, hard work, and money into your dream.

But, the lives you improve, or maybe even save, will be worth it.

By: Jennifer Williamson

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Jennifer Williamson writes on education and careers for an organization which creates websites on distance education programs and accredited online education.

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