Becoming A Doctor Essay

A Doctor is a licensed physician who provides care to patients, specifically by providing patients with diagnoses, treatment, and Counselling. Two types of doctors exist, MD for medical doctor and DO for doctor of Osteopathic medicine, both MD’s and DO’s share the same job, just a different focus. To become a licensed doctor in the state of California, there is a multitude of steps required by the state to become a licensed physician, not to mention the challenges aspiring doctors face along the process. Becoming a Doctor is difficult, plain and simple. The process is long, expensive, and tiring and will years to complete. Additionally, aspiring physicians face another hurdle, as the financial ramifications of becoming and practicing as a doctor

Which to be accepted there are two key requirements. First, achieving a bachelor’s degree. A bachelor’s degree comes from a four-year university or college. For a medical institution, a bachelor’s degree represents a student has completed the necessary coursework to begin the process of becoming a doctor. Coursework at the college level includes chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology. Second, a student must take the MCAT, an acronym meaning Medical College Admissions Test. The MCAT is a “standardized, multiple-choice examination created to help medical school admissions offices assess your problem solving, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts and principles prerequisite to the study of medicine.” (Association). Though a student can’t fail the MCAT, it is crucial that a student does well to ensure their acceptance by a medical

However, students must acknowledge and consider the financial ramifications and potential job market before making the decision of attending medical school. With the average cost of attending medical school soaring, debt rising, and doctors earning less the decision of attending medical school is a life altering decision. A CBS article written by Kathy Kristoff noted these cost “the cost of becoming a doctor has soared, with higher education expenses leaving the average newly minted physician with $166,750 in medical school debt, while average salaries are declining. Nearly one-third of doctors -- 28 percent - saw a cut in pay last year” (Kristoff). For many aspiring doctors, this information would likely deter them from enrolling in medical school. However, others see many opportunities for financial success as the long term payout is greater than many other professions. Assuming medical school is the path taken, the real struggle begins. Earning a medical degree is far from easy for the first two years, an academically rigorous set of classes will be taken focusing on the basic sciences such as biology and chemistry, at a highly advanced level. In the later years of medical school, students will learn through clinical experience. During time learning in clinics, student’s will see different types of medicine practiced by licensed physicians. This