Science Classes. This might seem obvious, but take lots of science classes, and take them seriously. Some high schools only require students to take 2 years of science, but you should take more than that to get comfortable with the topics you’ll be diving into as a pre-med and medical student. Biology, chemistry, and physics are three nearly universal medical school prerequisites that most high school students have access to. Take them in high school to get a head start on the material.

Calculus and/or statistics. One or both of these advanced mathematics courses is usually required for medical school. Again, taking them in high school will help familiarize you with the material so that when you take them in college you’ll be confident and prepared.

Student government. The medical field requires doctors to be good leaders. Whether a doctor is the attending physician at a teaching hospital, the owner of a small practice, or just managing their own careers, opportunities for leadership pop up regularly in medical careers. In an effort to prepare future doctors for these roles, many medical schools have programs dedicated to fostering leadership skills and providing leadership opportunities to medical students. Participating in high school student government, whether as an elected officer or a committee member, will give you a running start. You’ll learn how to communicate with others, understand the needs of the people you’re serving, and confidently make decisions that will impact others.

Foreign languages. There are a couple ways taking a foreign language in high school will help your medical career. First, it’ll expand your reach as a medical professional. If you’re working in a diverse community, the ability to speak Spanish or Mandarin or any other language will allow you to communicate with many more patients than if you speak only English. Some jobs even require you to speak multiple languages. Second, foreign languages teach you to be confident and not fear mistakes. If you’re paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes as a doctor, you’ll never be able to confidently treat patients. You’ll inevitably make some mistakes practicing medicine, just as you’ll inevitably make mistakes learning a foreign language. But if you learn how to get past the mistakes and focus on the message you’re communicating, or the patient you’re treating, you’ll be much more successful.

AP and Honors classes. Your pre-med and medical school curricula are going to be rigorous. High school is a good time to develop good study habits and get used to doing lots of reading. Although medical schools may not accept credit earned from AP test scores, AP and honors classes will teach you analytical skills and help you get used to intaking a high volume of information, which you can carry over to undergraduate and medical school.

English. Communication--both written and verbal--is key to being a good doctor. Whether you’re writing notes about a patient or working on a research paper, presenting patients for rounds or explaining a diagnosis to a patient and his/her family, you need to be able to communicate your ideas clearly and succinctly. English classes will teach you to formulate ideas and present them in a concise, direct way.

Any medical electives offered by your high school. No matter what medical electives your high school offers, taking one or more is a great way to get your feet wet in the medical field.

While it’s true that taking classes on this list will prepare you for an education and future career in medicine, keep in mind that you have plenty of time. BA/MD programs are great options for students who are already absolutely certain they want to be a doctor, but most people don’t apply to medical programs until much later. You’ll spend all of your undergrad and all of medical school taking classes and gaining experiences that will prepare you to be a great doctor, so don’t stress yourself out by trying to develop all the skills and learn all the knowledge while in high school. Enjoy high school and do lots of things that interest you.

Your high school coursework will provide you with a great foundation for your pre-med classes and beyond. While your high school grades won’t count for your medical school prerequisites, getting a feel for the content you’ll be diving into as a pre-med and medical student will help you decide if a career in medicine is right for you. Here’s a list of classes you can take in high school to prepare you for a career in medicine. 

What High School Classes Will Prepare Me to Become a Doctor?

Understanding yourself: Is a medical career right for me?

If you are a high school student who envisions a future in medicine, there are some critical questions you need to ask yourself before committing to a college major that leads to medical school, such as: 

Do I have what it takes to get accepted into medical school?

How much of my personal life am I willing to sacrifice?

According to Medical School Headquarters, there are five definite reasons to go to medical school—and five not to go:

Improving the lives and health of other people

Seeking amazing clinical and non-clinical job options

Being a lifelong learner in an intellectually stimulating career

Don’t go because it looks cool on TV dramas

Don’t go because of parents pressuring you

Don’t go if you want a great work-life balance 

Once you’ve decided a career in medicine is the right path for you, your grades are where they need to be, and you’re willing to put the time into a residency that can take years to complete, you’ll need to think about the various specialties. The options are vast.

The American Medical Association identified eleven top factors that medical school students claimed as the key influencers when choosing a specialty. The study ranks by number most to least important factors:

How hard is it to get into medical school?

Here’s what one doctor had to say about the path to medical school: “Realize that at most colleges and universities there is no such thing as a “pre-med” major. If you are referring to the percentage of freshman students who have an interest in going on to med school, it varies but can be significant.”

“As an example, during the first week of my 200-student freshman chemistry class at UNC, the professor asked the class to raise their hands if they plan on going to medical school. About a third or more of the hands went up. By the time I took inorganic chemistry from that same professor the percentage was down to maybe 10 percent. I think the previous year’s organic chemistry classes weeded out a lot of would-be docs.”

Do I need perfect grades in high school to become a doctor?

Grades are important. Applicants should strive for a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Know this: of the more than 55,000 that applied to medical school in 2019, less than 22,000 were accepted to at least one school. This means that more than half were rejected. 

The average total cost of medical school in the U.S. is $218,792 according to Education Data Initiative. The average yearly cost is nearly $56,000. This is a 2021 statistic. Every year, the average yearly cost goes up by about $1500. Keep In mind, annual salaries for med school grads who are doing a residency range from $63,400 to $68,500, depending on the specialty. A residency can last anywhere from 4 to 9 years—the longer programs for specialties such as neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, and plastic surgery to name a few.

So, while your peers in the business world are moving up the ladder, jumping to higher-paying jobs, and improving their lifestyles, doctors don’t begin that process until they have completed residency training and gone on to private practice. If you are interested in studying a specific niche within a specialty, you may need to do a year’s fellowship training. This can add up to 13 or 14-years total.

How long does it take to become a doctor after high school?

According to one noted source, becoming a doctor in the U.S. typically takes between 10 and 24 years. You must complete a 4-year undergraduate degree, then complete 4 years of medical school. Upon graduation, you are a doctor. However, to succeed in a specialty – even family practice – you’ll need to “match to a residency” which can last anywhere from 3 to 7 years, depending on the specialty you choose. After this, you’ll need to complete a licensing exam.

In 2018, Primary Care Physicians in the United States earned on average $237,000, while specialists earned $341,000, according to the Medscape Physician Compensation Report. This marked about a 21.5% increase for PCPs from 2015 and about a 20% increase for specialists. A department head can make in excess of $500,000.

What classes should I take in high school if I want to be a doctor?

Every high school student interested in a medical degree must show an affinity for the sciences. When applying to college, you will need to show that the classes you took in high school include: biology, chemistry, physics, and math (BCPM). Your grades in these courses will be closely reviewed. It should also be noted that college and medical school admissions panels do weigh your BCPM GPAs more heavily than other subjects. If you don’t excel in these categories, medical school isn’t right for you. But if you do, your next step is to take Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Taking AP courses leads to AP exams, which many universities recognize for both undergrad and medical school credits. 

If you still see yourself as a physician, high school is the time to finetune your learning skills: study habits, time management, test-taking, and written and verbal communication. English class is where you will improve your communication skills. Med school curriculum often includes writing multiple styles of essays, analyzing literature, giving oral presentations, and taking comprehension tests. It starts with your application to medical school, and continues throughout your career as a physician, where you’ll use these skills every day to write reports and communicate with colleagues and patients.

Extracurricular Opportunities to Prepare for Medical School

Although grades are an important aspect of your potential for college and medical school admission, review panels also take into account other aspects of your life, such as extracurricular activities or pre-clinical experiences. High school students with an eye on being a doctor can pursue activities that give them valuable training and insights, including anatomy and biology clubs. Another option is the Medical Explorers Club, which provides exposure to how medicine works at local hospitals. You can also sign up for volunteering opportunities with Doctors Without Borders, an international organization that delivers urgent medical assistance - not only in war zones - but in high-need communities. High schoolers are often recruited to help with fundraising and awareness efforts. 

Medical Summer Immersion Programs for High School Students

Many leading universities today offer summer and online programs for high school students. Young motivated scholars 13 and older can study with renowned faculty. Pre-College Online Programs are offered throughout the U.S. Here are just a few:

Going Straight to Pre-Med Right After High School

Going from high school to med school is not typical at most universities, but there are options. These include completing a BS-MD track or an Early Assurance Program (EAP). A BS-MD program combines undergraduate school with medical school, allowing students to complete bachelor and medical degrees over a seven-year period. Requirements vary from program to program

In an article with the American Academy of Medical Colleges (AAMC), University of Rochester student Jayson Baman gave his first-hand experience with the BS-MD program, one of only 50 in the U.S. “A big advantage of being in a BS-MD program is the familiarity you develop with the medical school while still an undergraduate. Because physicians and researchers know that you are serious about medicine, you often find it easier to secure internships or shadowing positions.”

Another popular option is the Early Assurance Program (EAP), which is rapidly growing in popularity and available at leading schools, such as Georgetown University and Wake Forest University. To qualify, students must apply for med school in their sophomore year, demonstrate strong grades, and have completed science and pre med coursework, depending on the school’s requirements. Students accepted into EAP programs are not required to take the MCAT for entry. 

Are you drawn to helping people? Do you love science? The path to becoming a physician is long and arduous and can take many different routes. As a high schooler, there are numerous aspects to consider and plan for before you even get to college. After all, according to U.S. News and World Report, the medical school admissions process is extremely competitive, with schools becoming even more selective since the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a surge of interest in the field.

Becoming a doctor is a serious commitment. Here are the critical questions to ask yourself as a high school student seeking a career in medicine.

How To Decide If You Want to Be a Doctor

Why is Healthcare Becoming a Top Career Field?

According to federal projections, there will be four million healthcare jobs by 2026, making it the largest industry in the U.S. This forecast is important because:

The projected growth rate for healthcare exceeds that of every other U.S. industry.

The new healthcare jobs will account for one-third of all jobs created in the U.S. 

Healthcare support occupations, such as administrators, physical therapists, and technical positions will contribute significantly to the increase in healthcare jobs. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), some of the more traditional jobs expected to grow at a particularly fast rate include:

Physical therapist assistants (31 percent)

Not surprisingly, nurses are in huge demand, including nurse practitioners (called the “#1 top healthcare job” by U.S. News and World Report), registered nurses, and the hot trend of traveling nurses. In fact, in 2021, travel nursing revenue tripled to an estimated $11.8 billion, up from $3.9 billion in 2015, according to Staffing Industry Analysts. 

What are the Hottest Jobs in Emerging Healthcare?

If the traditional professions don’t interest you, the healthcare field still has a lot to offer. The future will be about more than just doctors and nurses. Healthcare is innovating with a whole range of new technologies. From electronic records to robotic surgeries and custom organ design, the scope of up-and-coming healthcare professions is rapidly evolving. This translates to interesting new jobs, requiring a host of innovative skill sets in areas such as digital and STEM. Here are a few professions of the future you should explore now.

With donor rates dropping for the first time in over a decade, waiting lists for organs are much longer. In the U.S. alone, more than 120,000 people are waiting for organs, with a name added to the list every 10 minutes and more than 20 patients dying each day. Explosive advances in technology include 3D printing, which is entering operating theaters across the world. The technology will soon alleviate the shortages and be as common as a stethoscope. 3D printing is already used for the manufacture of dental implants, hearing devices, and prosthetics. Because the technology enables the printing of very complex structures, the future will see bioprinting of live tissue and transplantable organs. These organs will likely be printed using the patient’s own cells, in order to decrease organ rejection, a common issue with transplants. 

As people live longer, they have more time to plan their final years and get their affairs in order. That's where an end-of-life therapist comes in. They work with people to help them prepare for final life stages. Issues discussed may include how to ensure the dying process is smooth and painless, how to best prepare emotionally for this phase, and the possible legal issues that need to be addressed. End-of-life therapists also work with clients' families on similar issues. 

Practitioners often have backgrounds in fields like social work, palliative care, education, and psychology. These therapists will also be trained to discuss sensitive information with compassion.

Genetic counselors focus on inherited conditions, such as genetic disorders and birth defects. They're trained to discuss sensitive, emotional information. For example, if genetic testing shows that you have the breast cancer gene, should you have a double mastectomy or choose alternative measures? Which genetic tests, if any, should you perform on your unborn child? Genetic counselors can help you sort out these issues.

Although genetic counseling has been around since the late 1970’s, the increase in the sophistication and complexity of genetic tests—and the variety available—will help identify unique genetic markers to predict potential conditions. This will boost the demand for more professionals in the field.

For those who enjoy working with statistics and science, a career in bioinformatics might be the perfect fit. Using dynamic simulation methods, mathematical models, and sophisticated software, bioinformaticians gather and analyze information from pharmaceutical developments, genetics, and population biology. A bioinformatician may design 3D models of protein and DNA sequences, design new clinical drug trials, or program population growth models. They also play a role in the development of vaccines.                                           

The future of surgery will see tiny robots entering a patient’s body through small incisions to fix or remove whatever the surgeon instructs them to do. These robots and other robotic tools are designed by medical roboticists to assist physicians and surgeons. In addition to surgeries, robots can diagnose diseases. Patients can swallow them to have their organs photographed, and neurosurgical robots can even enter the skull to perform procedures on the brain. 

In 2001, a surgeon based in the U.S. operated on a patient in Japan. This was considered the first successful attempt at telesurgery—procedures that are performed on patients remotely. 

Although still in its infancy, telesurgery is becoming more technically and economically feasible. Telesurgeons can operate on injured soldiers near battlefields, for example, or astronauts in space. Telesurgery is also valuable for those living in rural areas or developing countries.

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) are quickly becoming the norm for gathering patient information. However, digital record keeping is time-consuming for physicians and not necessarily in their skill set. Hence the need for a medical scribe. This assistant interviews the patient, conducts research about their symptoms, and enters all relevant data before the physician sees the patient. The scribe is also present in the exam room to capture the details of the visit and any needed follow-up. 

Medical scribes must know medical terminology and have an understanding of basic clinical procedures. Because the position provides an intimate look into the medical field and offers the chance to collaborate with physicians, some medical schools in the U.S. are suggesting future students work as medical scribes to learn how to interview patients.

High School is a Great Time to Start Planning

In addition to college majors, many leading universities now offer online courses for motivated high school students. For instance, Wake Forest University offers a Pre-College Online Program with a course in medicine, plus sports medicine, cancer medicine, and women’s medicine. University of Rochester has a similar program, with a course in biomedical engineering, as well as healthcare. Georgetown University offers a Pre-College Online Program with a course in medical research. Students and parents find advantages in these offerings. These programs allow high school students to see if a subject is right for them and provide vital groundwork to give them a competitive advantage when they start applying for colleges.

You hear it all the time: if you want a secure job, go into healthcare. This statement is becoming increasingly relevant as we look to the future of the industry. People are living longer today, and medical demands are on the rise. According to the United Nations projections, the 60 and older population is expected to double by 2050 worldwide, from 841 million to more than 2 billion. This will mean a significant increase in the demand for traditional medical positions, such as physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and surgeons. But emerging technologies in areas such as robotics, genetic research, and end-of-life care will play vital roles in the future of healthcare. 

There’s more to healthcare besides becoming a doctor. Advances in robotics, genetic research, and end-of-life care provide diverse healthcare career options.

Up and Coming Careers in Medicine, Beyond Becoming a Doctor

Up and Coming Careers in Medicine, Beyond Becoming a Doctor.

Best-pre-med-programs

What High School Classes Will Prepare Me to Become a Doctor?

How To Decide If You Want to Be a Doctor

Up and Coming Careers in Medicine, Beyond Becoming a Doctor.