Hello I am in nursing school on my last semester for the RN associate’s degree. I was wondering how long it takes to become a doctor (including premed requirements, med school, and residency in internal medicine). What is my best shot to get into med school? Would I have to get a bachelor degree in Biology? Primarily, I thought of just going for my BSN but every time I see what the doctors do, I’m always pondering that I want to be one. I know it’s hard work to become one, but I have the financial support and I believe I have good study habits so why not. I’m 23 with no children.
- lilpetraaa Said:
Hello I am in nursing school on my last semester for the RN associate's degree. I was wondering how long it takes to become a doctor (including premed requirements, med school, and residency in internal medicine). What is my best shot to get into med school? Would I have to get a bachelor degree in Biology? Primarily, I thought of just going for my BSN but every time I see what the doctors do, I'm always pondering that I want to be one. I know it's hard work to become one, but I have the financial support and I believe I have good study habits so why not. I'm 23 with no children.
If you take a look around the website, you will find lots of info on specific requirements. But I will make 3 quick comments.
1) You do not need a degree in bio; you would not need another degree but just the prereq courses (many of your nursing course may not count towards that.
2) As a recent nurse graduate, you have another obstacle to overcome. That is explaining why you chose nursing and now why are you changing to physician? what is your motivation and commitment?
3)You need much more desire, passion, and dedication than simply why not
I would advice U to work for a while and get good experience and in mean time start taking prereqs.
As a nurse, studying in med school will be much easier - U will be able to relate many diseases to particular patients and also pharm should be easier.
This is my experience so far. And I do not think being a nurse will be any obstacle to get into med school - it just show Ur desire to work in health care. Im talking from osteopathic schools point of view, have no clue how allopathic schools will react.
But if this is Ur dream - go for it. I m enyoing every day of my first year. Even now sick as dog and studying for micro and pharm. It was my dream and it feels great to be where im now. 6 weeks till end of first year. and also have some nice plans for summer.
good luck .
AZ
If what you really want is to become a doctor then concentrate on the med school pre-requisites and skip the BSN. Many places are now requiring nurses to have a BSN degree so if you plan to work as a nurse for a while then that is something to think about. However, the BSN degree doesn’t include any course that you will receive credit for when applying to med school, so you wouldn’t be gaining any advantages there.
So, you have the choice of spending the next two years of undergrad college doing the BSN stuff or the pre-med stuff. I recommend the latter. If you really want to become a physician then you will not be satisfied with being a nurse. If you haven’t already read that sentiment elsewhere on this forum at least a dozen times then take it from me because I’ve been a nurse for a while. Just remember that time goes by quickly. Its good to know for sure what one wants to do with one’s life when one is still young, as you are now. Since you have the time and the money just do it.
One thing is - you DO need a bachelor’s degree in something. Not sure if you had a bachelor’s degree before the associate’s degree in nursing. If not, then you will need to get a bachelor’s degree AND be sure that you get the prerequisites: 2 semesters of general chem with lab, two semesters of biology with lab (probably have that!), two semesters of physics with lab, 2 semesters of organic chemistry with lab, and a semester of biochemistry. Also a psych and soc cours would be good.
getting your BSN will not include any of these so you are looking at additional years. Getting a biology degree can include all of these plus extra bio courses, may take the same amount of time in the long run.
Kate