What Classes Should I Take in High School to Become a Doctor?

Being a doctor is the goal for a lot of students. We work with pre-meds every year and they are some of the most serious and prepared students out there. While very few colleges have a specific pre-med major, pre-meds often gravitate to top-tier schools to study topics like Biology, Biochemistry, Neurobiology, and Physical sciences. Hopeful doctors should be taking classes not only to make themselves competitive college applicants but ones that will help them later on in their careers. Let’s go over the high school classes that we recommend for hopeful doctors.

Science, Science, Science

Taking higher-level science classes is so important when preparing to apply as a pre-med. We recommend AP biology, AP chemistry, and AP physics. And honestly, there is never enough science. If your school has science electives, take those as well. More on that later.

Take a high-level math course

We recommend taking a high-level Calculus class. This could be AP, IB, BC, Honors, etc. Most med schools require advanced Calculus and Statistics when it comes to math. We know that’s a way down the line, but taking these classes in high school will help prepare you to take them in college and might even let you skip an intro course. If you can take AP Calc and AP Stat. You’ll thank us later when you don’t have to pull a math all-nighter freshman year because this is your first time looking at a Calc textbook.

Spanish

Ok, this isn’t really a requirement, but it will probably help you somewhere down the line. Being able to speak Spanish is an asset in Clinicals, Rotations, Residency choices, and more. Taking Spanish will be valuable at some point in your medical career.

Science Electives

We told you they were coming back on this list. Not every high school has science electives, but if your school offers Physiology, Anatomy, Psychology, Early Childhood Development, Nutrition, and/or Kinesiology, consider taking it.  Physiology and Anatomy are particularly helpful for hopeful doctors.  

Load up on APs Generally

Many pre-meds are type A. They really push themselves to do it all. You want to meet their energy. Taking honors, AP, or IB courses generally will help you get into your dream program. Yes, even taking AP English will help you.

Get some medical training

Ok, we aren’t saying go out and learn how to do surgery, but there are some basic medical training classes that teens can sign up for. The big one is CPR certification. Getting CPR certified will help you learn about medical emergencies and procedures. Many high schools offer these certification classes, but if yours doesn’t check your local Community Centers and YMCAs. Girl scouts and boy scouts also often receive this training, so a local troop might be able to connect you with information. Mutual aid groups also often have ins at groups that teach CPR along with things like Narcan training and sexual health courses. Having certifications like this are great on a resume and a good way to start learning about emergency medicine.

Take a class outside of class

There are many ways to take a class that is not a high school class. This is especially helpful if your school doesn’t offer a ton of classes or elective choices. If your school is missing basic courses such as Calculus it is probably worth trying to take it at a local community college. Many high schools will even help you register and give you credit for community college classes. However, that isn’t the only way to take classes outside of your school.

Summer sessions

Many students do Pre- College programs during the summer. Many universities have summer sessions that are made for high school students to explore a field and a college campus. These can be a great way to learn more. While not many of them are specifically pre-med, you can look for ones in the sciences easily. They however can be on the expensive side, so make sure their price tags don’t surprise you or your parents.

Online classes

Online classes are usually inexpensive or even free and flexible when it comes to timing. We recommend exploring online courses to almost all of our students. They can give you great background and help you figure out what you are looking for in a major and even in a college academically. There are hundreds of these classes online, but here are a few we love for those hoping to become medical professionals.

Consider research

Doing research is going to help you. There are a lot of ways of doing research. Past students of ours have worked in labs, done internships and summer research programs, created their own research projects, and more. If you are serious about studying a science-related field in college, having research experience will make you a more competitive candidate. Research and research opportunities can feel hard to get as a high schooler, so if you don’t know where to start, reach out. We would love to help!

Taking the right classes in high school can be the jumpstart you need to get into your dream program. Every high school is a little different and not all schools will have the perfect set of classes, but with a little tenacity and some planning, you can set yourself up perfectly.

 

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