The Best Preparation for Becoming a Dermatologist
Some people don’t realize becoming a dermatologist takes just as long as becoming a surgeon or any other kind of doctor. The belief that dermatologists just help teenagers with their acne is wholly false. Although dermatologists deal with your run of the mill problems like acne, they also deal with more serious and complicated conditions like skin cancer.
Although dermatologists tend to have less demanding schedules than some other types of doctors, the profession still requires just as much rigor and commitment as any other kind of medicine. Put simply, this is not a job for slackers. In order to become a successful dermatologist you will have to be intelligent, organized, communicate well and stay determined.
High School
Becoming a dermatologist starts in high school. You should take as many science courses as you can. Biology and chemistry will come in especially useful to you as you will have these again in college and as they are the basis for medicine. If your high school offers them as college level Advanced Placement classes, you should take them as such or at least as Honor level courses. This will not only help your grade point average but will help you start getting used to the sort of rigorous scientific study you will need in order to do well in a medical program.
Similarly, it is important to go as far as possible in your math classes. Ideally, you should reach Calculus by your senior year. All medical programs require a deep understanding of math without which you have difficulty understanding medical concepts.
In addition to the extracurricular activities, you should do in order to show yourself to be a good well-rounded candidate for your chosen undergraduate program; you should also volunteer as a Candy Striper in your local hospital. Any sort of volunteer experience in a medical setting will help you begin to both get a sense of how the medical community works and to begin making useful contacts that may be helpful once you need letters of evaluation in order to enter your chosen program. These programs are also fertile fields from which to harvest stories for your own Statement of Intent.
College
The next step in becoming a dermatologist is getting in the best, most rigorous school you can manage. A college with a good undergraduate science department will give you the sort of scientific background you will need in order for strong medical programs to consider your candidacy.
Although some medical programs will accept candidates with degrees in humanities or social science, your best bet is to major in science. A science major, like chemistry or microbiology, will best prepare you not only for the coursework but also for the rigorous sort of scientific thought you will need in order to do well in a medical program. Chemistry is the perfect major also, because much of what you learn is directly applicable in medical school, so when you begin your post graduate classes you will feel like you are reviewing much of what you are being taught rather learning it for the first time.
You should look to not only spend your summer volunteering at hospitals but also, if possible, try to get a job at a dermatologist’s office. Even if you are just answering phones or doing the filing, you will get some sense of how such an office works. This experience will also give you a good sense of what a dermatologist’s routine is like and give you a good chance to round out your letters of evaluation with one that attests to your practical knowledge of your intended field.
Medical School
Once you arrive at medical school, you should have a good sense of what’s necessary for becoming a dermatologist. Now it all just comes down to hard work and focus. Medical school and your subsequent residency will test your resolve, but if you have made it this far, you should be able to get through and soon find yourself beginning your own practice.