I am 13 and want to be a doctor, but I'm not sure if I could. Which subjects would I need to study now, and what qualifications would I need. If I am not good enough to do this I will be a nurse. Will I need to study the same subjects?

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Originally posted by Dancing Queen:
I am 13 and want to be a doctor, but I'm not sure if I could. Which subjects would I need to study now, and what qualifications would I need. If I am not good enough to do this I will be a nurse. Will I need to study the same subjects?

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It is good that you are determining what you want to do early. If you study hard enough and really learn to focus on your subjects you should be able to be most anything you want to be.

Subjects needed are most sciences such as Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, mathematics, and subjects relating to the academics toward college.

Here is a web site with information on how to become a Doctor.

As Sherasi said it's good to have dreams and plans. I'd ad chemistry to you list of studies to become a doctor. Many doctor pick a biology premed path but you get coverage of your biology a 2nd time in Medschool.

Also..you make nursing sound like a 2nd class/2nd choice. Nursing is a career in itself rather than 'not good enough'. Nurses have as much or more influence on a patient's outcome.
There are other medical careers too, PA, Technicians, therapists etc.
The Key is to be happy with what you do. Good luck

Hi Dancing Queen,

I think that it is great to have a good idea of the vocaton that you want to enter and to have dreams. Dreams after all are what can become for some people reality. At 13 in the U/K when I was at school we had to select options that would lead onto the examinatons at the age of 16. The above advice is good and the subjects that Sharsi and Peteeo pointed out are the ones that will get you on the right path to get into medical school.
I would also suggest that you try to get some practical experience of what it is like to be a doctor or a nurse by doing some kind of work experience in a hospital or similar institution. This will be of a tremendous help to you in your furture career. For three reasons:
1. You get a feel for the career that you want to enter. Both as someone who has shadowed a docotr and a nurse. So in effect you will get a view point from the perspective of both professions which will help you make your decision which career path you want to take.
2. You will get the opportunity to talk to real life doctors and nurses who may have just recently qualified themselves and from more seasoned professionals with years of experience. So you will have a better idea of what the job is really like from the perspective of those who do it. Also you will get hands on advice from practising professionals.
3. If you decide to go into medicine in the end or nursing you can say on your application that you have some kind of experience that is directly relevant to the profession that you want to train for.
Apart from this I would suggest that you speak to your career's teacher for advice and guidance.
Good luck with this.

Richard