Career in Dermatology

akajayaims · 04-10-2007, 08:20 PM

Hello, im a high school senior attending Florida Atlantic University next year. I was planning to major in architecture but due to lack of interest i decided to change my major. I decided that i would like a career in medicine, dermatology to be precise. I was just wondering what is the average time needed to become a liscenced dermatologist. i think i have a rough idea. correct me please if im wrong.

4 yrs undergraduate (biomedical science?). 4-5? years med school, ? years residency? then ?

Also if I wanted to be a dermatologist, what can I do to prepare myself?

help please!

thanks

UCLAri · 04-10-2007, 08:24 PM

Dermatology is one of the hardest specialties to get into (for a number of reasons.) At this point in your life, I'd worry less about getting into derm, and more about enjoying your first year. You will need a good GPA, a good MCAT, and a willingness to work your butt off.

Bigredmed · 04-11-2007, 01:05 AM

The main reasons being limited number of spots and good lifestyle (which is a huge draw for some people), not because it's difficult or the prestige is particularly great, or even that it's very rewarding...

any reason why derm? have you ever looked at a clinical dermatology book? It might just change your mind...some gross stuff in there.

But ari's right, you need to focus on college stuff first, major in whatever you want (something you're passionate about - doesn't have to be science). Then 4 years of med school, then a year in either a medicine/transitional/surgery program, and then 3 years in solely derm.

I'd keep your mind open to other specialties, just as a general rule. Most medical students change there minds frequently during the first two years, and even well into the third year. Considering you're still in HS you have almost 8 years, at a bare minimum, before you have to make the final decision on specialty. Don't get locked in just yet.

UCLAri · 04-11-2007, 01:45 AM

An acquaintance of mine here at UCSD (he's a 4th year med student) lamented, quite amusingly, that "the best medical students end up in the most boring, pedestrian, and overpaid field...derm."

bluedevilmike · 04-11-2007, 12:38 PM

Real doctors make fun of dermatologists. Sometimes quite severely, actually.

LWMD · 04-11-2007, 01:40 PM

The two rules of dermatology:

If it's dry, make it wet.
If it's wet, make it dry.

'Nuff said?

sierradoc · 04-11-2007, 10:47 PM

"Real doctors make fun of dermatologists. Sometimes quite severely, actually."

Not nearly as much as we used to since they have avoided many of the HMO issues and many are doing exceptionally well with all the cash pay beauty procedures (often done by ancillary help).

bluedevilmike · 04-11-2007, 10:51 PM

I was thinking it was mostly because of those things.

UCLAri · 04-11-2007, 10:51 PM

So...now it's more like jealous barbs thrown in their direction, or what?

sierradoc · 04-12-2007, 09:43 AM

Well, if one is up all night working for essentially no pay and the other is predictably home with his family and sleeping all night, who should being making fun of whom? I would agree that putdowns that might be heard in the doctors' lounge involve more than a touch of jealousy. Nothing wrong with saving the thrill-seeking adrenaline rush for your hobbies instead of work...

missybear25_2004 · 05-04-2007, 07:24 AM

akajaiyams, your post FREAKED ME OUT!!! not in a bad way, but i came to this board to ask about dermatology,a dn then i saw that you're going to FAU next year...and i'm like 'did i make thsi post and just forgot???' after reading this, tho, i'm gonna say no to dermatology! :P so which campus are you going to in the fall?

sabdallah · 10-03-2008, 06:12 PM

hi. im a first semester CC student and i finished high school when iw as 15 so i could kind of save time for medical school. I want to be a dermatologist but no one seems to be helping me try to get there. SOMEONE help me please :[.
thank you <3 .
by the way. UCLA is my goal

Silverzc413 · 10-18-2008, 06:39 PM

imo dermatology is the best field in medicine to get into if you want to make big bucks and also good hours. (aside from dentistry of course)

dtex50 · 10-18-2008, 07:37 PM

agree will UCLAri, especially his last piece of advice. Being in the top 5 of your medical school class will probably be required to be competativefor a residency spot. If you are attracted to derm because of the life style (you can have a life outside of medicine) also consider allergy/immunology and pathology.

Bigredmed · 10-18-2008, 07:52 PM

Whoa...let's hold of on making any assertions about where you class rank needs to be. Step 1 scores will matter much more. Certainly a high class rank is better than a low class rank, but to say a certain position is "required" is ridiculous (so long as the requisite board scores are there).