A Guide to Becoming a Successful Pediatrician After College

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Becoming a pediatrician takes years of schooling and training, so it’s important to know if you have what it takes to succeed in this field before you apply to medical school. While countless qualities make up an effective pediatrician, the journey to becoming the most capable doctor possible is a long journey. Start preparing for your path to pediatrics now. Starting your career as a pediatrician can be challenging and intimidating, especially if you don’t know what to expect. Read on for the following tips to help you be prepared and knowledgeable as you enter the pediatrician field:

1. Go Intern In Different Specialties

Start the path to pediatrics by working as an intern. Observing different doctors can teach you how to care for different types of patients. Look at your specific specialty and see what subspecialties are available. If your primary interest is in pediatrics, consider observing pediatricians, neonatologists, family medicine doctors, or even nurses who have pediatric specialties. When it comes time for medical school interviews and residency applications, the people you interned with should be more than happy to recommend you, which will only make your application that much stronger.

2. Choose a Specialty Early

One of your first big decisions as a medical student will be choosing your medical specialty. Pediatricians diagnose and treat illness in infants, children, and adolescents, so make sure you're ready for everything that comes with this line of work before committing. By deciding early on, you'll be able to spend most of your time working towards your goal of being a pediatrician.

3. Complete Medical School

This might be news to you, but not all doctors complete medical school. According to research, there’s a 13% chance that an applicant will even be accepted into medical school. Many people don’t make it through medical school, but they often try again until they are accepted. Once in college, remember that academia can feel like high school again. Don't lose focus once you get to med school. Do your best to earn good grades and learn how to study for the pediatric boards before the time comes. This way, you'll be prepared once you need to take these exams.

4. Earn Your Bachelors Degree First

No matter where you're from, many medical schools require that you have your bachelor's degree before they'll accept your application. While you can always pursue an accelerated medical program that allows you to bypass college and go straight into medical school, it's often good to have your bachelor's degree first so that you can put it on your resume. Even if not required for admission, having a bachelor's degree will provide opportunities for research and community involvement, both of which can play a major role in who gets accepted into med school. When all is said and done, earning your bachelor's degree first means getting more exposure as well as better refining your skills as an overall applicant.

5. Consider a Private Practice

While getting your private practice is further down the road, if you want to work as a pediatrician, you'll need to go into business for yourself. Private practices give doctors more room for flexible schedules and higher pay. Additionally, private practices are somewhat easier to start up than hospital-owned ones because they require less capital. Start adding your practice to your vision board and take the necessary steps to start making it a reality.

6. Launch your Practice Earning Passive Income Sources

Passive income is something many med students don't think about but this is an integral part of how you will earn your income. Once you've graduated med school and started working, you should be earning an active income from your regular practice patients, but that alone won’t be enough. Think about additional ways you can get paid for your services outside of seeing patients in person. Can you serve as an expert witness in court cases? Can you consult with attorneys on legal questions? Many medical professionals can do so, which is a great way to bring in additional cash flow without requiring any extra time or effort on your part.

Conclusion

​​The field of pediatrics is an exciting one that lets you work alongside children to help them live healthier lives. If you’re interested in becoming a pediatrician, keep these tips in mind to help guide you on your way.