What's the educational path if my DD wants to be a paediatrician?

[LaineyW]

She's only 12 (nearly 13) at the moment, but her older sister is in the throes of choosing a sixth form college/A levels etc. so DD2 is starting to plan early...

She's pretty good at science and quite a bright spark generally (doing accelerated science and in the NAGTYs at school) but is very keen to find out exactly what GCSEs would be useful, also length of training etc.

Are there any specialists out there who could advise us?

She needs to do medicine first then specialise

She needs a levels in all the sciences at A standard occasionally some unis will accept the odd B, A levels are more important than the GCSEs although maths and english would be needed aT good grades.

Then medical school for 5 years, after that a couple of 'probationary years' then most drs go into a specialised area.

Sciences and or maths up to A level (or what ever the equivalent is when she gets that far). Then medical school for 4 to 6 years. Then one to two years general medicine and surgery followed by specialist exams and a further 5 ish years training and more specialist exams. Most consultants are appointed at about 37 yrs of age.

TBH GCSES should include the sciences too and be good grades

Chemistry is essential at A level, and Biology very helpful.

The GCSE and A-level requirementgs have been covered below. I would add that medical schools are very hard to get into and as your DD gets a little older she should get some voluntary work in the health field on her CV. Volunteer at the local hospital or old people's home, something like that. She should also try and get some time shadowing a doctor so she can show a real understanding of what the profession is like.

Oh yes work experience is absolutely essential.

Thank you very much for everyone who has replied so quickly! I only went off to put the kettle on, came back and wham! So much info... she's read all the posts and doesn't seem deterred so far...

As for GCSEs, she can do whatever she enjoys. The most important ones for medicine are the Sciences and Mathematics, but these are compulsory. If she has the opportunity for Triple Science, then that will make her AS year a little easier, but she will not be held back by doing Science/Additional Science.

For GCSE, she should aim to have a well balanced portfolio.

AS choices would focus on the Sciences too - but she would want to look at specific university requirements. Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics are givens. Physics is helpful to any student's CV but rarely a specific requirement for anyone not going for a Physics or Engineering degree.

Alongside her academic work, it is important to do as much co-curricular as possible. Duke of Edinburgh from Year 9 is fab.

All As or A*s at GCSEs, 3 or 4 As at A level plus work experience(shadowing GP, hospital work, nursing home, WRVS etc) plus other interesting extra curricular stuff, showing other side, ie not being complete 'nerd'. Very hard and very competitive to get into medicine. Have to show a proper interest in going into medicine rather than following in family footsteps etc. Tiny possibility if coming from unconventional background that will accept less than 3 As at A level.

definitely do some work experience,my dd(16) was all set on aiming for medical school until she did 2 weeks work experience with a Dr-turns out she doesn't want to be one after all...very valuable lesson learnt there.

It's such a hard slog to get there you should really really want it.

Also, if she can do 'A' level Critical Thinking but not take the exam. Some schools do it from year 10 for G&T but many of the questions are similar to those on the BMAT etc, so we tell our students to study the course (because it helps them to prepare for these tests) but not to take the exam because the universities do not like them. HTh

She should aim for 8-10 A* at GCSE in academic subjects including triple science. 3-4 As at A" including biology, chemistry, physics and one other academic subject. Plenty of involvement in other school and out of school activities - sport, music, drama, guides etc. Commitment to work experience in hospitals or surgeries or special schools. It is very difficult to get into medical school. Medical students tend to be excellent all rounders with achievements outside school work and need to be mentally and physically strong to get through the rigours of the course (including the notorious medical student partying!)

Thanks again to everyone for your comments. It sounds incredibly difficult to get in - all A* at GCSE and then As at A level... well, fingers crossed!

Not true that universities don't like Critical Thinking per se. We are generally fine with it if people do it as a supplementary subject. If it replaces a core science subject, then that's obviously a problem for a potential medic.

Science /maths at A level (and we are talking Bio Chem and phys). Rekevant work experince is vital. Last student I sent to read medicine had spent over a year doing a weekly volenteer stint in the local elderly care home.

another thing that your dd could do is look into doing the CREST/BA gold award in the summer holiday of year 12....this would involved 5 weeks of reserch at a local uni

D of E also a good idea for the CV