On Becoming a Doctor: The Truth about Medical School, Residency, and Beyond

by Tania Heller

On Becoming a Doctor covers the educational, physical, and emotional realities of the process

Genres: Medicine, Medical, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2009

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Jack of all trades; master of none." This book offers a cursory overview of the medical school application process, med school itself, residency, and what it means to be a practicing physician, as well as a closer examination of several different specialties. It covers so much in such a short span that by its nature, nothing is going to be terribly in-depth. However, as an introductory book designed to give an overview of the medical profession and what it takes to break into that field, it gets the job done. I would recommend this book to premedical students, as well as high school students who think they might be interested in a career in medicine.

[Najwa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this book and found it very interesting for those considering a career in medicine as well as those who are already in med school and thinking about specialization. Having read the experiences of many physicians and the different points of views each one gave regarding their field, I found this very helpful and inspiring at the same time. I would certainly recommend this book for anyone who wants to be a future doctor!

[Matthias Walters · Rating 2 out of 5]

OK. Covers a lot but not super deep, and there are better resources online for things like writing personal statements and putting together applications.

[Geleta Gonei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful, I love it!

[Jacob Beene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in becoming a doctor. I think it appropriately highlights the need for a calling to serve others when striving to become a doctor. Additionally, it provides insightful interviews with doctors in a multitude of specialties. It is difficult to experience all areas of medicine before starting medical school, so these interviews were very helpful, especially for me.
That being said, it should be noted that some of the interviews were conducted with doctors who went through medical school and began practicing medicine a while ago. Some of the advice may be at the risk of becoming outdated. Additionally, a lot of the doctors and medical students that were interviewed seemed to be from the greater Washington D.C. area, so some of their experiences may have influenced by the common regionality. Lastly, I thought the Hematology & Oncology interview section was disappointing, as it focused on radiation exposure that is not very common instead of the main themes experienced in each of the fields.
Still, it was a great read overall!

[Preston Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a book that would give me a zoomed out overview of what it's like being a doctor from various perspectives and learn about what doctors do.This book was exactly what I was seeking.

I particularly loved the section where the author did interviews with doctors of various specialties so the reader could get a glimpse at their varying experiences.

The book is well written, concise, and full of great information to help you get started in your journey down the "maybe I want to become a doctor" rabit hole. She even put in a bibliography at the back so you could have some further-reading suggestions. This book hits.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Super boring. Doesn't really illuminate anything that can't be found Ina quick Google search. Also, most of the tips are super vague, and the author seems to mostly gloss over everything. She also seems to have very little personality

[Xavier · Rating 3 out of 5]

informative

[Jonesy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a comprehensive overview. While it is not a one stop shop for all of your medical schools needs, I do believe that it brings up multiple good points at once which helps for consideration and comparison. Interesting read and definitely a good starting point.

[Ahamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great overview of the prerequisites of medical school and covers many specialties that are available. The physician interviews were the most insightful and gave real life accounts of the the mental and emotional baggage that comes with the whole profession.

[Ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't have as much information as it claims to have. But it's still useful. I was expecting more though.

[Chris Snyder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good info on what to expect from medical school.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely helpful.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview of the process of becoming a doctor. I would use this book as a starting point but you will have to dig deeper for most issues.