Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 11/10/2010

Question
Hi, my name is Edwin and i already graduated from high school. I start
college in January and i have a big interest in the medical branch, I'm not
going to say that i dont want to do this for money because i really want to
get paid a lot and want to have the things that my parents never gave me
but also because i like helping people; i enjoy doing it. Well my chemistry
teacher encourages me to become a doctor beause I'm really good at
science and math. But i would like to know what courses should i take to
in college to become a anesthesiologist? Was it stressful for you to study
all those years? How did you pay your education? If you had loans, how
long did it take you to pay them? What is the best and worst part of your
job? Would you recommend me to go for this career? Did you have time
to party at all? Or to spend some time without studying? What was your
gpa in high school? Thanks for your patience

Answer
First of all, if you want to make a lot of money, there are other professions where you'll do that without the long hours and stress of medicine. True, you make good money as a physician, but there is a lot of responsibility and laways the threat of malpractice. People go into medicine more for the love of medicine than love of money. That being said, here are your answers:

What courses should i take to in college to become a anesthesiologist?
    You need to take the courses necessary to get into medical school (Organic and inorganic chemistry, calculus, physics, biology)

Was it stressful for you to study all those years?
   Yes. There is a lot of competition plus a tremendous amount of information to learn.

How did you pay your education?
   Mostly with loans (for some it can be over $200,000)


If you had loans, how long did it take you to pay them?
   It took me close to 10 years.


What is the best and worst part of your job?
   Best - Making people comfortable for surgery
   Worst - Long and stressful hours.    

Would you recommend me to go for this career?
  That's up to you and what you want to do for the next 30 years.

Did you have time to party at all? Or to spend some time without studying?
   Not much during medical school but you can find time to have a social life.


What was your gpa in high school?
   It doesn't matter so much (the high school GPA) other than helping you get into a more competitive college. College GPA matters and that should be a 3.6 or better.


Hope this helps,

Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston