What You Need to Know About Medical School

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Becoming a doctor is a long and stressful process. There are many steps involved in preparing for, applying to, and making it through medical school. So what does becoming a doctor entail?

Getting into Medical School:

Pre-med students begin preparing for medical school during their undergraduate years. During these years, you learn different skills and take a variety of courses that will prepare and eventually benefit you in medical school. Although most medical schools require students to take science courses, you are encouraged to choose a major that is not biology, chemistry, or physics. Students are advised to broaden their knowledge by having a diverse academic background.

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Applying to Medical School:

It is recommended that you apply to medical school during the end of your junior year. There is a standard application, which is issued by the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). In the application, students include their personal information, transcript, letters of recommendations, MCAT scores, and a personal statement.

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MCAT’s:

All students are required to take the Medical College Admission Test. The exam measures your knowledge in different science courses. Additionally, it tests your verbal and writing skills. The MCATs help different schools decipher if you are a valid candidate for their school. The test is administered once in April and once in August.

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Medical School Interview:

If you have been granted an interview at a medical school, your chances of being accepted have increased substantially. The interview is one of the most important part of the application process because it is your chance to distinguish yourself from other applicants. Do not take the interview for granted. Be prepared to answer a variety of questions and don’t forget to take this opportunity to explore the campus and speak to current students and faculty members.

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Medical School:

Medical School is very demanding and requires a lot of your time and energy. However, if you are determined and are passionate about practicing medicine, the demands of med school should not be of concern. As a med school student, you are required to attend lectures, labs, and daily activities. The med school curriculum differs every year. The first year of medical school consists of courses on the human body. The second year consists of courses on disease and treatment. Additionally, students are required to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE-1 given by NBME) their second year to determine if they have the competence to practice medicine. The third year students begin their rotations and continue the fourth year. However, students focus on specific subfields and begin residency during their fourth year.

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Residency:

During the fourth year of medical school, students must decide which sub-field of medicine they are interested in practicing in order to apply to a residency program. There are a variety of specialties that an individual can practice. The Match is a program that helps med students find the best suited residency program for them and residency programs find students that are well suited for their program. The NRMP or National Resident Matching Program (non-profit organization) runs the Match program.

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Medical License:

Each state issues their own license. It is recommended that you contact the proper department in the state you wish to obtain a license in order to know what is required of you. After a year of residency, you have the privilege to apply for your license. Additonally, if you wish to achieve diplomat status, you will need to become board certified.

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Now are you ready to become a doctor?

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Medical School Essentials

What You Need to Know About Medical School

Medical School FAQS

Specialties

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