Medical School
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A Medical School (aka Med School) program is intended to teach students about medicine, sciences, patient care and careers in medicine/healthcare. In other words, if you want to become a doctor, you need a Med School degree.
What type of individual usually gets this degree?
A Medical School degree is typically for those that wish to become a doctor and/or do medical-related research.
Necessary things to know about Medical School:
How long does it take to complete?
It takes 4 years to complete Med School, but you must also complete your residency before becoming a doctor (which is an additional 3-7 years).
What exams do I need to take before applying?
Medical school’s require applicants to take the MCAT, aka the Medical College Admission Test.
What experience is expected from Med School applicants?
While some applicants enter med school directly after graduating their undergraduate college program, it is becoming more and more common to take a gap year (or two) before beginning medical school. This is done in order to gain more relevant real-life, non-classwork experience.
Below are some examples of relevant experience that Med Schools tend to look for (either in the form of an internship while you are a student or a job after you graduate college):
- Clinical Experience – such as Clinical Research and/or shadowing a physician
- Research Experience
- Related Job Experience (such as working for a healthcare company)
- Teaching Experience
Some say that you need to have at least 100 hours of relevant experience to be considered a “competitive” candidate. While this is not a written rule, it can serve as a guide for a minimum required “extra-curricular” experience.
Average cost of a Medical School?
This figure varies a lot depending which college you attend, where it is located, whether you are an in-state or out of state student, etc. But, according to the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), the average cost is about $50k per year or ~$200k for a 4 year degree.
What skills are you expected to gain from Medical School?
As a Med School Student your experiences are split between healthcare/medical science-related coursework and real-life, extracurricular experiences. Some common class subjects are:
- Biochemistry
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Anatomy
- Histology
- Microbiology
- Genetics
As students become older (usually 3rd and 4th years) their education expands beyond the classroom, with tasks such as:
- Clinical Rotations
- Shadow experienced doctors and medical professionals
- Interview, write reports, and work a bit with patients
By the time your Med School education is complete, you will be prepared to begin your residency in the type of medicine you choose to specialize in.
What is a Residency?
A residency is a part of any medical school graduate’s training. It takes place after graduating a 4-year Med School, and before becoming a practicing doctor. The purpose of a medical residency is to give in-depth, hands-on training for a specific branch of medicine. Additionally, the typical length of a residency is anywhere between 3-7 years, depending on the specific type of medicine/speciality.
Most Common Industries and Jobs of Med school graduates:
Most Med School graduates become doctors upon graduation. There are many different types of doctors you can choose to become. Some are more generalist like a Primary Care Physician, but others are more specialized and focus on a specific type of medicine/practice.
What are some challenges of doing a Medical School program?
- Takes a very long time to become a doctor/complete the program
- Can be very expensive
- Long work/study hours, can be exhausting
- Difficult and long application process
- Very competitive (to get in, and while a student)
What are some benefits of doing a Medical School program?
- High future/potential compensation as a doctor
- Doctors have good job security
- Not limited by location
- Saving lives and helping people feel better and be healthier
- Very valuable part of society
- Difficult to get in, so it is a great accomplishment and highly reputable
Typical Salary of first-year graduate?
For a first year resident (someone who just completed Medical school and is now completing their residency), the average salary is ~$60k, according to the American Medical Association (AMA)
For a full-fledged doctor (Med School graduate and completed your residency), the average salary varies a lot based on location, experience, and type of patients you see. However, according to ZipRecruiter, the average salary is between $173k and $236k.
Should I go to Medical School?
If you want to become a doctor and/or become a medical research, you should consider going to Medical school. Although it is a long road to becoming a doctor, it is one of the most highly respected, well-compensated, and rewarding jobs out there. You not only live well but can significantly impact many people’s lives with your work.
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