Get ready to put in a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. On top of learning the ins and outs of the human body, medical students will also be required to put their knowledge into practice, conduct independent research, pull long working hours, and keep a cool head the entire time. Here's a breakdown of what you can expect in medical school.
The Structure of Medical School
To complete a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program, students will attend four years at an accredited medical school followed by a one-year internship and a residency that can last anywhere from two to seven years, depending on the area of specialization. A post-residency fellowship will also be required for certain areas of study including surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, and endocrinology.
Medical School Courses
Lectures, lab work, and independent research projects, not to mention small group exercises and required conferences. The first two years of medical school typically focus on preclinical study, meaning that you can expect to become well-versed in biology, anatomy, immunology, pharmacology, neuroscience, and biochemistry. After finishing the preclinical phase, students take the first part of the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) and then begin clinical work.
The last two years of medical school are spent at a teaching hospital doing hands-on clinical rotations in several medical specialties, including internal medicine, family medicine, gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, neurology, and surgery. At the end of the fourth year, students take the second part of the USMLE.
Grades at Medical School
Here's where you get a break...sort of. Instead of stressing out over letters, many medical schools grade students on a Pass/Fail or Pass/Fail/Honors basis and some, including Yale University School of Medicine, have no grades at all for the first two years. Don't think it'll be easy just because you're not receiving As and Bs. In lieu of grade competition, medical schools expect students to be self-motivated learners and push themselves to excel.
Christina Couch is a freelance writer based in Richmond, Virginia, and Paris, France. Her writing credentials include MSN/Encarta Online, CollegeBound Teen, and Studentscoop.com.
