KRYSTAL FOUNDATION ... Delores Gillum Brown - President
Charting Direction through Education
Want to be a Doctor?
THINKING ABOUT A CAREER IN MEDICINE?
What do you need to consider?
You are at the beginning of the road and starting in the right place. You could have a dream to become a cardiologist, or maybe you know that medicine is your passion, but you are not sure what you want to practice.
There are many things to consider. Biomedical research, teaching, and hospital administration are a few examples to think about as alternatives to being a physician.
Don’t have your mind made up just yet, no need to worry. Your focus should begin with getting into medical school, but start to build an awareness of the possibilities. Research a sampling of specialties made available through the Association of American Medical College’s (AAMC) Careers in Medicine (CiM) program to begin shaping your interests.
AAMC Aspiring Docs
So you want to be a Doctor?
DID YOU KNOW?
Requirements for Admission to United States Medical Schools
Medical school admission requirements vary from school to school. Each school's specific prerequisites are detailed in the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™), an annual publication of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The MSAR™ is highly recommended to all prospective applicants and is available at most school libraries, premedical advising offices, and can be purchased from AAMC Publications.
The MSAR aims to help students approach their goals realistically and to plan their education carefully.
Each school's specific prerequisites are detailed in the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™), an annual publication of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The MSAR™ is highly recommended to all prospective applicants and is available at most school libraries, premedical advising offices, and can be purchased from AAMC Publications.
The MSAR aims to help students approach their goals realistically and to plan their education carefully. For each medical school, the book contains information on choosing a school, the admissions process, financing your education, the nature of modern medical education, opportunities for minorities, and admissions requirements.
Requirements for Admission to United States Medical Schools
In general, most medical schools will expect applicants to have taken the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and to have completed the following types of courses:
- One year of Biology
- One year of Physics
- One year of English
- Two years of Chemistry (through Organic Chemistry)
Applicants should consider volunteering at a local hospital or clinic to gain practical experience in the health professions. A well-rounded sampling of extra-curricular activities or work experiences, both related and unrelated to medicine, will help broaden an applicant's knowledge and development.
Students interested in medicine are encouraged to research the wide variety of jobs available in the health professions, to discuss the nature and demands of medicine with a pre-medical advisor or health professional, and to ask a lot of questions before embarking on the application process.
CLICK HERE TO LOCATE AND LEARN MORE ABOUT Medical Schools in the Illinois area, and the United States and Canada ...
Association of American Medical Colleges
So you want to be a Doctor?
DID YOU KNOW?
Requirements for Admission to United States Medical Schools
Medical school admission requirements vary from school to school. Each school's specific prerequisites are detailed in the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™), an annual publication of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The MSAR™ is highly recommended to all prospective applicants and is available at most school libraries, premedical advising offices, and can be purchased from AAMC Publications.
The MSAR aims to help students approach their goals realistically and to plan their education carefully. The MSAR aims to help students approach their goals realistically and to plan their education carefully. For each medical school, the book contains information on choosing a school, the admissions process, financing your education, the nature of modern medical education, opportunities for minorities, and admissions requirements.
Each school's specific prerequisites are detailed in the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™), an annual publication of the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The MSAR™ is highly recommended to all prospective applicants and is available at most school libraries, premedical advising offices, and can be purchased from AAMC Publications.
Requirements for Admission to United States Medical Schools
Association of American Medical Colleges
What ACADEMIC TRAINING Lets start at the beginning: HIGH SCHOOL
SPECIFICALLY... High School---- Complete a high school diploma. Focus a lot of attention on science and math courses, while enjoying the other courses offered, as well as the extracurricular opportunities at your high school. College---- Get pre-med advice from your college pre-med advisor at the beginning of your freshman year. Stay in continuous contact with your pre-med advisor during your 4 years of college. Complete a 4-year college degree, receiving either a Bachelors degree in the Arts (BA Degree), or a Bachelors degree in the Sciences (BS Degree) from any 4-year accredited college of your choice. Major in any subject area of your interest, in combination with completing your pre-medical required coursework. Medical School Application--- In your 3rd year of college you will prepare for and take the Medical College Aptitude test (MCAT exam). You will also complete the Association of American Medical College' application to Medical School, and name the medical schools where you would like your application sent. You will receive information about the next steps from the medical schools you've contacted. Stay in close touch with your pre-medical advisor during the application process.
is required to become a
Physician?
Students seriously considered for medical school acceptance will be offered an interview before a final decision is made. Accepted students generally begin medical school following the summer after graduation from college.
Medical School --- Medical School is 4-years. The first two years are traditionally the classroom years, together with some patient exposure and problem solving. Much of the last two years are traditionally spent in the hospital, learning about the different areas of medicine as you move from one "rotation" to another, eg. 4 weeks of pediatrics, 8 weeks of surgery.
In your last year of medical school, you will decide what area of medicine you wish to ultimately work in, followed by completing an application for your residency work.
Medical School Graduation --Congratulations, You're a medical doctor!
Residency ---Residency is traditionally made up of a first year internship, followed by 2 or more years studying the area of medicine that you are interested in working. The number of years residency training will depend on the area of medicine you have chosen. You will receive minimal pay (but you will be paid) while you are working in your residency program.
Fellowship---After you've completed your residency, if you think you want to subspecialize in a specific area related to your residency specialty, e.g. hand surgery,cardiology, pediatric neurology, pain management.
How much does medical
school cost?
Annual tuition and fees at state medical schools in 2008–2009 averaged $23,581 for state residents and $43,587 for non-residents. At private schools, tuition and fees averaged $41,225 for residents and $42,519 for non-resident students. These figures do not include housing or living expenses. For detailed data, check the website for the Medical School of your interest.
How can I PAY FOR MEDICAL SCHOOL?
Don't let the costs discourage you. A wide array of loans, scholarships, and grants are available to those who are determined to get a medical education. Some of these may minimize your debt. Some are need-based; some are not. Some options are targeted to individuals who plan to pursue careers in primary care or who agree to practice in under-served areas for a pre-determined amount of time.However, you will need to plan your budget carefully so that you don't end up with more debt than necessary.
About 87 percent of medical students graduate with some educational debt, according to the LCME Part I-B Medical School Questionnaire (LCME-1B). Many receive substantial financial assistance in the form of loans guaranteed by the federal government.
Most medical students borrow at least a portion of the money they need to finance their education. In 2008, the median debt was $155,000. That's significant debt. However, a medical education is an investment that keeps returning dividends throughout your life.
Federal student loans include, but are not limited to, the subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loan, the Graduate PLUS Loan, and the Perkins loan. Non-federal alternative loan programs are also available.
Grants and scholarships are available from the federal government and from the individual medical schools. Federal programs include the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship and the National Health Service Corps. Scholarships for underrepresented minority students also are available through the National Medical Fellowships.