Before moving on to medical school, students pursing a degree in medicine must complete a baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university. Many people assume going to medical school requires a pre-med major, but students are admitted to medical school with a variety of majors. However, a John Knox College study published in 2000 showed about 65 percent of medical school admissions came from students who had majored in biology or other sciences. About 13 percent of admitted students had nonscience majors. A number of electives or a minor in a field related to math or science can also prove to be beneficial.
After completing the bachelor's degree, medical students need four more years of medical school. The medical school admissions process is highly selective. Students with the highest grade point averages generally receive more consideration. Students will also be admitted based on MCAT (Medical College Admission Tests) scores, application essays, interviews and any other criteria determined to be important by the admissions committee.
Following medical school, medical students continue their education by going on to pursue a residency or internship. Because it is impossible for medical students to learn every aspect of the medical field in a classroom setting, students must serve as residents--usually for at least three years--in order to learn advanced aspects of their profession. Residents are generally deemed competent enough to practice some aspects of the medical profession, but only under the supervision of their residency director, who is a practicing medical professional. Residents generally learn advanced techniques and research methods while gaining hands-on experience. Residencies generally cover a specific specialty within the field of medicine as well.