Every state in the union, as well as the District of Columbia, has at least one medical or osteophathic college. There are public medical schools -- part of state university systems -- and private schools affiliated with private colleges and universities.
There are 10 schools in California, six in Florida, eight in Illinois, five in Michigan, fourteen in New York, seven in Ohio, nine in Pennsylvania, five in Tennessee, and nine in Texas. Puerto Rico also has two accredited schools.
Admission to medical school is competitive. Students must usually complete a bachelor's degree in a science-related field. Although medical schools do not specify a required grade point average, or GPA, most successful candidates have at least a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must score well on the Medical College Admissions Exam, or MCAT, typically taken at the end of one's junior year as an undergraduate.
Submit an application through the American Medical College Application Service, or AMCAS. If you want to apply to osteopathic school, you'll submit an application through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Both common applications are available online. The applications will contain your transcripts, your MCAT scores, information about extracurricular activities and a short personal statement. In some cases you will be allowed to submit letters of recommendation directly through AMCAS. If you are selected by any school, you will be invited to submit a secondary application directly to the school.
Medical school is a costly endeavor. As of 2011, taking the MCAT costs about $235, not counting fees associated with late registration or using an international test site. An MCAT preparation course, which many students find valuable, costs $1,200. The AMCAS processing fee is $160 for the first school and $130 for each additional school to which a student wants to apply. If a student applies to schools out of state, there may be significant costs associated with traveling for interviews. None of these expenses guarantee one's admission. Financial aid is available for tests, applications and admissions. Candidates should check with the schools they plan to attend. The average doctor graduates with $150,000 in student loans.