Those who want to become a doctor should start preparing in high school. Students should take as many science and math courses as possible such as biology, chemistry, anatomy, algebra, geometry and statistics.Getting the best grades in high school will help aspiring doctors do well in their future studies.
There is no specific major that is required for medical school, but students should be picky about where they go to earn their bachelor's degree. Students should choose a college where they feel comfortable and that has the major they are interested in. There are also a lot of prerequisite classes that are required before applying to medical school. Students must take organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, English, algebra and possibly biochemistry and calculus.
The MCAT, or the Medical College Admission Test, is the entrance test required for medical school admission. Most students take the MCAT during their junior year of college. The test consists of four parts: Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Verbal Reasoning and a Writing section. Since entrance into medical school is competitive, a good score is necessary to be admitted into medical school, and most students start preparing for the test several months in advance.
Besides the MCAT score, medical schools will also look at a student's overall grade point average (GPA), volunteer and work experience and letters of recommendation. The school will select some individuals for an interview and will make a determination after that. Some schools may even require second interviews if they are having a tough time choosing students. Students should apply to as many medical schools as possible to help their chances of getting accepted; however, students should not apply to a school they do not feel they would be happy at.
Medical school is 4 years long. The first 2 years will be spent in classrooms studying biology, chemistry, anatomy and other subjects. The second 2 years are spent in clinical rotation. Clinical rotation is when medical students spend time in different medical specialties. This helps the students to have a basic understanding of all medical specialties and helps the students decide what specialty they want to pursue after graduation.
After graduation from medical school, new medical doctors must complete a residency in the specialty they choose. The length of the residency depends on the specialty chosen. Some specialties include pathology, psychiatry, surgery, radiology and neurology. Residencies typically last 3 to 5 years.
A doctor must be licensed to practice medicine. The first step to licensing is to take the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam, or USMLE. This exam is taken in three parts. The first part is taken in the second year of medical school, the second part is taken during the fourth year of medical school, and the final part is taken during the first year of residency. Doctors will apply for their medical license after their residency is completed. Each state is different, so medical school hopefuls are advised to check with their state for requirements.