Medical Colleges can potentially enable students to enter the world of medicine and serve as competent and respectable doctors. Most medical colleges run alongside a hospital where students can complete their residency. Some medical colleges also offer specialization in specific fields and options of research in medicine.
Medical College Eligibility
To apply to a program offered by a Medical College, it is advisable that the previous degree incorporates scientific disciplines such as biology, chemistry and physics. Some medical colleges will also require candidates to have studied Calculus, Statistics, Biochemistry and some courses in Humanities. Even if their earlier degree is not in the field of science, some medical colleges accept candidates who have studied at least a year of the basic coursework which includes biology, physics, Inorganic and Organic Chemistry, English and Calculus.
Some medical colleges also have the option of an accelerated undergraduate degree. In such a case, students can possibly be admitted to a 7-year program with three years of undergraduate studies and four years of medicine, though these time frames can vary according to the type of program. To be eligible to apply to a medical college, students need to have a high school diploma.
Most importantly, students should have the aptitude for a career in medicine. They must also be ready to put in long hours as students of medicine, and then as doctors in future if that is the case.
Admission to a Medical College
All students applying to a Medical College have to appear for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test). This is a computerized and standardized test which tests students against their knowledge of science, their writing skills and critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Applicants to medical colleges may also be required to submit an admission essay and appear for an interview. Both of these can possibly carry weight when considering an applicant for admission along with the past curricular and extracurricular record of a candidate.
Cost of Attending a Medical College
Medical colleges can tend to be somewhat expensive. The related costs may include the tuition fee, cost of books, meal, accommodation and other day-to-day expenses. Costs may even be higher in private medical colleges.
Because the cost of medical education is considerably high as compared, most doctors have to take loans to support their education. They may then either pay these loans back or they may even consider an option of joining the US army for a period of time in lieu of paying the debt off.
Medical College Curriculum
In the medical school, the curriculum progresses from theoretical to more clinical courses with each year. The first year is mostly spent studying courses such a human anatomy and physiology. Diseases and their treatments are introduced in the second year. At this time, the students are also required to sit for the USMLE-1 (United States Medical Licensing Examination). From the third year, the students may begin clinical rotations and practice.
During their fourth year, students may consider beginning their residency. A graduate of medical school is not legally allowed to practice medicine until he/she has done at least a year of residency and has obtained a license from the state.