This guide is for those who want to learn to research a bit more about their doctors. If you just hopped on here and haven't started from Part 1, you may want to start there first.

PART II - The Medical School Years

In Part 1, we went over the doctor's early years. We discussed the requirements for medical school, the MCAT, and the interview process. We also looked at some statistics on how difficult it is to get into medical school.

So what happens in medical school that seems to magically turn someone into a doctor?

Two Years of Basic Sciences

Medical school generally takes four years to complete. In most programs, it is divided into two parts. The first and second year of medical school is primarily classroom-based.

Some of the courses during these two years include:

Anatomy
Physiology
Histology
Embryology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Microbiology
Biostatistics
The list goes on and on...

A lot of students describe medical school classes as "drinking out of a fire hydrant." There's so much information to learn and absorb. To compare, most college students take 16-18 units a quarter. In medical school, students are taking the equivalent of over 30 units each quarter of high-level intense classes.

Two Years of Clinical Rotations

The last two years are filled with patient-based rotations. Here the students see actual patients while following a doctor. These rotations, ranging from 4-6 weeks, expose the students to the wide field of medicine. They would learn to take a medical history, perform physical exams, help in surgery, and write orders with the supervision of a licensed physician.

Common rotations include:

Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Neurology
General Surgery
Urology
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Emergency Medicine
Again, the list goes on and on...

The Boards

In between the Basic Science Years and the Clinical Years, students need to take the first part of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). It is also called "The Boards" with a sense of dread. The test is administered by the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME).

There are 2 additional parts to the exam. The second part is taken during the 4th year of medical school. The third part is taken during residency after medical school is complete. We'll discuss more about residency in the next portion of this series.

According to the NBME, from 2006-2008, over 95% of medical students (MD) passed each exam the first time taking it. That shouldn't mean that test was easy. Instead, it is more likely that the students studied hard for this exam because doing well enhances their competitiveness when applying for residency.

Costs

How much does all this education cost? According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, in 2006, the median yearly tuition at a private medical school was $39,413. By the time the student graduates, his/her total debt will be approximately $160,000.

The Medical Degree

After 4 years of school, taking the boards, and of course paying all the tuition bills, the student graduates and receives a degree to become a doctor.

Does this mean that these new young doctors can start seeing patients to bill them to start paying off their loans? Can the brand new MD charge for medical care?

Unfortunately, not yet.

Before a doctor can actually practice medicine, they are required to undergo further training in residency. Residency is similar to an apprenticeship. In our next part, we'll go over how the residency selection happens, the Match, and the medical license.

Jerry Kamp is a research analyst at the Trusted Surgeons Network. The Trusted Surgeons Network examines facts and data about doctors with the goal of educating and guiding the public to connect them with trusted plastic surgeons. Our research and findings are available for free at http://www.trustedsurgeons.com

There are many people who desire to be a doctor. It takes a lot of preparation and years of school. Knowing the basics about medical school admissions requirements will help you be prepared and ready to begin your journey as a doctor. There are basic common requirements that all schools have.

When a school receives your application they will check certain items on your computer before they proceed. You can expect your GPA and MCAT scores to be verified before a school will continue with the application process. Once these are verified they look at the rest of your application.

The next steps are all about you. An admissions board wants to know what type of person you are, what you are interested in and why you want to do what you do. Your interview will consist of all of these as well as your speaking skills, so be prepared to answer questions effectively.

One major thing you can do to be prepared for in entering medical school is the core subject that all schools require. Expect to complete courses in English, Biology and calculus. You will also need physics with lab and general chemistry with lab. You will also need organic chemistry with a lab as well.

You will also need to know about the minimum requirements regarding GPA. A minimum requirement will be 3. 5 or higher. Any school in the United States will have these requirements. This requirement reflects the heavy load you will have in med school and you will need to know that you can keep up.

Also as important is your MCAT score. You need to know that this score will be a major factor in your successful admission into a medical school. Take the time to prepare for this test. And know that you will be taking this test at certain times so check to see when they are being taken. Study and take practice tests so you are absolutely ready.

During your four year degree work do not worry about having a degree in the sciences. For some schools they prefer you don't as they want to see what else you are interested in and are an interesting person. Consider majoring in something you love. It will be an asset to your med school application.

Many optional items are also available to do while you are preparing for applying to medical school. You can shadow a physician and gain realistic experience. You can also do volunteer work not only for your portfolio but because it is good to give back to the community. You can also participate in research. Also check with specific school admission requirements as they are all different.

For anyone that to find out more about medical school admissions requirements, please visit this site for an informative video. We offer plenty of helpful advice for navigating the process of applying to medical school.

The decision to be a doctor is often not a very easy one as it needs much time and one will spend much money. To be a doctor, one will need to go through four years of college, four years of medical school and three years up to eight years of residency training.

The fist step of becoming a doctor should be taken in high school. One can do this by getting good grades, taking many science courses like physics, chemistry, biology and math and volunteering at nursing homes, hospitals or doctor's office.

The second step of becoming a doctor is getting a bachelor's degree. One should apply and get into the correct college. In college, they should study English, biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry as they are the subjects most required by medical schools. One's grade point at college should always stand at 3.5 and 4.0.

The next step to take is to go for the Medical College Admissions Test. The latter, also known as MCAT is basically a standardized exam that is used to measure knowledge of problem solving, scientific principles and concepts, written analysis, writing skills and critical thinking.

Apply to the Medical Schools and medical school application services can help one in this. The two factors that determine one's entry to medical school are one's MCAT scores and GPA. If a medical school is interested in a person they will them for an interview.

Complete medical school and this will take one an estimated four years of which two will be spent on rotations and the other two on class work.

Then after completing medical school and becoming a doctor, then complete the residency training. Residency is a training program that focuses on a particular medical specialty. The length of time that one takes for their residency training largely depends on the type of specialty that they choose. The first year is known as Post graduate or internship.

The next step is to get the license to practice medicine and this is usually done after one completes their fellowship or residency. Different states have their own rules. One should expect to wait for about sixty days before they can get their license after application.

Although it takes much time and much money as well for one to become a doctor, the rewards that one gets after saving people's live cannot be counted.

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Many people living in different parts of the world before choosing a career always consider about becoming a doctor. There are various reason for this. Doctors are highly paid, they are always in demand, therefore chances of unemployment are very less. Doctors also enjoy a high status in the society due to the noble cause they are associated with.

Many people consider being a doctor, but very few amongst them actually become a doctor. People generally underestimate the hard work and time required for this field. It may take about twelve to fifteen years to become a doctor, including eight years at college and medical school and about four to five years of residency preparation. This time duration may differ from one country to the other.

Apart from the time and hard work, a lot of money is also required to become a doctor. Dedication towards becoming a doctor plays a vital role. There are people who have strong determination about entering the medical field, but when they come to know about the hardships and complications involved they take a step back.

The steps involved in becoming a doctor are:

1) Taking relevant high school education is very important. Aspiring students should opt for courses like chemistry, biology and physics.

2) Obtaining a relevant bachelor's degree is the next step. It should be made sure that the subjects like biology and chemistry are studied during graduation.

3) Taking MCAT exam is vital to obtain admission in a medical college. After clearing MCAT, you may also be called for an interview by the medical college.

4) Undertaking residency training- In this step students are required to choose a medical specialty and undergo the training for the same. The time required to become a doctor is determined by the type of specialty chosen.

5) Obtaining license- After completing the residency training you are required to take a license for practicing medicine. The time and formality involved in this differ from country to country.

You've Decided To Take the MCAT. One Word of Advice... Practice

So you've decided to take the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and begin your journey toward becoming a doctor. One word of advice repeated three times...practice, practice, practice.

The nice thing about taking the MCAT now is that as of January 27th, 2007, all admissions of the exam are via computer. Previously, the MCAT was given in a written format with only a few testing locations offering the computer-based version.

Another advantage is that as of January 27th, 2007, you now have the option of taking the test at one of 19 locations with a choice of 22 testing times. In the past, the MCAT was only offered twice a year. The test has also been shortened to 5.4 hours, giving the student being tested the opportunity to take the MCAT in the morning or afternoon.

About The MCAT

But what is the MCAT? What can you expect when you sit down to take the test that may determine the rest of your life? Well, you can expect to be nervous and you can expect to be scared. But proper preparation will alleviate most of these fears.

You've taken hundreds of tests in your undergraduate work in preparation to become a doctor. But the MCAT is the single most important test up to this point. If you don't pass the MCAT...you will not become a doctor. Medical schools rank potentital students on their MCAT scores. Admissions committees believe that the MCAT score is the only way to objectively rank a future applicant against all the other students applying for medical school.

Despite all of the excuses you've heard in the past from other students who took the MCAT, preparation is key. The MCAT should be taken with the same amount of preparation that you put into the SAT all those years ago, even more so. It is possible to get into college without an SAT score. The same can't be said about the MCAT.

The MCAT is made up of four parts: Physical Sciences, Verbal Reasoning, Writing Sample and Biological Sciences. The verbal, physical science and biological science sections are all multiple choice. The writing sample though will bring back memories of the almighty essay question. As long as you prepare for the MCAT in advance though, you should breeze through this as well.

The MCAT tests your knowledge on physics, biology, chemistry and organic chemistry as well as a writing sample to determine your ability to transpose your thoughts and possible future diagnosis' to paper. The MCAT biology and physical sections grade your analytical and cognitive abilities while the verbal portion of the tests analyzes your ability to think outside the box.

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