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How Does Medical School Work

How Does Medical School Work?

Medical school is a four-year program in the US that consists of two preclinical years and two clinical years. In some other countries, it is a five-year program with two preclinical and three clinical years. 

In this blog, we will discuss the steps to becoming a doctor, medical school life, medical school curriculum, expenses, and much more. Also, in the end, you will find out whether med school is for you or not. So let’s get started. 

What Is Medical School?

Medical school is a place where aspiring doctors are prepared for clinical practices. It is a four-year course that lies between pre med and residency programs. Its duration is different from country to country. In the US, it’s four years, but in other countries, it’s five years.

Differences between college and medical school:

Both college and med school have some similarities and differences. Here they are;

1. Study Schedule 

College or pre-med studies are less but overwhelming. You have to study different subjects that are either related to your interests or not. Like if you want to get into med school, you have to study other subjects too, i.e., humanities.

On the other hand, med school studies are more interesting. Some subjects are boring, like anatomy and Pharmacology, but overall, it’s more conceptual and attractive. All the subjects are related to medicine, which makes them more interesting.

2. Curriculum

College have more subjects per semester, but its volume is condensed and easy. It can be covered easily with a dedicated time. 

Medical school has fewer subjects per semester, but the volume is too high. You will always feel that you will never cover the syllabus. 

3. GPA or Grades

GPA is important in pre-med and med school if you are from the US. Just like a good GPA helps you in finding your favorite med school, same as good med school grades help you in matching top residency programs like Plastic surgery, neurosurgery, etc.

But if you are from outside the US, applying as an img to the residency programs then GPA or grades doesn’t matter that much.

4. Competitions

Competition is the same in both, but from my point of view, getting into med school is tougher than matching in a residency program. 

So, in college,  you make more efforts to get into medical schools compared to med school efforts for residency placement.

5. Type 

College or pre-med is more theoretical based, and med school is both theoretical and practical based. The college focuses on all the things around us, but med school is more focused on the human body.

6. Research 

Are you bored with college research? Will there be a research in med school? So, the answer is yes. Just like research is important in college for medical school admission, so is for residency programs. If you want to match in top specialty, you need to have several research and publications. So, research is important in both pre-med and med school. 

7. Extracurricular Activities 

Extracurricular activities are important in college but not in medical school. If a medical student does it to have a strong CV for the matching cycle, then there is no harm in it. 

8. Financial Burden 

When it comes to financial burdens, there is no field that is more expensive than medical school. So med school is more expensive than pre med. But there are some ways that can ease it, like scholarships, financial aid, interest-free loans, savings, etc.

9. Part-time Work

The part-time work can be done in both, either online or offline. But I suggest you first go for an online one because it will save you a lot of time. If you are not a digital lover, then opt for an offline one.

Check here. We have mentioned some online and offline side Hustles – How Do Med Students Make Money?

Getting Into Medical School: The Admission Process

The first step to becoming a doctor is getting into a medical school. For that, you have to pass pre-med, take the MCAT test, and apply for medical school. 

Keep in mind that getting into med school is hard and competitive. So, you are advised to work on your profile and make it competitive by getting good MCAT marks, doing research, doing volunteer work, and having a good personal statement. Good personal statement can play a key role. Make sure you give enough time to it.

The Structure of Medical School: (Pre- Clinical vs Clinical)

If you are selected for medical school, then congratulations. Here, your medical journey starts.

As I mentioned above, medical school is divided into two categories: pre-clinical and clinical. So let’s discuss each one in detail.

Pre-Clinical Years ( Year 1 and Year 2)

The first two years in med school are called pre-clinical years. Pre-clinical years in med school focus on building a good knowledge base for clinical years. Once you get into med school, in the start  you will find it difficult to remember everything. But do not worry; it happens to everyone. With the passage of time, you will used to it and will find it interesting. 

Do not go for learning everything. This means that if a disease is mentioned, then just learn it. Do not focus on its clinic and lab because you will learn it during your clinical years.ì

Apart from theory, you will also do some lab work like microbiology, anatomy, and biochemistry. You will find biochemistry practicals a bit more difficult than anatomy and microbiology because they talk about biochemical reactions that look similar to each other. 

Pre-Clinical Subjects

You will study the following subjects in your pre-clinical years;

1. Anatomy

2. Microbiology

3. Physiology

4. Pathology

5. Pharmacology

6. Genetics

7. Biochemistry

Clinical Years ( Year 3 and Year 4)

Year 3 and year 4 are called clinical years in medical school where you do med school rotations along with theoretical studies. Clinical years are more focused on interaction with patients, diagnosis, and treatment. These clinical years will train you for residency training where you will be dealing one-on-one with patients in the hospital. 

Clinical years are also difficult like pre-clinical years in the start. You will feel shy and pressurized while taking history for the first time. Some students worry so much that they can’t even talk with patients. But with time, it becomes easy. 

My advice is don’t feel shy, take patient history as much as you can because it will help you learn your weakness and work on it. History is so important in medicine. Sometimes doctors called it half medicine. 

Clinical Subjects

Here are the subjects you will study during your clinical years;

1.Internal Medicine

2. Surgery

3. Pediatric 

4. Gynecology and Obstetrics 

5. Psychiatry 

6. Neonatology 

7. Dermatology 

8. Infectious Diseases

Types of Exams in Medical School

There are four types of medical exams in medical school;

1.Block exams: Regular subject-based tests.

2.Final Exam: Taken in all syllabus once per semester. 

3.OSCEs (Objective Structured Clinical Examinations): Practical exams testing clinical skills.

4.Licensing Exams: Only one licensing exam can be given during medical school which is a USMLE Exam. But it’s not mandatory to give it during med school. You can give it anytime you want it. Other exams like PLAB,AMC, etc can only be given once you complete your degree.

Resources For Med School

Do not follow anyone while choosing study resources, because each and everyone has a different way of studying. Some students love memorization and some want to cluster clear concepts. Some like visual learning so some like the ordinary way. So it’s better to go through some resources and then stick to one because too many resources will confuse you, and you will be lost.

Here are some top-level resources for medical school students. 

1. Boards and Beyonds

2. Kaplan lectures 

3. Dr Najeeb lectures 

4. Ninja Nerd

5. Osmosis 

6. Prepladder 

7. Marrow

8. Dirty Medicine 

Cost of Medical School

Medical school total expenses are divided into two parts, a major portion of which is covered by tuition fees.

1. Tuition Fees

Med school fees are different from country to country and university to university. It’s best to check out the fee before getting admission. 

2. Other Expenses

Other expenses are;

  • Textbooks
  • Online resources like Uword, Kaplan, Boards and Beyonds, etc.
  • Medical equipment
  • Living costs
  • Travelling costs

How To Reduce Medical School Costs?

Here are the top 6 ways to reduce medical school costs.

1. Apply for scholarships 

2. Attend public med school and        In-State med school 

3. Try a loan forgiveness program

4. Live in a budget area 

5. Do part-time work

6. Use school resources instead of paid ones. 

The Journey After Medical School: What Comes Next?

Once you are done with your four years of medical school, now it’s time to jump into a new life called Medical Residency or Training life. But hang,  it’s not that easy. First, you have to go through some exams and processes. To make it easy for you, I have divided it into certain parts.

Pre Residency Exams

Pre-residency exams are those which are mandatory for applying to residency programs. Every country has its own exams like;

1.USMLE for the US

2. PLAB for the UK

3. AMC for Australia 

4. DHA for Dubai and much more.

Applying To Residency Programs

After passing one of these exams, you can apply to the residency program of the respective country. They will go through your CV and shortlist the best candidates for interviews.

Residency Program Interviews

Interviews can be online or offline, depending on the country’s requirements. Try to prepare well for the interview because it can be a turning point for you. Also, the interviews are so long, so practice will make you used to it. Some matched doctors provide pre-interview sessions. You can contact them for a better experience. 

Residency Programs Training

After the interview, successful candidates will receive a congratulations email from the respective board. The duration of residency programs varies from country to country and specialty to specialty. It’s best to check out before applying to the specific exam.

Once all the above stages are completed successfully, you can work as a doctor in a hospital or private clinic. Some doctors also go for fellowships, which is possible after residency programs. But most doctors do not go for it.

Is Med School For You?

I hope all the above information has helped you whether Med school is for you or not. But if you still can’t decide, I will make it easier for you. If you love to study, bear tension and anxiety, and do not want everything early then go for it. Good fruits take time. 

FAQs About Medical School

Is medical school really hard?

Med school is not hard if you cover your each day syllabus and use specific useful resources.

Can I work while in medical school?

Yes, you can work nonmedical work while in medical school. It could be online or offline. But you can not work as a medical doctor to treat patients.

What happens if you fail a class or exam?

Do not worry if you fail a class or exam, but make sure you do good in your future exams. Because program directors love a candidate who Can improve himself/herself. 

Conclusion 

To sum up, “how does medical school work” starts with four to five years of med school, including pre-clinical and clinical years. It is followed by a residency program, which could be three to seven years long. 

Medical school can be a challenging journey, but in the end, it gives you great rewards. So pass your pre-med school as soon as possible and come to the med school life. Best wishes ahead. 

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