How to Study Medicine in USA – A degree in medicine is one of the most sorts after in many countries. Medicine is seen as one of the highly rated courses which attach a sense of respect, pride, and class to individuals. Although that can sound outdated, a lot of people still feel that way. Apart from that, there are tons of people who have a genuine interest in studying medicine, and studying medicine in one of the best schools in the USA is a perfect goal to run after.
The USA is known to have the best schools in the world and is seen as a place with great technological advancements. This can be a good reason there are many immigrants studying in the USA. So, if you are an immigrant or a local and looking to know how you can study medicine in the USA, this article has been written as a guide to point you in the right direction.
Let’s go!
Why Study Medicine in the USA?
Asking yourself this question can be a leap pad to knowing if the medicine is right for you in the first place. Studying medicine can take hard work, time, perseverance, and good grades to show for it.
If you have a passion for medicine and you strive in your heart to relieve people of pain and suffering by using medical means, then that can be a starting point. Getting good job opportunities and a fat paycheck can be the icing on the cake or a reward for passion.
Some good reasons people study medicine in the USA include:
- Many ranking websites rank the USA as the number 1 place to study medicine.
- There are many good job opportunities.
- Better income
- Advanced technology and science
- A place to meet diverse and knowledgeable doctors
Steps to Studying Medicine in the USA
To study medicine in the USA, you have to follow certain steps or reach different stages of education and/or tests. The steps can be a little different for international and local students as the education system can be different for international students.
How to study medicine in the USA for Local Students
Studying medicine in the United States for local students can seem a little simple compared to international students because they have already been woven into the United States education system.
To study medicine, you have to go through 4 stages or processes. And they are:
- Get a high school diploma
- Get a science undergraduate degree that can be easily related to medicine
- Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Apply to medical schools
1. Getting a High School Diploma
High school starts from grade 9 – 12 which translates to four years. There are many high schools in the United States which could also be ranked according to how great they are. There are physical high schools (one where you have to walk into a building to study) and online high schools (where you study over the internet).
Online high schools are seen as a chance for people who never got the opportunity to study in a high school or were hindered because of certain reasons. And it can also be seen as a comfortable way to earn a high school diploma.
Whether you choose to apply to a physical high school or online, to get a high school diploma, you will need to pass Mathematics, English, Social Studies, Sciences, and some other classes that you have chosen or offered. Many high schools usually require a minimum of 20 credits on each course in other to pass. But the number of required credits to pass a course can vary from state to state.
Some high schools offer opportunities for students to take Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate coursework and exams. After 4 years and if you pass your courses, you will be awarded a high school diploma.
2. Getting a Science Undergraduate Degree
After graduating from high school and getting a diploma, the next step to take is getting a Science undergraduate degree. To achieve that, you have to apply for admission at your preferred universities while at the near end of completing your high school studies or just after graduation (in my opinion, the former is preferred).
Most universities have application deadlines which means that they close their admissions portal when the deadline reaches. While some schools have rolling admissions which means that they will roll over your admission if you ever applied late or their capacity is reached. Some other things to consider when applying to universities are if they accept common applications, high school grades, and application fees.
When applying for admission, you should apply for science or pre-med courses that should prepare you for medical school. Some of those courses are biology, chemistry, biochemistry, physics, anatomy, genetics, psychology, exercise science, nutrition and dietetics, nursing, public health, etc. Most of these programs take about 4 years to complete.
3. The Medical College Admission Test
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is the required test to take if you want to apply for medical school. The test is a lengthy computer-based test that will test your knowledge of a variety of subjects like verbal reasoning, writing skills, and physical and biological sciences.
To take the Medical College Admission Test, you will have to register for the test on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) website. Create an account, fill in your details, schedule your exam date, choose your location, and make a payment of about $320 to register for the test.
Aim for a test score of 500 and above. If you have a score higher than 500, you might get a fair chance of being selected by medical schools. An average score might make admission a little bit harder. If you failed the test or made a score that is not getting you anywhere, you can resit the test up to 4 times.
4. Applying to Medical School
To apply to medical schools, you have to apply through the American Medical College Application Service which is a centralized application processing service provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges.
The application requires a $170 fee for the first school you apply to and $39 for each additional medical school you apply to. If you are selected by the medical school you applied to, you will be reached with your admission letter.
How to study medicine in the USA for International Students
For international students, the competition can be tough. To get into medical school in the USA as an international student, we assume you must have finished high school or secondary school.
As an international student, there are 3 stages or processes that will get you into medical school.
- Get a graduate or undergraduate degree
- Take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Apply to a medical school
To get into medical school, it is expected that you must have gone through a pre-med course at a university. If you haven’t done one, then you must apply for one at a United States university. It gets hard for students who do not have a degree from a USA university to get into a United States medical school.
So, if you have completed a pre-med program in a university in your country, you should do a graduate program in a United States university.
After earning a degree, you can then take the Medical College Admission Test and apply to a medical school through the American Medical College Application Service which is a centralized application processing service provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges just like the local students do.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can foreigners apply to medical school in the US?
Foreigners can apply to medical school in the US. For foreigners to easily get accepted into medical schools, it is ideal they do a graduate program or an undergraduate program for a pre-med course in a U.S university and then apply through the American Medical College Application Service.
2. How much does it cost to apply to medical school USA?
Application to a medical school is done through a centralized application processing service provided by the Association of American Medical Colleges which cost about $170 fee for the first school you apply to, and $39 for each additional medical school you apply to.
3. How long does it take to study medicine in the USA?
If you choose to study medicine in the USA, it will take you 4 years to do a pre-med undergraduate program in a university, 4 years in medical school, and about 3 – 7 years in a residency program to learn a specialty. In total, it can take 10 – 15 years to study medicine and become a licensed doctor in the USA.
Conclusion
Studying medicine in the United States can be tasking, strenuous, time-consuming, and an adventure. The USA is a well-recognized country for profound education and going to one of the best medical schools in the United States can be assuring that you will graduate as a bright doctor. After studying, a lot of international students always prefer to establish themselves in the country as there are a lot of job opportunities where they can earn a good income.
References
- “How Long Is Medical School and What Is it Like?”. U.S News and World Report. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
- “How To Register For The MCAT“. Kaplan. Retrieved on 19 July 2022.
- “Medicine in USA“. Medical Study Guide. Retrieved on 19 July 2022.
- “How To Study Medicine In USA“. Golden Gate Study Abroad. Retrieved on 19 July 2022.
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