Undergraduate medical school provides the education and preliminary training needed to complete graduate study in the medical field. Undergraduate students may choose to specialize in a particular field of medicine in their junior and senior years, and may also take an internship or externship in order to fulfill graduation requirements.
Function
Undergraduate medical school programs prepare students for the formal medical school application process at a School of Medicine. The curriculum is structured around social sciences, natural sciences, human anatomy, humanities and other general education requirements. Students also take part in a rigorous training program, and may be involved with clinical research, volunteer activities and scientific research on and off campus. At the end of the educational program, students can take the MCAT standardized test; this tests students in the physical and biological sciences and in verbal reasoning.
Features
Students who wish to enter medical school must first complete a bachelor's degree through an undergraduate medical school program (pre-medical/medical science), or in another field as long as they have completed medical school prerequisites. The educational track typically includes courses in biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, pathology, chemistry and human biology. Admission to medical school is based on GPA, an admissions essay and interview, the MCAT score, volunteer work, extracurricular activities and any research the applicant has completed during their undergraduate studies. Undergraduate programs can be four or five years in length.
Types
U.S. News & World Report ranks the top 10 2008 medical schools as follows: Harvard University, John Hopkins University, University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St. Louis, University of California-San Francisco, University of Washington, Stanford University, Duke University, Yale University and the Baylor College of Medicine/Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons (tie).
Effects
While many students who graduate from undergraduate medical school can pursue job opportunities in their field immediately after graduation, most employers offer only entry-level positions with an undergraduate degree. Students who wish to become pharmacists, doctors, physicians or physical therapists must complete graduate school and finish a comprehensive training program in order to achieve the doctor designation. Students can become a Doctor of Medicine (MD) after successful completion of studies at an LCME-accredited medical school. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) is an independent body sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association.
Considerations
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health care was the largest industry in 2006 and provided 14 million jobs. Seven of the 20 fastest growing occupations were health-care related, and the industry is expected to generate more than three million jobs through 2016. Employment of physicians and surgeons is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations; surgeon and physician salaries range between $137,119 and $321,686, depending on the years of experience and type of specialty.
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