It may seem like a long time, but your experience will help you provide the best care and meet other people in your field. Medical schools will accept any major as long as you complete the prerequisite courses so do not limit yourself to a pre-medical or hard science program. In the US, you may choose to get an allopathic (MD) or osteopathic (DO) medical degree. Both degrees will allow you to become a doctor, the only difference is it is more difficult to get into an MD program but the classes and training are the same.

Just because most colleges accept AP credits doesn’t mean medical schools will. Many medical schools may or may not accept AP so be sure to do your research. If you are interested in psychiatry, consider taking abnormal psychology. It explores mental disorders that will be relevant in your career as a psychiatrist.

Course requirements depend on which medical school you want to go to. Always check the websites for the schools you’re interested in to see what courses you need to take.

If your school has a career day, look for representatives from local hospitals or clinics and ask what volunteer positions are available.

Look for study guides online or at bookstores and try to set aside some time every day to review the information before the test. If you receive testing accommodations for a disability, visit the AAMC website to learn how to register for accommodations and follow the instructions.

Start your application in the spring of your junior year of college if you plan on going to med school right after graduation. Many med school applications have a one-time fee that varies between institutions. You may also need letters of recommendation from professors or advisors.

No matter how the interview went, send a follow-up email thanking the person for their time and consideration. Try running a mock interview with a friend or mentor so you can get used to answering the questions. Just make sure you don’t memorize responses, or else it will seem like you’re too rehearsed.

Some schools might have a more integrated curriculum where you start doing clinicals interspersed with your classes.

Scores range from 1 to 300, where 300 is the best. Typical median scores for step 1 and 2 of the exam are around 232 and 245 respectively. [12] X Research source You can retake each step of the USMLE up to 6 times.

For example, go into pediatrics or family medicine if you want to work with younger patients. As another example, if you’ve been really interested in bones and joints during class, you may go into orthopedics instead. Some of the most competitive medical specialties include radiology, orthopedic surgery, integrated plastic surgery, and neurological surgery. [14] X Research source

If you enjoyed making rounds during med school, fields such as general surgery or internal medicine at a hospital may be a good choice for you. Consider fields like psychiatry, dermatology, or pathology if you want to have more control over the patients you see and want to work in a specialized clinic. [16] X Research source

You will need a license for each state where you want to practice. You can find state-specific requirements here: https://www. fsmb. org/step-3/state-licensure/.

Average board exams can cost around $2,000 USD.

For example, you could earn an average of $350,000 USD a year if you’re a dermatologist or up to $550,000 USD if you’re a neurosurgeon. [22] X Research source