Medical school facts for kids
A medical school is a special college or part of a university where students learn how to become doctors. It's where future doctors study medicine and earn a special degree that lets them practice as physicians. Some common degrees are the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), or Doctor of Medicine (MD).
Medical schools also do important medical research to discover new treatments and cures. Many of them have their own teaching hospitals where students can learn by helping real patients. Getting into medical school is often very competitive. Students usually need to take special tests and have good grades from their previous studies.
In many countries, you can start medical school right after high school. However, in places like the United States and Canada, you usually need to finish another university degree first. Medical degrees typically take five or more years to complete. Some schools teach basic science and clinical skills together from the start. Others divide the program into two main parts:
- Preclinical studies: Here, students learn about subjects like how the body works (physiology), what chemicals are in the body (biochemistry), how diseases affect the body (pathology), and how medicines work (pharmacology).
- Clinical rotations: This is when students work in hospitals. They learn about different areas of medicine like internal medicine, surgery, and caring for children (pediatrics).
Even after graduating, a doctor usually can't practice medicine right away. They need to get a license from the government. This often means passing more tests and doing several years of special training called a residency. Medical schools around the world are checked and approved by their country's authorities. They are also listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Contents
How to Become a Doctor
Becoming a doctor takes a lot of hard work and dedication. The path can be a bit different depending on where you live, but there are some common steps.
Getting into Medical School
Admission to medical school is usually very tough because many students want to become doctors, but there are limited spots.
- Good grades: You'll need excellent grades from your high school or previous university studies.
- Entrance exams: Many countries require you to take special entrance exams. These tests check your knowledge in subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics, and sometimes your general knowledge or thinking skills.
- Interviews: If you do well on exams, you might have an interview. This is where the school learns more about you, your communication skills, and why you want to be a doctor.
- Other experiences: Some schools also look for students who have volunteered in hospitals, done research, or shown leadership skills.
What You Study in Medical School
Medical school programs usually last between five and seven years.
- First few years: You'll spend time in classrooms and labs learning the basic sciences. This includes subjects like anatomy (the study of the body's structure), physiology (how the body works), and biochemistry (the chemistry of living things).
- Later years: You'll move on to clinical training. This means spending a lot of time in hospitals, working with real patients under the supervision of experienced doctors. You'll rotate through different departments like surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. This helps you learn how to diagnose and treat different illnesses.
After Medical School: Becoming a Licensed Doctor
Graduating from medical school is a huge achievement, but it's not the final step to becoming a fully licensed doctor.
- Internship/Housemanship: Most countries require new graduates to complete a period of supervised training in a hospital, often called an internship or house job. This usually lasts one to two years.
- Licensing exam: You'll need to pass a national exam to get your medical license. This license allows you to legally practice medicine.
- Residency training: If you want to specialize in a certain area (like becoming a heart doctor or a brain surgeon), you'll need to complete a residency program. These programs can last from three to seven years, depending on the specialty.
Medical Schools Around the World
Medical education varies quite a bit from one country to another. Here are a few examples:
Africa
Many medical schools have been established across Africa, especially since the 1970s.
- Ghana: Medical education usually takes 6 years. Students earn an MBChB degree and the title "Dr." After graduating, they complete a 2-year internship before becoming fully registered doctors.
- South Africa: Most schools follow a British-style system, admitting students directly from high school for 5 or 6-year programs. Graduates complete a 2-year internship and a year of community service before they can practice.
- Tanzania: Medical school lasts 5 years, leading to an MD degree. This is followed by a 12-month internship.
Asia and Oceania
- Australia: Historically, Australian medical schools awarded MBBS degrees. Now, many are changing to MD degrees, which are considered a master's level degree. Programs are often graduate-entry, meaning you need a bachelor's degree first.
- India: Admission is highly competitive, based on a national entrance exam called NEET. The undergraduate program is 5.5 years, including a 1-year internship. Graduates earn an MBBS degree.
- Japan: Medical schools are part of universities and usually last 6 years. Students learn basic sciences, then clinical medicine, and train in university hospitals. They take a national exam to become licensed physicians.
- New Zealand: Programs are 6 years long. The first year covers basic sciences, followed by studies of body systems and diseases. The final year is a "Trainee Intern" year, where students have more responsibility for patient care under supervision.
Europe
- Germany: Admission is very competitive. The program is at least 6 years long, including pre-clinical studies, clinical training, and a "practical year" in hospitals. Graduates receive a license to practice medicine.
- Italy: Medical school lasts 6 years. The first three years focus on "biological" subjects, and the later years on "clinical" subjects. Students discuss a final thesis to earn their "Dottore Magistrale" degree, similar to an MD.
- United Kingdom: Medical degrees usually take 5 or 6 years, leading to an MBChB or MBBS. After graduating, doctors enter a 2-year "foundation programme" to gain full registration and then apply for specialist training.
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North America
- Canada: Most medical schools offer a 3 or 4-year Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Students usually start after getting a bachelor's degree. They take the MCAT exam and go through interviews. After medical school, they complete a residency program.
- United States: There are two main types of medical degrees: Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Both take 4 years after a bachelor's degree. The first two years are mostly classroom learning, and the last two are clinical rotations in hospitals. After graduation, doctors complete a residency training program.
Latin America
- Argentina: Medical programs are typically 6 years long, including basic sciences, clinical sciences, and an internship. Public universities are tuition-free. After graduating, doctors get a medical practitioner's ID.
- Brazil: Programs are 6 years long, divided into basic, clinical, and internship cycles. Graduates earn the title of "Physician." To specialize, doctors take another competitive exam for residency programs.
- Mexico: Medical education usually lasts 6 years, including an internship and social service. Students often start right after high school.
Medical Students
A medical student is someone who has been accepted into a medical school and is studying to become a doctor. They are learning all the skills and knowledge needed to care for patients and help people stay healthy.
See also
In Spanish: Facultad de medicina para niños
- List of medical schools
- List of university hospitals
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
