Medicine

Nature of the Work

Physicians are dedicated to serving the health care needs of society through diagnosing and treating illness, injury and disease. Specializations are available in fields as diverse as anesthesiology, dermatology, family practice, internal medi- cine, obstetrics/gynecology, oncology, pathology, pediatrics, psychiatry, radiology, surgery, and urology. About one third of physicians in the U.S. work in primary care, acting as the first health professional consultants. Most primary care physicians (traditionally defined as family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics/gynecology, and psychiatry) provide comprehensive health care to patients and families and tend to see the same patients over a long period of time. When necessary, primary care physicians refer patients to other specialists and surgeons for further expertise. Most physicians work in small offices, clinics or in group medical practices where they see patients. Physicians often work long, irregular hours, and rotate shifts for emergency calls. Travel between the office and hospital to care for patients is common.

Pre-Medical Preparation and GPAs

Due to the competitive nature of the medical school application 
process and rigorous training required, students should carefully consider their motivation and preparation for a career in medicine. In 2021, a total of 62,443 applicants applied to at least one medical school and 23,711 students were offered admissions to at least one school (a 38% acceptance rate.)  Research data shows that the average GPA for medical school matriculants in the United States in 2022 were as follows: Overall GPA: 3.74. BCPM GPA: 3.67 (biology, chemistry, physics, and math). Non-Science GPA: 3.83.  Students can take all of their pre-med preparation courses from a community college, but it would be wise to take some of the science courses at a university. This is particularly true for those students who choose to earn a bachelor’s degree in humanities or social science.

Pre-Med Courses at PCC

Subject Course Number
Biology 010A, 010B, 010C
Chemistry 001A, 001B, 008A, 008B
Physics  031A, 031B or (008A, 008B, 008C) or (002A, 002B*)
Math requirements vary from school to school
Psychology 001
Sociology 001

Note:
Physics 031A & 031B is preferred by most medical schools. Students who choose to have majors other than biological sciences or chemistry may take Physics 002A & 002B in preparation for medical schools. Students who major in engineering should complete Physics 008A, 008B, 008C.

Many U.S. medical schools do not accept AP units and all required courses must be taken for a letter grade. If courses are repeated, both grades will be calculated. Some medical schools require a biochemistry course at the upper division level. The above lists of classes are requirements to most medical schools. For more specific requirements, students should check with individual medical schools.

Major

Any major is appropriate for medical school preparation. While science majors such as biology and chemistry require many of the same basic prerequisites, selecting a science major is not required for admission to any medical school.

Students are advised to select a major they find interesting, can do well in, and can earn a high GPA. The major should be a field of study that they can use even if they do not progress to a medical school. A little over fifty percent of applicants to medical schools are biology majors. For those who choose to major in an area of study other than science, students will need to demonstrate a strong science capability by taking the required sciences courses and even going beyond the minimum requirements. Doing so may take longer to graduate.

Acceptance to Medical School By Undergraduate Majors

Major Applicants Matriculants Percentage
Biological Sciences 31,500 12,865 41%
Humanities 1,775 897 51%
Physical Sciences 4,636 2,151 46%
Social Sciences 5,100 2,058 40%
Health Sciences 2,422 930 38%
Math and Stats 381 17 45%
Other majors 9,334 3,639 39%
All Majors 55,188 22,712 41%

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is a standardized exam required by all medical schools. The MCAT exam consists of four test sections:

  • Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
  • Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (CARS)

It tests your understanding of the below topics and subjects:

  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • General chemistry
  • Organic chemistry
  • Physics
  • First semester biology
  • Introductory biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Basic research methods and statistics
  • Ethics, philosophy, and cultural studies
  • Population health, social sciences, and humanities


Breakdown of the MCAT Questions

  • The test consists of 230 questions broken down as follows:
    • 15 Physics questions
    • 30 Biochemistry questions
    • 45 Biology questions
    • 53 CARS questions
    • 20 General Chemistry questions
    • 11 Organic Chemistry questions
    • 38 Psychology questions
    • 18 Sociology questions
  • In addition to the science subjects on the MCAT, the MCAT will also be testing you on four scientific inquiry and reasoning skills:
    • Knowledge of Scientific Concepts and Principles
    • Scientific Reasoning and Problem Solving
    • Reasoning About the Design and Execution of Research
    • Data-Based and Statistical Reasoning
  • Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems section will have 59 questions broken down as follows:
    • 25% Basic Biochemistry
    • 5% Introductory Biology
    • 30% General Chemistry
    • 15% Organic Chemistry
    • 25% Introductory Physics

Get started preparing for the MCAT here.

Medical Education (Medical School)

There are 155 medical schools in the United States that award the degree of Medical Doctor (M.D.). There are 38 osteopathic medical programs in the U.S that award the Doctor of Osteopathic degree (D.O.). Medical school usually requires four academic years. Typically, the first two years include classroom instruction in the basic sciences. The following two years involve a series of clinical rotations throughout inpatient and outpatient settings where students work with patients under the supervision of attending physicians. Some medical schools structure the basic science instruction and rotations using different models. During the last year of medical school, students make decisions about medical specialty and apply for internship or residency programs in their desired area of expertise.

It is also important for a student to know that there are different types of medical schools in the United States. There are allopathic medical schools, osteopathic medical schools, podiatric medical schools, and naturopathic medical schools. The differences between the two most common types of medical schools are as follows:

  • Allopathic Medical Schools

This is the most common type of medical training. A graduate of an allopathic medical school will receive a M.D. (Doctor of Medicine degree). Allopathic medicine refers broadly to medical practice that is also termed western medicine, evidence-based medicine, or modern medicine. More information about allopathic medical schools can be found at the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Note: Allopathic medical schools in California can be found on the chart below.

  • Osteopathic Medical School

These schools prepare students to become physicians; however, their graduates receive a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy degree). Osteopathic medicine was founded on the basis of a holistic approach to health care and a belief that the human body has an innate ability to heal itself. D.O.s are trained in manipulation techniques that restore proper body structure and function so that self-healing can take place. More information about osteopathic schools can be found at American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. Osteopathic medical schools in California include: California Health Sciences University, Touro University, and Western University.

Graduates of allopathic and osteopathic medical schools are eligible for all advanced specialization or residency training programs. Please see the list below for some of the specialties available for medical school graduates. Included in this list is information about average incomes. Information on Pre-Medical Preparation and GPAs Applicant, Matriculant, and Enrollment Data Tables can be found here.

13 California Medical Schools Statistics

  • The average tuition & fees (2022-2023) of 13 California medical schools are:
    • State Residents - $51,288
    • Out-of-State Students - $59,720
  • The average GPA of the schools is: 3.76
  • The average MCAT score is: 514
  • The average acceptance rate is: 1.81%


Comparisons:

Medical Schools

School Tuition & Fees Accept Rate Average GPA Average MCAT Total Enrollment
California Northstate University College of Medicine $68,141 1.85% 3.60 511 409
California University of Science and Medicine $66,000 2.05% 3.66 513 420
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science $67,972 NA NA NA NA
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA $40,585 1.22% 3.85 517 846
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine $56,361 0.43% 3.78 516 100
Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California $68, 487 1.95% 3.70 517 804
Loma Linda University School of Medicine $66,226 2.56% 3.82 510 753
Stanford University School of Medicine $63,747 0.79% 3.89 519 496
UCSF School of Medicine $45,131 1.79% 3.80 517 831
University of California, Davis School of Medicine $42,648 1.36% 3.70 511 536
University of California, Irvine School of Medicine $37,939 1.39% 3.78 515 485
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine $38,695 1.27% 3.72 510 329
University of California, San Diego School of Medicine $40,955 1.48% 3.77 516 620

Residency and Fellowship Training

Following medical school, graduates may begin a residency, which is a paid on-the-job training in a specialty. The training required varies from three to seven years depending on the specialty selected. Family Practice requires three years. Training in dermatology requires four years. Surgical specialties require five years. Most specialties also offer advanced training which require an additional one to three years of fellowship following residency.

Earnings and Occupational Outlook

Earnings vary according to number of years in practice, type of practice, geographical location, and specialty. With changes in the healthcare system, there are fewer solo practices and more physicians joining medical groups or networks. The Occupational Outlook Handbook reports that employment of physicians and surgeons will grow faster than average for all occupations due to continued expansion of the healthcare industries and an aging population. The greatest projected need is for physicians who will work in the field of primary care.

Average Doctor Annual Compensation by Specialty (ranked by average income)

Specialties Average Income
Plastic Surgery $576,000
Orthopedics $557,000
Cardiology $490,000
Otolaryngology $469,000
Urology $461,000
Gastroenterology $453,000
Dermatology $438,000
Radiology $437,000
Ophthalmology $417,000
Oncology  $411,000
Anesthesiology $405,000
Surgery (General) $402,000
Emergency Medicine $373,000
Critical Care    $369,000
Pulmonary Medicine $353,000
Ob/Gyn  $336,000
Pathology $334,000
Nephrology $329,000
Physical Medicine and Rehab  $322,000
Neurology $301,000
Allergy and Immunology $298,000
Rheumatology $289,000
Psychiatry $287,000
Internal Medicine $264,000
Infectious Diseases $260,000
Diabetes and Endocrinology $257,000
Family Medicine $255,000
Pediatrics $244,000
Public Health & Preventative Med $243,000

Note: This information is taken from the MedScape Physician Compensation Report

Other Factors Considered for Successful Application to Medical Schools

Clinical experience is strongly recommended for admission to most medical schools. This can include a paid or volunteer position in a doctor’s office, local clinic, or a hospital. Most hospitals and clinics gladly accept volunteers.

Research experience is increasingly important. Options include volunteering in a lab or for a professor, getting a job as a lab assistant at a local university, hospital or pharmaceutical company, or participating in a summer biomedical research program.

Community service experience is highly valued by medical schools. Future doctors should be able to demonstrate compassion and a willingness to give back to their communities.

Work experience can also be valuable in demonstrating your potential to succeed in medical school. Past success in a work environment can reveal meaningful information to admissions committees. Depending on the setting, work experience can develop and showcase a variety of skills including communication (oral and/or written), time management, and problem solving.

Letters of recommendation are required for application to medical school. The typical letter packet consists of three to five letters, two from science professors, one from a non-science professor, and one, or more, from supervisors of relevant work, research, or clinical activities. Students are encouraged to create and maintain positive contacts with prospective recommenders early in their academic career. An applicant may need to collect about 15 letters of recommendations in order to get five “decent” letters.

  • It is recommended that students apply to between 10-15 schools to receive interviews at five, and possible acceptance to one.
  • You should plan to pay for multiple application fees, photocopying, certified mail, etc.
  • MCAT prep courses and MCAT fees (may need to take more than one time)
  • New suit/clothing for interviews
  • Airfare to interview sites and hotel charges
  • Subscription of “Medical School Admission requirements (MSAR)”

The AAMC Fee Assistance Program (FAP) assists those who, without financial assistance, would be unable to take the Medical College Admission Test® (MCAT®), apply to medical schools that use the American Medical College Application Service® (AMCAS®), and more.

Helpful websites for pre-med students: