So You're Interested in Medicine? IS

Career/Transfer Center

So You’re Interested in Medicine?

Modern medicine generally refers to clinical practice: the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease by a physician.

That physician may be an allopathic physician (M.D.) or an osteopathic physician (D.O.). There are three broad categories

of physicians: primary care, surgeons, and specialists. Beyond the clinical practice of medicine, there are also physician

researchers to study topics related to the science and technology of health care.

Quick Facts

Sample Job Titles

Median Wages* (2019-2020)**

Required Education

 Family/General Practitioner

 Surgeon

 Dermatologist

 Neurologist

 Anesthesiologist

In CA: $195,000+

In Los Angeles Area: $152,000+

*Median wages in the medical field differ

significantly based on specialization and

geographic area of practice.

**For current wages, visit

CareerOneStop.org/salary

Doctorate Degree:

 Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)

 Doctor of Osteopathic

Medicine (D.O.)

The Path to Medicine

Completeing a medical degree (M.D. or D.O.) usually takes four years to complete. Two years are dedicated to

basic sciences and two years to clinical rotations. In the United States, there are 152 M.D. granting schools

and 34 D.O. granting schools. After graduate school, you complete your residency which can last anywhere

from three to seven years for sufficicent clinical training. Becoming a doctor requires a serious educational and

financial commitment.

Choosing an Undergraduate Major

As with most medical fields, there is no required undergraduate major to apply to a Doctor of Medicine program.

Additionally, “Pre-Medicine” is not a common undergraduate major. You should give careful consideration to your choice

of major and select an area of study that interests you. To apply to graduate school, you will need to complete certain

prerequisite courses in science and math. Therefore, common undergraduate majors for students interested in medicine

include:

 Biology, microbiology, molecular biology, genetics, or biochemistry

 Math, physics, or chemistry

How to Prepare for Medicine

As an undergraduate pursuing your bachelor’s degree, there are several things you

can do to prepare for graduate school. You can begin now as a Citrus College student!

 Complete the prerequisite coursework for the M.D./D.O. programs you are interested in. We’ve included a

sample of common prerequisites on the next page of this handout. Prerequisites vary, so be sure to research

schools and determine their requirements.

 Maintain a high GPA.

 Clinical experience is not always required, but medical schools prefer students with relevant experience. This

demonstrates an applicant’s knowledge and commitment to the field. Seek out volunteer and/or work experience

in settings that involve close contact with patients, physicians, and other health professionals.

 For students interested in becoming a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, you need to gain an understanding of the

Osteopathic philosophy. Many programs required a letter of recommendation specifically from an Osteopathic

Physician. You can find Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine through www.ospsc.org.

 Join a pre-med club, or start one if it doesn’t already exist at your college!

 Connect with faculty and professionals. Remember that most programs will require multiple letters of

recommendation.

 Study for the standardized test(s) required for the programs you will be applying to.

HOLLAND

INTEREST CODE

Career/Transfer Center | Student Services Building, Second Floor | 626.914.8639 | www.citruscollege.edu/stdntsrv/ctcenter

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Visit CandidCareer to

learn more about this

occupation from the

perspective of current

physicians!

bit.ly/CandidPhysicians

Sample Prerequisite Courses

In general, all prerequisite courses should be taken for a letter grade. Some campuses may have policies regarding

whether their requirements can be met through lower-division or upper-division coursework (Citrus College does not offer

upper-division classes; these are courses that must be taken at a university).

Common Prerequisites

Citrus College Courses

One year of English

ENGL 101 & 103 or 104

One year of Biology

BIOL 124 & 125

One year of General Chemistry

CHEM 111 & 112

One year of Organic Chemistry

CHEM 210/211 & 220/221

One year of Physics

PHYS 201 & 202 or 203*

*Some campuses may accept PHYS 111 & 112. Refer to

program specific websites for more information.

One year of Math

MATH 190 or 191

IMPORTANT: This list is meant to be used as an informational guide. All students must refer to the individual

campuses/programs for specific information on prerequisite requirements.

Medical School Application Process

 Apply to multiple M.D. programs using the American Medical College Application System (AMCAS) or D.O.

programs through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application System

(AACOMAS).

 Most schools require students to take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). The new MCAT (introduced in

2015) is organized around testing students on their ability to problem solve, based on 10 foundational

competencies and core content from the natural, behavioral and social sciences, and apply critical analysis and

reasoning skills.

Resources

Professional Organizations

 Association of American Medical Colleges (aspiringdocs.org & aamc.org)

 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (aacom.org)

Podcasts

 AMA Doc Talk (ama-assn.org/podcasts)

 Making the Rounds (ama-assn.org/podcasts)

 Moving Medicine (ama-assn.org/podcasts)

Related Occupations

Not sure if getting a doctoral degree in medicine is the right fit for you? Here are some related careers with different

educational requirements. For more information on these careers or others, visit ONetOnline.org.

Job Title

Median Wages

Required Education

Holland

Interest Code

Physician Assistant

In CA: $118,500

Master’s Degree

SIR

Nurse Practitioner

In CA: $126,890

Master’s Degree

SIR

Registered Nurse

In CA: $104,410

Associate’s Degree

SIC

Medical Assistant

In CA: $36,080

Certificate

SCR