Medicine

The professional education of an allopathic physician is obtained at a School of Medicine, where the curriculum typically takes four years to complete. Students graduate with a doctorate (MD) and then take a state licensure examination. Students then typically enter a residency program for three to eight years for graduate training in one of the medical specialties.

Each medical school has a set of prerequisites that must be completed (with letter grades) before admission to that school. For a complete list of medical schools and their prerequisites, consult the handbook:

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)

For information on the publication described above or other publications related to medical schools, meetings and conferences, government and legislature related to medical issues, and general information on medical education, contact AAMC - Association of American Medical Colleges

For information on the American Medical Student Association (AMSA), joining or starting a chapter, membership in and benefits of the AMSA, and other medical student issues, contact AMSA Homepage

For information on American Medical Association (AMA) membership, research highlights, and current legislative news, contact American Medical Association

For information about the application process, or to download an electronic application form, contact American Medical College Application Service(AMCAS)

For information about summer educational programs to help underrepresented groups gain admission to medical schools, contact Summer Medical Education Program

For information about the Postbacculaurate program at Southern Illinois University to assist educationally disadvantaged students to prepare for success in the medical profession, contact MEDPREP

The professional education of an osteopathic physician is obtained at a School of Osteopathic Medicine. The curriculum is often similar to that of the MD program, but you graduate as a Doctor in Osteopathic Medicine (DO), rather than an MD. Osteopathic medicine emphasizes the musculoskeletal system and a concern for the human patient as a complete entity. The profession emphasizes primary care.

For information on osteopathic colleges and their admission requirements, consult the handbook:

AACOM College Information Booklet
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
5550 Friendship Blvd., Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231
Phone 310-968-4100 Fax 310-968-4101
Price: $2.00

For information on the similarities and differences between MD and DO degrees, general information on the field of osteopathic medicine, and osteopathic education, contact American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

For information about applying to a college of osteopathic medicine, or to download an online application, contact American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service

Additional websites that may provide useful information about medicine include the following:

• Free Online Practice MCAT
• American Holistic Health Association
• American Association of Naturopathic Physicians
• National Rural Health Association
• Varsity Tutors