Studying medicine in the USA

From Grey's Anatomy and The Good Doctor to Dr House, some of the most popular American series are set in US hospitals and show the exciting lives of doctors and their interactions with their patients. It is no coincidence that these films are so popular, as many American high school students dream of enrolling at one of the medical universities in order to be able to practise curing and treating diseases in hospitals themselves at some point. But what does the career of a doctor in the USA look like and how does the American university system differ from the German one?

Prerequisites: USA vs. Germany

In principle, studying medicine in the USA differs from studying medicine in Germany right from the application phase. To study in the States Study medicine Unlike in Germany, you need to have already completed a Bachelor's degree programme. It does not matter in which subject the degree was obtained, be it in literature or biochemistry. However, most US applicants choose a natural sciences degree programme or the so-called pre-med degree programme, as these offer optimal preparation for the MCAT, Medical College Admission Test. The MCAT is a test that is part of the application process and lasts four hours in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics and verbal reasoning. It consists mainly of multiple-choice questions and may be repeated three times a year, but only seven times in total. The cost of the MCAT is around 300 to 370 US dollars and can be taken in the USA or abroad. Canada The application form can also be written in Germany, England or other countries to make it easier for foreign applicants to apply.

But how does the actual application process work?

The application process is not centralised as in Germany, but takes place at the respective university for which you are applying. A bachelor's degree and the result of the MCAT are required. As the number of competitors is extremely high, it is important to try to stand out from the others. This can be achieved through letters of motivation, awards or voluntary work. In the USA, even excellent performance in sport can help you get a place at university. Who in the USA Study medicine However, if you want to study medicine, you should not forget the high costs. A medical student pays around 25,000 to 45,000 US dollars per semester, which is the equivalent of around 23,000 to 41,000 euros. If you extrapolate this over the four years, a considerable six-figure sum accumulates, for which a student loan must be taken out in most cases. On average, these graduates in the USA need ten years to pay this off.

Once you've got started

If you are accepted to one of the many universities, you will have to complete a four-year medical degree programme that leads to the title of Medical Doctor (M.D.). In the first two years, the programme covers subjects such as anatomy, histology, microbiology, physiology, pharmacology and biochemistry to provide a good foundation and background for clinical knowledge. The first major examination, called USMLE Step 1 (short for "United States Medical Licensing Examination"), is usually taken after the second year and tests the basic subjects. Cardiologygastroenterology, endocrinology, psychiatry, neurology and pulmonary medicine are added in the following years and are examined and completed at the end of the fourth year with the "USMLE Step 2". Clinical rotations, i.e. teaching patients in hospital, also follow for students in their third and fourth years.

What happens after graduation?

Once the four years have been successfully completed, the "residency" or the specialist required to work as a registered doctor follows. Here, medical students can apply for specialities and find out on "Matchday" in which region and in which speciality they are allowed to start. Finally, the last major exam of the USMLE follows, Step 3, which is often completed in the so-called intern year, the training year. The path to becoming a doctor in the USA is a long and expensive one, but it offers a high-quality education that enables many students to fulfil a lifelong dream. So if you make it to one of the medical universities, you can expect a highly interesting degree programme with excellent career prospects!