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
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.