MEDICAL SCHOOL Four years of fun!

• Year one: Very similar to undergraduate experience, but significantly faster pace and much more study time is required.
• Typical coursework in year one: Biochemistry, Anatomy, Histology, Neuroscience, Behavioral Science…you will receive grades based on exam performance, both written (multiple choice) and laboratory practicals.
• Classes run from about 8 am until 3 or 5 pm; we studied about 4-5 hours per weeknight and often did "marathon" study sessions during the weekends (6-12 hours per weekend day).
• You may also start to gain clinical experience, depending on your medical school's set-up.
• You typically do receive a full three-month summer break between first and second year. It is wise to use about half of this time doing something "relevant" (i.e., research, clinical internship, etc.), so that you can build up your resume for residency applications after the 3rd year. However, we also HIGHLY recommend doing something fun for a good portion of the summer, because things really start getting hectic next summer!

• Year Two: Again, similar to undergraduate experience.
• Typical coursework in year two: Microbiology, Immunology, Pathology, Pharmacology, Physiology

Summer between second and third year of medical school - STEP ONE of the BOARDS (USMLE)

• Year Three: This year starts in mid summer (i.e., July) and marks the beginning of your clinical experiences. Usually, your third year of medical school is spent rotating through the "major" medical disciplines: Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Obstetrics/Gynecology, and Psychiatry and/or Neurology. Rotation length can range anywhere from six to twelve weeks. There are two components to your grade during your rotations: 1) your clinical evaluations from resident and attending physicians and 2) your performance on a "mini-board", or an hour-long standardized exam specific to the rotation just completed.

  Note: Some students are quite certain of the field of medicine they wish to practice. Most medical schools will allow you to "defer" a required rotation until fourth year so that you can explore your interests in your third year.

• Also…most medical schools will allow you to do one of your required rotations in a different location. This is a nice option if you are convinced you want to do your residency at one particular hospital; this option allows you to see what life is like at your supposed "dream" place.

Summer between third and fourth year… there is no summer break! (Sorry) You usually get a week or two of vacation and then fourth year begins in July, much like third year. The time between third and fourth year is the time to start planning 1) what residency you want to enter after graduation and 2) where you want to apply.

• Year Four: This is a year designed to give you opportunities to really explore your intended area of practice. Often, there is only one required rotation, like Neurology. Early in fourth year, students tend to participate in rotations appropriate for their interests. Ideally, a student will have at least one month of "acting intern" experience early in fourth year; this month allows a 4th year student to take on responsibilities similar to those carried by a 1st year resident.

  NOTE: You will begin the application process for residency early in your fourth year! It is a process similar to the medical school admissions process, with an online application, required letters of recommendation, and close attention paid to your medical school performance and board scores.

• You will take Step 2 of the Boards relatively early in fourth year! (i.e., by mid-fall)
• You will find out where you "matched" for residency in mid-late March.
• Graduation from medical school typically occurs in early June; residency programs begin just a few weeks later (by July 1st).

Typical lengths of residencies (these are not all definite)

• Pediatrics - 3 years
• Family Medicine - 3 years
• Internal Medicine - 3 years
• OB/GYN - 4 years
• Psychiatry - 4 years
• General Surgery - 5 years
• Orthopedic Surgery - 6 years
• Radiology - 4 years
• Vascular or Trauma Surgery - 5 year General Surgery Residency PLUS an additional fellowship for several years
• Neurology - 4 years
• Cardiology - 3 year medicine residency PLUS a fellowship for several years
• Dermatology - 3 year medicine residency PLUS a fellowship for several years
• Pathology - 4 years
• Radiology - 4 years