Medicine And Dental

Students who want to go to medical school typically must meet certain standards for prerequisite undergraduate coursework. These courses include, but are not limited to: biology, chemistry, physics, psychology and sociology. Medical school is very competitive and students should be aware that their grade point averages will be considered. Additionally, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores are also extremely important for the medical school application process. While this test says little about a student's overall character, it is still one of the most significant factors for admissions. Many medical students choose to enroll in a preparation course for the MCAT.

There are two types of medical school: allopathic and osteopathic. Students who earn an allopathic degree will receive an M.D., while students who earn an osteopathic degree will earn a D.O. Osteopathic medicine is dedicated to treating and healing the patient as a whole, rather than focusing on one system or body part. The difference between the two is that doctors of osteopathy use their hands to manipulate the body. Both M.D.s and D.O.s are doctors who can offer diagnoses and prescribe medication.

Students who choose to practice medicine can specialize in a number of areas, including: geriatric, primary care, women's health, pediatrics, family practice, drug and alcohol abuse, and rural medicine, among many others. However, students can also use their medical training to become researchers.

Dentistry programs can focus on a number of tracks, including pediatric and operative dentistry. While there is no "pre-dentistry" requirement, most dentistry programs do require a number of pre-requisite science courses, including chemistry, biology and anatomy and physiology. Therefore, most dentistry students have earned a bachelor's degree in science. Dental degrees generally require at least four years of study, and prior to practicing, dentistry students must successfully complete a licensing exam.