H igher Medical Education in the usa

Higher medical education in the USA has its own peculiarities. Today, the future doctor must study successfully from eight to thirteen or more years before his practice. First, he must spend three to four years of premedical training at a university. Here he learns the basic sciences. Only top level students in premedical studies can become candidates for medical school. The medical curriculum is arduous and the cost of studies is very expensive amounting to one thousand dollars each year. During the first two years the student must master the clinical sciences. They study anesthesiology, dermatology, endocrinology, legal medicine, neurology, obstetrics, gynecology, radiology, surgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology, otolaryngology, preventive medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, proctology, and urology. During this time the students spend a considerable time in a hospital acquainting themselves with many basic procedures and common disorders. Every medical school has a considerable number of different departments, each of which teaches one subject. After graduation from medical school, the student has the title of Doctor of Medicine. Then he has a year or two of internship in a hospital. During this period, the intern usually lives at the hospital and receives pay.

While caring for the hospital’s patients, he should develop more skills and knowledge. After internship is completed, the intern passes examination. After that he is allowed to practice medicine in the state. The new physician may continue his studies in his chosen specialty during 3 to 5 years under the guidance of capable and experienced person. On completion of his training he may take an examination, thus he improves his skill in the chosen field. Postgraduate medical courses are offered by medical schools and hospitals to physicians, who want to improve their qualification. The doctor is always a student and is always improving his knowledge.

Admission

All applicants to medical schools are required to take the Medical College Admission Test. The MCAT examines understanding of the basic concepts in Biology, Chemistry and Physics as well as verbal reasoning skills and it includes two writing samples.

The test should be taken 18 months before to the intended date of enrollment. The deadlines for registration at overseas centers are two months in advance. The medical school's admissions committee will consider the following factors when deciding whether or not to admit a student to their medical program: undergraduate academic record, scores on the MCAT, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, personal qualities and commitment to medicine.

Expenses

Annual tuition and fees at public medical schools in 2013-2014 averaged $19,961 for state residents and $38,865 for non-residents. At private schools, tuition and fees averaged $36,271 for residents and $37,872 for non-residents. These figures do not include housing or living expenses.

Foreign students seeking admission must be prepared to cover the entire cost of their medical training.

Task 7. Explain the meaning of the words and word combinations as you understand them.

• Premedical training;

• the laboratory sciences;

• undergraduate study;

• the opportunity;

• to complete;

• sequence of subjects;

• the curriculum;

• annual tuition.

Task 8. Enjoy some bits of humor and offer your comment.

• With tears in his eyes, the little boy told his kindergarten teacher that only one pair of boots was left in the classroom and they weren’t his. The teacher searched and searched, but she couldn’t find any other boots.

"Are you sure these boots aren’t yours?" she asked.

"I’m sure", the little boy sobbed, "Mine had snow on them."

• Teacher: What is Alma Mater?

Student: She was an opera singer.

• "A telegram from George, dear."

"Well, did he pass the examination this time?"

"No, but he is almost at the top of the list of those who failed."

Task 9. Summarize all the information you have learnt and make up a short description about the educational system of the USA.