Enola Quijas1

Imagine having half the population of the United States sick and only
one fourth of the
population are doctors, this is the
scenario we,
americans will be in because the
graduating rate of
doctors keeps
decreasing every
year and the
general population
keeps increasing.
In the medical field
there are many
majors, degrees,
specialties and
many opportunities.
The hardest
challenge for an
individual going into
this field is passing
medical school.
The main Issue of
Medical school is
that the educational
system is lowering
the graduation rate
of doctors. The education is not low, but the pressure of grades and
high GPA are causing students to drop out. Its been pressured since
high school that grades are what are most important, but in medical
school its that that the students need to know facts, and memorize a
lot. If the students don't know what they are learning then how can
they save a live. What should be also taught other than all these
medical facts is that, its that medicine is dedication. It may seem hard
at that moment, but if they put their mind to it rather than stressing
about there GPA, they will learn. Without even realizing it there grades
and GPA will both increase because of there focus being on learning,
rather than stress. Just in the U.S only the average rate of 18,705
graduate with a Ph.D out of 324,118,787.

Enola Quijas2

There are three key points that students sacrifice to accomplish this
degree. If students don't make it within the first year of a medical
school its because the cost, the expectation, and the amount of years.
The first year is said to be the hardest because it is so much all at
once. Student say that medicine is a new language, so learning that
plus the pressure is one of the main factors of dropping out. The cost of
an average medical school goes from 200.000 -400,000. The majority
of all students take out loans, basically a life time to pay off all those
debts. The U.S is said to be ran by the middle class, whom are not to
poor nor not too rich. Most middle class want to become doctors, but
with the prices of medical school, it frightens many. Medical school
costs should be explained and shown that it will be worth it. Slowly but
surely these loans will disappear and it will be a future of healing and
making the world a better place.
The expectation just to get into medical school is extremely high and
extremely competitive. The student must have straight As and only
one B in all sciences class to be accepted in an top elite medical
school. Their GPA in general should be 3.7 or higher & their science
GPA just be a 3.8 or higher. Depending on the major the student
chooses, they must have all their required classes done and must have
the certification test done with a higher score of a 66.7 . After
completing all of those requirements the student must go to school for
another 8 years, and go from a university to a bigger medical school,
with a higher responsibility, higher cost and a higher expectation to
become the doctor they want to become. It may seem like an eternity
later but the time to actually become a doctor is about 10-12 years.
These 10 to 12 years will pass by quickly and the knowledge and
matureness gained will be worth it. Through those years the students
complete their basics , medical school, their residency and finally the
doctor the student has worked so hard for.
These three key problems out of many are affecting the graduating
rate to decrease in the U.S. There are possible solutions, but it just
takes a matter of students to change it. There could be petitions,
conference meetings with the head of education department,
spreading the word of decreasing graduates of medicine with these
resources that I have provided it has spread the word and has caused
awareness . Everyday the human population increases, and every day
people get sick. Diseases occur all over the world and what is most
frightening is that new diseases appear. New diseases are being
discovered and the need for doctors is increasing for more solutions,

Enola Quijas3

more cures because unfortunately medicine is falling behind and family

and individuals are suffering and living with that doubt that there will
be no cure. Its better for the students to speak up and make a change.
If this situation stays quiet than in the next 10 to 15 years there is
going to be a scarcity of doctors. The medical field is meant to be
difficult, because not just anyone can deal with the pressure, the cost,
dedication, and competition. But in the long run all of these hard ships
are worth it because its saving lives and in a way the world. 10 to 12
years is worth it when a student can save a person that can make a
discovery, extending a persons life more than those 10 to 12 years.
The odds of a successful student are 3 out of 10 when i should at least
be a 7 out of 10. No body knows what the future holds, but it should
hold somebody future.

Enola Quijas4

References

Bernstein, L. (2015, March 3). U.S. faces 90,000 doctor shortage by 2025, medical
school association warns. Retrieved from
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2015/03/03/u-s-faces90000-doctor-shortage-by-2025-medical-school-association-warns/
Chen, P. W. (2011, July 28). The Hidden Costs of Medical Student Debt. Retrieved from
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/the-hidden-costs-of-medical-studentdebt/?_r=0
Church, M., Berg, K., & Robinson, A. (2006, September 20). Advising Students
Interested in Medical School: What is the Best Approach? Retrieved from
https://dus.psu.edu/mentor/old/articles/060920mc.htm
Kaiser Family Foundation, H. J. (2016). Total Number of Medical School Graduates.
Retrieved from http://kff.org/other/state-indicator/total-medical-school-graduates/

Enola Quijas5