Education · 1 of 5

The path

Thirteen years from high school, and every stage is competitive.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Top grades in biology, chemistry and math. Medicine in this country is a numbers game long before it is a caring one, and your college admission is the first gate.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, with the science prerequisites finished and a high GPA. Sit the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test), taken by about 95,000 people a year.

3. 3

   Medical school

   4 years

   Two years of science and two of clinical rotations, ending in an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine). There are 174 medical schools in the country.

4. 4

   Internal medicine residency

   3 years

   Paid hospital training in adult medicine. You are matched to a program by a national algorithm rather than hired one by one.

5. 5

   Rheumatology fellowship

   2 years

   Two years learning autoimmune disease, joint examination, ultrasound and the drugs that suppress the immune system. Then the specialty board exam.