MD-J.D Programs – Getting a Law Degree while in Med School
Getting a law degree while in med school can sound daunting, and somewhat terrifying to someone who is already nervous but ready to become a doctor. The common questions would be: How many years will you spend studying? How much student loans will be waiting after graduation? In spite of all these, there are those who are willing to accomplish what seemed to be a rigorous task, with many law schools offering the MD-JD double-degree program. Schools that offer dual-degree programs are:
- Duke University School of Medicine
- Yale University School of Medicine
- Baylor College of Medicine
- University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine
- University of Arkansas Medical College
- University of Pennsylvania Medical School
What it takes for an MD-JD dual degree
Finishing law school normally requires three years, but a combined pursuit of law and medicine takes about six years. In Duke University’s MD-JD program, students study the basic medical sciences in their first year and, during their second year, basic clinical disciplines. Two years later, they can enroll at the law school and take the basic first year courses. They finish 72 credits in law and then move back to medicine for elective clinical work.
In the Baylor College of Medicine, applicants must submit application requirements to both schools and take the LSAT and MCAT. It also takes around six years and follows a similar time line as Duke University.
The average MCAT score among accepted applicants is 32, and the average GPA is between 3.5 and 3.7. The median LSAT score of accepted students is around 170. Not all universities require a GRE score but preferred verbal scores in the exam are about 600, 625 for quantitative, and then 645 for analytical.
If you feel confident of your academic undergraduate record and achievements and have plans of pursuing a career that combines medicine and law (i.e., positions in law enforcement), then getting an MD-JD degree will open doors. If you feel overwhelmed by the tuition, look into scholarship options at the universities you are planning to apply to. You should also consider how the six years spent on achieving both degrees will affect the rest of your life.
Photo Credits: Spirit-Fire
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