What are the challenges of medical school?

Medical school is often considered the most challenging form of higher education, requiring over a decade of intense study and difficult exams. Prospective students must first obtain a bachelor‘s degree and exceptional grades, then pass the notoriously complex Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). Once in medical school, students can expect to work 60-80 hours per week, with little free time. After graduating, they must pass a licensing exam before applying for a residency, which consists of three to seven years of intensive training. The combination of these factors makes medical school an extremely difficult path to becoming a doctor.