<p>Which med. schools would you consider applying to if you consider becoming a cardiologist? </p>
<p>I am currently a college student and thinking of pursuing a career in cardiology. Any advice will be appreciated. Thank you.</p>
<p>All of the medical schools in the US will prepare you for a cardiology residency. During medical school, you will learn about the different specialties within medicine (pediatrics, emergency, cardiology, surgery, etc.) Once you graduate medical school, then you enter a residency program (around 2 to 8 years) that trains you in the specialty that interest you (for you, that would be cardiology. Other people would go into a pediatrics residency, or a surgery, etc.)</p>
<p>Also, don't worry too much about specialization right now. I can't remember the exact percentage, but the vast majority of med students will enter medical school with one specialty in mind, and leave with a different specialty.</p>
<p>how long is the residency to become a cardiologist? </p>
<p>haha... I just want to estimate how old I would be by then because I want to have a family and have fun with life. I know I have to make major sacrifices if I really want to pursue a career in the medical field. Thank you.</p>
<p>This is copied from the American Heart Association journal (<a href="http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/109/7/813%5B/url%5D">http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/109/7/813</a>)
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Today, a medical graduate whose goal is to become a board-certified clinical cardiologist must complete a 3-year general internal medicine residency, pass the ABIM general internal medicine examination, complete a 3-year cardiology fellowship, and pass the ABIM cardiovascular examination. Cardiology subspecialty training in PCI or electrophysiology adds another year for a total of 15 years of post high school education and training.
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<p>Basically, after med school, you'll have to do a residency in internal medicine for 3 years, then a cardiology fellowship for another 3 years. If you want to pursue a subspecialty (like interventional cardiology) it'll take another year.</p>
<p>thank you very much</p>