Around 47% of medical school students expect to graduate with more than $200,000 in school debt, according to Medscape's "'Either You Study or Sleep': Medscape Medical School Experience Report 2024," published Oct. 23.
Here are 12 additional things to know about the report:
1. Around 22% of students graduate with more than $300,000 in debt, while 18% graduate with no debt.
2. A large majority of medical students, 76%, would recommend applying to the school they attend.
3. An additional 76% of medical students find their school experience very or somewhat satisfying.
4. Over half of students, 69%, felt as though medical school prepared them for the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam.
5. The majority of medical students are very (25%) or somewhat (48%) satisfied with their instructor relationships.
6. Less than half of students never (12%) or rarely (30%) doubt their ability to be a competent physician.
7. Over half of medical students (56%) feel somewhat prepared for residency, while 17% feel very prepared.
8. The majority of students (83%) feel at least somewhat confident that match day will be successful for them.
9. The biggest drawback students face with medical school is the struggle to maintain a work-life balance (54%).
10. Future earnings are either somewhat (55%) or very (23%) important to students when picking a medical specialty.
11. The largest driver for students attending medical school is being able to help those in need (84%).
12. A majority of medical students (86%) believe that schooling is somewhat or very important in addressing health inequities.