Medical Laboratory Science applying to med school (2024)

Anybody else a medical laboratory science (AKA clinical laboratory science or medical technology) major? If so, how have you liked it as a pre-med major?

I've loved it! But, I feel a little lonely on SDN among all of these Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, etc. majors. Give a shout out if you're an MLS, CLS, or MT major.

clinicallabguy said:

Anybody else a medical laboratory science (AKA clinical laboratory science or medical technology) major? If so, how have you liked it as a pre-med major?

I've loved it! But, I feel a little lonely on SDN among all of these Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, etc. majors. Give a shout out if you're an MLS, CLS, or MT major.

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I'm an MLS major, too!!!!

I've only met 2 other people from my interviews who were MLS.

Are you currently working as a med tech or are you finishing up undergrad and going straight to med school?

I've never even heard of that as a major, but it sounds kinda cool. Then again, judging a book by its cover makes judging a major by its name look wise.

What exactly do y'all learn yaselves, eh?

biophysicianai said:

I've never even heard of that as a major, but it sounds kinda cool. Then again, judging a book by its cover makes judging a major by its name look wise.

What exactly do y'all learn yaselves, eh?

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the core classes (1st 2 years) for my major are very similar to those in a biology degree, but the 2nd 2 years are what made this major worth it for me.

here are some classes that i've taken:
-medical ethics
-hematology + lab
-immunohematology + lab
-medical biochemistry
-issues in healthcare
-clinical parasitology

i chose this major when i first started college because i wasn't really sure if i wanted to go to med school and become a physician, and working in a hospital lab seemed to be something that i would have liked to do.

**** son, that curriculum looks pretty cool!

God I'm a dork...

azuldelcielo said:

I'm an MLS major, too!!!!

I've only met 2 other people from my interviews who were MLS.

Are you currently working as a med tech or are you finishing up undergrad and going straight to med school?

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I'm currently working as a medical laboratory technician, and I'll graduate this May and take the ASCP medical technology registry. My program at my school is set up so you get your MLT after year two, and your MT after year four. I may only work for a month or two as an MT before moving for med school, but it's kind of a right of passage thing for me. I figure I might as well take the registry.

LastPolarBear said:

I really wanted to do med technology as a major and possible profession as well. I've heard it's in fairly high demand. The only drawback I see though is the low salary(about 30k?) and lack of opportunities to advance. Was I misinformed or is this generally the case?

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There is a really high demand. There is a really big shortage of medical laboratorians (like there is a shortage of everything medical). But, more so in the medical lab, b/c few people know what a med tech is or what they do (as opposed to a nurse or pharmacy tech, etc.). My program has a job placement of almost 100%.

Where I live, a F/T MLT (associate's level degree) starts just under 30K.
A F/T MT (bachelor level) makes closer to 40K.

You can only advance to a laboratory manager within the laboratory itself, but the head honcho administrator at the clinic where my laboratory is located did his undergrad in medical technology and then got his MBA. He says the clinical background has helped him excel as an administrator in the medical field during times when other administrators were let go. For me, I think it was a good background b/c I didn't know very much at all about health care when I started looking into medical school and becoming a doctor (about 4 years ago).

I am doing a CMS degree (clinical laboratory microbiologist), and its an internship at UCLA. In California, I believe ASCP certified CLS's make an average of 60-70k a year.

CLS starts at $31.00/hr here and I heard at Kaiser its about $35.00/hr.

The reason medical technologist is underrated is because the national average is about 40k a year.

I should be taking my board exam in September though. Good to see other CLS's here.

LastPolarBear said:

I really wanted to do med technology as a major and possible profession as well. I've heard it's in fairly high demand. The only drawback I see though is the low salary(about 30k?) and lack of opportunities to advance. Was I misinformed or is this generally the case?

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Hi there! I am a certified Clinical Lab Scientist (NCA) and Medical Technologist (ASCP). I am 24 and went to a year training program after my four-year univ. degree. I really enjoy working in a lab, although it can get a bit redundant. MT/CLS professionals generally make 40-50K/year. I am fortunate b/c I work at an awesome 700 bed hospital that does outpatient lab work as well as inpatient, is a teaching hospital, and a research laboratory. So I get paid at the upper end of the spectrum. It IS in high demand. We are always short-staffed and there are usually a couple positions floating around. There ARE plenty of opportunities to advance. It depends on your willingess to.

brianjg said:

I'm a CLS major too, and I too was fealing a little lonely. I think that being a CLS major is going to be a huge help, knowing what lab tests to order and what they mean going in should put us a little ahead (every little bit helps). Plus, it's good conversation at interviews.

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+1

Apexle said:

I am doing a CMS degree (clinical laboratory microbiologist), and its an internship at UCLA. In California, I believe ASCP certified CLS's make an average of 60-70k a year.

CLS starts at $31.00/hr here and I heard at Kaiser its about $35.00/hr.

The reason medical technologist is underrated is because the national average is about 40k a year.

I should be taking my board exam in September though. Good to see other CLS's here.

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Wow! 60 to 70 in CA? I have never heard of this. My friend just got licensed down in CA (it's separate from the nat'l licensing agencies) and there was no mention of getting paid that much! I guess the cost of living is much much higher in CA, but 60 grand? Sheesh. Why am I working in the Northwest? Oh right, skiing.