In almost all countries students can enter medical, dental, pharmacy, law schools after high school education but not in USA & Canada. Probably the reason to this is to avoid most of the bright students prefer to enter directly to these branches just due to their relatively higher average incomes. So let them see other branches also and if they can excel let them go to their path rather than medical, dental, pharmacy, law schools since every branch needs best students. It is relatively difficult to enter medical, dental, pharmacy, law schools with very competetive entrance examinations such as MCAT, DCAT, LCAT and other credentials whereas most of them fail due to lack of places in these schools. Other than these, after admission to these schools courseworks also require much more effort since they are directly involved with the well being of each individual person by the service these professionals. Since I entered in most popular medical school in my country after high school I rather prefer to enter medicine after secondary school.
This a great question! US and Canada have their own educational philosophy. This question can not be answered with one or two arguments. Only if somebody visits high prestige medical, law etc schools in the New Land and witness how they really work, they will understand why they don’t get in these schools directly after high school.
I may specifically touch on the medical school in Malaysia. It took almost 5 years for medical students to complete their studies. Through my observation, the medical curriculum here is quite elaborated to ensure quality of medical professionals. Prior to graduation, they need to "pass" the mandatory housemanship with flying colour and good recommendation. Well, that's what they always maintained.
What will be the "pro and contra"...? Some of the positive part: perfect competency, hands-on experience (housemanship), basic surgical knowledge, develop professionalism, self-confidence... The negative parts: long waiting time, demoralization, high operational study cost, lagging behind other professionals who started early, frustration.. Thanks.
Students in the United States would not have the academic foundation or maturity to enter what we call professional programs. Certainly, I think entering professions later in life would lead to retention in the profession, but that is based on what we know about career development in the U.S.
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