It is being called by some a cultural revolution, a huge shift in doctor specialties...

Students used to go into fields all about life-saving, but now many of the highest ranked med students are choosing fields that are about improving patient lifestyles.

In turn, those specialties like plastic surgery and dermatology tend to give the doctors a better lifestyle, as well.

Nicole McMahon is a third year med student at Duke University; she has good grades, works hard in the dermatology clinic, and is still afraid she won't get a residency in her chosen specialty.

Nicole is hoping to become a dermatologist, but competition is stiff. Dermatology receives over 80 applications each year.

That's right, 80 residency applications! Dermatology is that competitive. More than 40 percent of applicants don't get a residency match....

More and more, the best of the best are choosing fields like dermatology, plastic surgery and ear nose and throat specialties.

Most love the work, but they also love what it gives them outside of it.

Dermatologists can average just 40 hours of work a week... compared to 50 for internists.

And then there's the money, dermatologists can make hundreds of thousands more than internists... especially if they do some cosmetic procedures, which many patients pay for up front.

For students who can come out of school with up to a quarter million dollars in loans, not to mention the application and interview expenses for all of those residency programs

You can imagine the attraction. Med students say for them, it is a win-win... if they can win that all-important residency.