Advanced education has to be weighed against the real world experience you might gain during the same amount of time. While a Master's degree is a luxury in most fields, in the legal and medical professions it's required. Specialized industries demand specific education. The same goes for the admissions process to those schools. Lawyer wannabes will need to ace the LSAT, while those looking to play doctor must tackle the MCAT before going anywhere.
Law students can expect to give up three years of their time, if attending school full time.
For more information, hopeful medical students should check out the Association of American Medical Colleges at aamc.org. For the budding attorneys out there, check out the Law School Admission Council at lsat.org. Almost every school will require some type of standardized test results before accepting you. Each Subject Test is designed to evaluate students in the area they plan to study. Depending on what your personal timetable is, check the dates for what tests are offered and register early.