College

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

Hi there. I’m a freshman, and hoping to go to someday become a neurosurgeon. I just have a couple of questions:

  1. Do you need to be crazy smart to become a surgeon?
  2. How competitive is it?
  3. What would be a good major in undergrad?
  4. What would an undergrad look for in terms of high school classes and GPA? My school does not rank students.
  5. What subjects must one be strong in to become a surgeon?
  6. Would it be possible to shadow a surgeon on a surgery? My next doorneighbor is the head of pediatrics at a large hospital, and it would be amazing to shadow him.
  7. How do I start volunteering in a hospital?

Thank you so much for your time.

2

1.Yes. Medical school admissions alone are very competitive. Surgery residency spots are EXTREMELY competitive.
2. Very.
3. You can major in anything to go to medical school. You just need to meet the medical school requirements. A lot of people tend to major in the sciences though.
4. You can go anywhere as an undergraduate and go to medical school. That would depend on where you want to go to college.
5. Honestly, everything. Medical schools require biology, chemistry, math, physics, English, etc. Speaking a second language also helps.
6. Sure, just ask him. I’ve shadowed a few doctors throughout HS. Now (I’m in college), I’m starting to watch cardiac surgeries. I’m not positive, but I do think there is a specific age you may need to be at some hospitals to go in the operating room. I think for the one I shadow at it was 16.
7. Call your local hospital and see if they have a volunteer program for HS students.

3

Is it true that med schools don’t care where you go for pre med? How realistic is it for me to get into Michigan med shool?? I am a freshman in HS, 3 honors classes (out of the 9 classes we take per year. Freshman at my school can take a max of 3 honors classes) and I have a 3.9500 GPA unweighted. Is it bad it’s already a 3.9?

4

No way to know which Medical school you can get into, since you need to complete your Undergrad, take the MCAT and do some medically related EC’s. Worry about doing well in HS to get into your choice college. Medical school comes much later.

5

@Gabby2001 chill out, it’s just freshman year and your stats sound fantastic! Keep it up and you’ll get into a fantastic college. College is when med schools begin looking at your achievements.

6
  1. Do you need to be crazy smart to become a surgeon? -I'd say you need to be a crazy hard worker more so than crazy smart
  2. How competitive is it? -Incredibly - I don't think I could even really describe to you, a random high school freshman, how competitive it is in a meaningful way. The majority of people who apply to medical school never get in. A significant number of medical students who come in wanting to be a neurosurgeon don't do well enough to even consider applying for it and even for the ones who do ~1/3 won't get to be one because there aren't enough spots. In other words right now, knowing nothing about you, odds are overwhelmingly in favor that you will NOT be a neurosurgeon
  3. What would be a good major in undergrad? -The one you'll do the best in
  4. What would an undergrad look for in terms of high school classes and GPA? My school does not rank students. -That you excelled in the most difficult curriculum available to you
  5. What subjects must one be strong in to become a surgeon? -At this point it doesn't matter but anatomy is definitely critical
  6. Would it be possible to shadow a surgeon on a surgery? My next doorneighbor is the head of pediatrics at a large hospital, and it would be amazing to shadow him. -Depends on the hospital's policies but odds are no - mainly because you're a minor. Certainly doesn't hurt to ask your neighbor
  7. How do I start volunteering in a hospital? -Look on the websites for the hospitals in your area and see if they have any pages on volunteering e.g. http://www.massgeneral.org/volunteer/