Hello everyone!
I am a freshman in high school and I frequently think about what classes I should take in high school, how to get ahead, what college I would go to, standardized tests, etc etc. I’d like to go to medical school after attending a good college and become a surgeon, but I just have so many questions about steps to get there.My questions are those like, what test I should take and when, which of those tests are the most important, how hard the MCAT is, what I should be doing right now as a freshman, and other things…
I just want to know these things before I realize i’m an upperclassman and have to take these surprise tests or do things that I could’ve prepared for but didn’t know about earlier.
Thanks 
In terms of standardized tests, the most important thing is to do well in your HS classes, particularly reading/English and math, so that you don’t have to spend as much time preparing for the SAT/ACT.
Most HS students take either the SAT or ACT (or both) in their junior or early senior year of HS before applying to college. SAT Subject tests may or may not be required depending on where you apply.
I know that the MCAT is usually taken in junior or senior year as an undergraduate. I know several classmates studying for the MCATs, but that isn’t my field, so I don’t really know anything else about it. But overall, the standardized tests, while important, are only one factor in admissions, and don’t usually substitute a poor performance in HS or undergrad.
You have a very ambitious goal. In a perfect world you would:
- Take a the most difficult track in HS available. Make sure to take lots of AP/Honors and do well in them.
- Take your standardized (SAT or ACT) tests and 2 subject tests (SAT2 - Math & a Science). If I were you, I would take the SAT and ACT in sophomore year, decide which one you like better, and take again 1 or 2x in junior and/or early senior year for best score. Also concentrate on the PSAT (there are many prep books) which may help you get some additional $ or admission to a better undergrad college if you do well.
- Go to an upper-tier college that you can afford without taking on a significant amount of debt. That usually means your state flagship school or any highly ranked school where you can get FA or a scholarship , or your family can afford. Remember, you will have to pay $250-$300+K for medical school (or work for the military or under-served area for a few years to pay off your debt.) Adding another 100-200K of undergrad debt would have a severe impact on most people. The more debt you have, the more limited your options as far as your specialty and where you work. Medical salaries are not what they used to be.
- Take the major that most interests you, but still take the requisite science classes for medical school. You could take math, engineering, biology, chemistry, history, business etc... make sure your grades are very high. Personally, I would try to find something your really like that has some job potential if you don't go to grad or medical school ; you may find that your ambitions change during your undergrad years (very common!) If your college has a medical school, try for a research position that is medically related. My wife's department had a college junior who was a named author in a major medical study and presented at annual medical conferences. His stellar recommendations, good grades and high MCAT's got him admitted to multiple top medical schools.