<p>hey I am a high school sophomore and I recently took a practice test. I scored a 4 on the Verbal part of the MCAT. I was really mad because my physical sciences and the other section would've been a 1 or 2 because I'm not good at chemistry or physics....Am I hopeless?????</p>
<p>I want to atleast get a 29 on the MCAT and I am going to start studying for it freshman year. Any advice or people who have had similar situations as mine? Also, I want to become a surgeon (hopefully do a specialty) how many years will that take? And do I need extremely high reading skills?</p>
<p>If you are studying - really studying - for it freshman year, I don't see any reason why you can't bring your score up considerably, especially with practice. Still, a 4 is going to be a tough starting place, since you should really be aiming at least for a 10. Nonetheless, my verbal score improved by four points, if I recall correctly, over two months of studying, and it was pretty high to begin with (diminishing returns to scale).</p>
<p>A general surgery residency is 5 years, and your subspecialties will take 7 years. In other words, you have four years of college, four years of med school, and then between 5-7 years to become a surgeon.</p>
<p>And frankly, medical school does involve a lot of reading. Keeping up with the literature requires a lot of reading.</p>
<p>ok so 15 years.... what about after that? i have to do 5 years of residency/internship? so how many years total before i get my real job as a 'surgeon'?</p>
<p>You correctly calculated that if you are currently a freshman in college, you have 15 years ahead of you if you are planning to go into a surgical subspecialty.</p>
<p>Frankly, most medical students - even those who enter medical school with very firm ideas of what they want to do - change their minds often.</p>
<p>Also, quite frankly, many college freshmen premeds change their minds as well.</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry too much about it just yet.</p>
<p>you're a friggin' HS sophomore. While a 4 is a bit depressing, you'll have plenty of time to bring it up. Heck, you should be worrying about the PSATs now.</p>
<p>Had I noticed you were a sophomore in high school, I would have said the exact same thing. I apologize for my inepitude. (I only read the freshman in college part.)</p>
<p>You've got plenty of time. Just as you shouldn't worry about the SATs in fifth grade, you shouldn't worry about the MCATs yet.</p>
<p>haha nah I got the PSATs covered. All I need is a 205.</p>
<p>haha no its ok. Actually I was just wanting to see how rigorous it was to become a doctor, and just get the jist you know since I have decided since last year that I want to pursure MD as a career.</p>
<p>BTW, I was looking and I noticed that even though pediatrics, general surgeons get paid around 300k, that's only their gross income. After tax, it drops down to about 200k. Also from that 200k it drops down to about 100-120k because of insurance and etc. So ha that was interesting to know that you only end up getting 1/3 of what you make. Sucks.</p>
<p>Indeed. On Grey's Anatomy a couple weeks back, the neurosurgeon is reputed to have made $2 million a year. That figure is absurdly too high - probaby around 9X too high, in fact.</p>
<p>While you probably won't get a 14 on the verbal section, it's not unreasonable to bring it up to an 8 with some practice. I wouldn't expect a significant jump. My verbal score only jumped 2 pts. from my diagnostic to the real MCAT.</p>
<p>And, yes, I realize he is only a sophomore in HS.</p>
<p>My suggestion to you is to try volunteering at a hospital or getting some exposure to medicine.</p>
<p>It seems like your interest in the field of medicine is very superficial (read: $$) and beginning to prep for the MCAT while in high school is both unnecessary and unhealthy.</p>
<p>Again, I would recommend you spend some time at a hospital to see if medicine is something that truly interests you.</p>
<p>I browse this forum every once in a while, just reading stuff when I'm bored, but this guy is starting to **** me off...alot.</p>
<p>When's a more REASONABLE time to start studying for the MCAT?</p>
<p>If you wanted to take it early, you should study during the summer of your sophomore year and then take it during the August administration. (I would recommend an actual course for those who lack self-discipline. Kaplan offers a great MCAT course!)</p>
<p>That way, if you get a good score, you're finished! If not, you still have your junior year to attempt a retest.</p>
<p>That would probably be the earliest I would recommend anyone start studying for it as you won't have the necessary courses under your belt to do well.</p>
<p>As thecalccobra demonstrated by his verbal MCAT score, even something as simple as reading comprehension can be made trickier. It will take some time in college for you to mature and have all those skills/courses/experiences under your belt.</p>
<p>I mean, the USMLE Step 1 exam is important too. Would anyone in their right mind start studying for it in their sophomore year of college?</p>
<p>the summer of your sophomore year of college, not high school...i really don't understand why you are worrying about your score on a practice mcat exam now, when you don't take the test for another 5 years.</p>
<p>haha...good point hello2u! I have never had to clarify this to anyone else before but I guess in this case, I left out that very important segment</p>
<p>Yes...I meant the sophomore year of college</p>
<p>Try relaxing and enjoying high school!</p>
<p>''I mean, the USMLE Step 1 exam is important too. Would anyone in their right mind start studying for it in their sophomore year of college?''</p>
<p>ummm..... Me?</p>
<p>No, he asked for people in their right minds.</p>
<p>Let me put it this way: If you need to start studying for the MCAT this early in order to make it into med school, you will not make it to the end of med school.</p>
<p>I would also advise that you don't mention this in college/med school interviews. These educational institutions like students who are prepared but maniacal students who overprepare don't fit in well with the rest of the student population.</p>
<p>Perhaps you need to pick up a hobby if you are only in high school and are so concerned over far-off standardized exams?</p>