Stephanie
What degrees, classes, and qualifications should I pursue if I want to be a surgeon?
How do those choices/ classes affect me and how are they helpful?
#surgeon #surgery #doctor #medicine #healthcare
2 answers
Richard A.
Richard’s Answer
Pick a major that interests you so you don't mind devoting a majority of your hours to studying. You will need to get good grades in college in order to apply for medical school. At the medical school I attended, the average GPA is reported to be 3.85, so even one or two B's can hurt your chances of acceptance.
Aside from this, any major is acceptable as long as you complete the prerequisite courses. I chose to major in biochemistry because there was overlap with the premed requirements and I wanted to complete my degree in 3 years.
Typical medical school prerequisites include:
Biology: Lecture – 4 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
General Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Organic Chemistry: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Biochemistry: Lecture – 1 semester
General Physics: Lecture – 2 semesters; Lab – 1 semester
Math: Statistics – 1 semester
English: Rhetoric (Composition) and Literature – 2 semesters
My son used MCAT Complete 7-Book Subject Review 2019-2020: Online + Book + 3 Practice Tests (Kaplan Test Prep) Kaplan Test Prep
It was about $140 and he achieved his goal score.
Apply to medical schools during your last year of college.
Medical school takes 4 years to complete.
After medical school surgeons complete a 5 year residency for additional training. These are sometimes followed by an additional year or two of fellowship subspecialty training.
Suman Kalanithi
Suman’s Answer
Hi Stephanie. If you mean what classes as an undergrad, you don't need to worry too much about targeting specific classes/activities to surgery itself. It is much more important to fulfill the general undergrad requirements for getting into a "good" medical school (doing well in your pre-med classes, MCAT, etc). Often people graduate with a B.S. degree in Biology, since once you do the required pre-med classes (chemistry, biology, basic physics) you are often most of the way there already. But not necessary at all.
Of course, if even as an undergrad, you (for example) start doing research in a surgical lab and then present yourself to medical school admissions as someone who has a clear calling for surgery, that may look good. But not something to worry about. Note that many *medical students* are completely confused over what they want to be for the first few years of med school.
Specific example: my brother completed his neurosurgery residency at Stanford along with a bunch of awards and notable papers. In medical school however he seriously considered pathology and psychiatry before deciding on surgery. As an *undergrad*...well, he was more interested in philosophy, religion, and English literature than anything else...although of course he did well enough in his pre-med classes.
Good luck!