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What are the best undergraduate colleges/programs for Surgery?
What are the best, or highly recommended, undergraduate colleges or programs for a high school senior aspiring to become a General Surgeon?
I understand that the university/med school thereafter is important, but I also want to know if the undergraduate school matters.
Thank you!
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Karin’s Answer
Hi Gracelynn,
to become a surgeon, you first need to earn an undergraduate degree (4 years) and cover the pre-requisite courses before you can apply to Medical School (4 years). You would specialize in general surgery during your residency (5 years).
You can certainly aim for a highly ranked school for your undergraduate education, but it's not necessary. Given the overall cost of medical training, I would recommend to attend a decent in-state school that you can afford and where you get significant financial aid and aim to do really well and earn a high GPA.
You can also certainly choose a bachelors program in anatomy or physiology or a biology degree with a focus on anatomy. But it is not necessary. You can take any major you would enjoy, but you also have to pass the pre-requisite courses.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
to become a surgeon, you first need to earn an undergraduate degree (4 years) and cover the pre-requisite courses before you can apply to Medical School (4 years). You would specialize in general surgery during your residency (5 years).
You can certainly aim for a highly ranked school for your undergraduate education, but it's not necessary. Given the overall cost of medical training, I would recommend to attend a decent in-state school that you can afford and where you get significant financial aid and aim to do really well and earn a high GPA.
You can also certainly choose a bachelors program in anatomy or physiology or a biology degree with a focus on anatomy. But it is not necessary. You can take any major you would enjoy, but you also have to pass the pre-requisite courses.
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Thank you so much for the detailed answer Karin! I have been wondering what exactly I would do after high school in simple terms and you answered it perfectly! As far as highly ranked undergraduate schools, do you have any recommendations? I do plan to major in biology with a focus on anatomy, so are there any schools you recommend for that that could increase my chances in a Ivy League med school?
Gracelynn
You can check some of the ranking:
https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/biology-biochemistry
https://www.niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges-for-biology/
https://www.topuniversities.com/university-subject-rankings/anatomy-physiology
Karin P.
Updated
Don’s Answer
Hello Gracelynn,
There are many good colleges that would be good for you to attend if you want to be a General Surgeon. I was not sure if there was a specific area or a specific type of college that you would want to attend but I will write down a list of colleges. Hope this helps!
List:
Harvard University
John Hopkins University
Stanford University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Michigan
University of California San Francisco
Duke University
Columbia University
There are many good colleges that would be good for you to attend if you want to be a General Surgeon. I was not sure if there was a specific area or a specific type of college that you would want to attend but I will write down a list of colleges. Hope this helps!
List:
Harvard University
John Hopkins University
Stanford University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Michigan
University of California San Francisco
Duke University
Columbia University
Thank you so much Don! Most of which you mentioned are on my list! However, I do have a question (and it's a silly one as I should probably know already) but should I apply to these schools right after high school? Or should I focus on undergraduate schools? If not, what am I supposed to do?
Gracelynn
I'm not sure exactly how it works when it comes to when you should apply. I would contact a transfer specialist and do research with exactly how it works. I would assume it depends on what college you apply to and what they require. Those questions you asked were good!
Don Holland
Thank you so much Don!!! I really appreciate the answers!
Gracelynn