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What steps should I take to get into a good medical school and become an oncologist?

Im a 10th grader in North Carolina, USA. I have a weighted gpa of 3.8 and it should go up by a lot as I've started taking only honors and AP courses, and I have been focusing on getting only A grades. well now since I am doing good but not good enough to be top of my class or anything, and I want to study for med, but I have an interest in computer science and mathematics/stats, I thought of double majoring in biology and computer science, then minoring in mathematics/stats.. so I can cover my interest and still get a good pre med major. but I've heard these are hard subjects, and my goal is to be an oncologist. so for that I would need a top gpa and high MCAT score and other important stuff. is there anything I can start doing now itself to make my med school application very good? Im probably going to do my UG in UNC- Charlotte, and for med school I was looking at unc chapel hill med school, wake forest med school, Brody(ecu) med school and also duke med school, as these are in NC.
Iam strong in math, and I have several interests in other stem areas too.
I wish to be an oncologist
Im 7 minutes from unc Charlotte so that is probably where I will go for my UG
Im thinking of double majoring in computer science and biology or biochemistry with a minor in Math/stats

*Note: Question edited for clarity by admin

college-advice computer-science college-admissions medical-school mathematics
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مؤمن’s Answer

Hi Bhavishnakumar! It’s great that you’re starting early. Since you're in North Carolina, you have access to some world-class medical programs (like Duke and UNC). Here’s a roadmap for you:
Academic Excellence: Keep pushing that GPA. Medical schools look for a strong foundation in Biology and Chemistry.
Extracurriculars: Look for volunteering opportunities at local hospitals or cancer centers in NC. Shadowing an oncologist for even a few days can make your future application stand out.
Undergrad Prep: You don't need a 'Pre-med' major, but majoring in a science field helps. Aim for high SAT/ACT scores now to get into a top-tier university.
Research: Oncology is research-heavy. If your school has a science club or research program, join it!
Stay focused—it’s a long journey (4 years undergrad + 4 years med school + residency + fellowship), but very rewarding!
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Tyler’s Answer

Love to hear the level of detail you are putting into this. Excited to see where life takes you.

I'd recommend getting a job or volunteering in a hospital type setting. It's one thing to be interested in a subject, and it's another to be around the environment.

This will not only help you confirm the Oncology field you want to go into, but also give you great experience to put on a resume when you apply for colleges. They'll love that.

Best of luck!

-Tyler
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Andrew’s Answer

First, you are already doing a great job by thinking ahead and exploring your interests early. It is important to get some exposure to medicine before fully committing to oncology or even to medical school. Having an interest in oncology is exciting, but right now your main goal should be to explore and confirm whether medicine is truly the right path for you. Many students discover new interests after shadowing doctors, volunteering in hospitals, and seeing real patient care. You can start now by shadowing physicians if possible, volunteering at hospitals or clinics, and joining medical or science clubs. These experiences will not only strengthen your future medical school application but also help you keep an open mind about different specialties.

Second, your main focus right now should be doing well in high school and preparing to get into a good undergraduate college, and you are already on the right track. UNC Charlotte is a very reasonable and practical option, especially since it is close to home. Medical schools care most about your GPA, MCAT score, clinical experience, research, and letters of recommendation. In high school, the most important things are taking your honors and AP classes seriously, building strong study habits, and really understanding science and math. Creating this strong foundation now will make college and pre-med much easier later.

Third, your idea of double majoring in biology and computer science with a minor in math or statistics shows ambition and curiosity, which are great qualities. While this path is possible, it is also very challenging, and your GPA will always matter more than the number of majors you complete. Medical schools do not require a biology major as long as you complete the pre-med courses. Since you are strong in math and interested in computer science, combining these fields with biology can be very useful for areas like data science and cancer research. However, it is usually better to choose one main major and add a minor or electives instead of overloading yourself and risking burnout. You can make this decision once you are in college and see what works best for you.

Overall, you are in a very good position for your age, and you have plenty of time to grow and explore. The most important things you can do now are to keep studying hard, get early experiences in medicine, and stay open-minded about your future path. Focus on doing well in high school and getting into a strong undergraduate program first, then explore your interests in college. If you stay curious, motivated, and balanced, you will put yourself in a strong position for medical school and for deciding whether oncology or another specialty is truly right for you.
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