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How much does the training/education cost to become an Orthopedic Surgeon?

Did you take advanced placement classes in the field of your choice? What classes would you recommend to take? What recommendations do you have for financial assistance associated with the required higher education, training and experience?

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Jessica’s Answer

To become an Orthopedic Surgeon (or any specialty of doctor), you have to get your Bachelor's, which can be very expensive, or not-so-expensive, depending on where you go, and especially if you go in your state (less expensive) or out of state (more expensive). Some colleges have specific pre-med curricula for students who are interested in going to medical school, but otherwise, you should just make sure you're taking normal biology and chemistry classes. Once you graduate from medical school, you go to residency, and while the application process can be expensive, once you are accepted, you will make a salary, albeit a modest one, during your entire residency, including any sub-specialties, like Orthopedic Surgery.

Here is a website that talks about financial aid for college: https://studentaid.gov/h/understand-aid/how-aid-works
Here is a website that talks about financial aid for medical school: https://students-residents.aamc.org/financial-aid/paying-medical-school
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Garrett’s Answer

I can tell you my experience in that I came from a family where I knew college and med school were not going to be an option if I did not find my own way to pay for both. I was fortunate enough to have full scholarships for both. So, if that's your goal I recommend crushing your SAT's and MCAT by taking the best review courses you can (I used Kaplan for MCAT and my score went from a 32 on the pretest to a 43 out of 45)

Now both college and med school are cheaper at a state school for residents of the state and I do not feel like the college makes as much of a difference as what you do while you are there. (grades, activities, community service) If you go to a private institution for either college or med school it is going to cost in the $100,000-250,000 range. I read the average med student these days is graduating with 250K in debt. So that said, do whatever you can to try to offset these costs by obtaining scholarships and grants. There is a website that was on Shark Tank that makes it easier to find which ones you qualify for but I do not know it so try a Google search. Ultimately, I could have gone to the University of Penn or Yale for med school but I chose what now is Drexel U school of medicine because I was offered a scholarship. The choice albeit not as prestigious as the other 2 did not affect my career as I got accepted into the Orthopedic surgery residency of my choice in Miami. In the end, once you are an orthopedic surgeon, no one questions where you went to college or med school.

Also, I did not take AP courses in High school but I did graduate in the top 10. My SATs were average at best because back then SAT prep courses were not very popular and I just showed up the morning of the exam unprepared for the questions. Actually, my pre-med advisor told me to find another career because he did not think I stood a chance at getting into med school. However, I proved him wrong and graduated first in my class and was accepted to 8 of the 9 med schools I applied. (Doing well in Organic Chemistry, Calculus, Physics, and Anatomy -Physiology with excellent MCAT's and being involved in other activities on and off campus are extremely important)

So don't let anyone try to dissuade you from your dream because I am an example of someone who made it despite what I was told.
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