What should I study for my journey of becoming a neurosurgeon?
My computer science teacher suggested me to choose a major most related to neurosurgery, but he does not know which majors are most appropriate. #science #medicine #neuroscience
2 answers
Richard’s Answer
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. You could consider neurscience as a major
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
Ken’s Answer
Hi Wendy!
You asked about a very interesting and important area. Here are some links that will give you much helpful information.
Here is a site about women in neurosurgery which will give you some improtant advice and introduce you to a professional organization that will be helpful to know about.
http://www.aans.org/pdf/WINS/SYWTBANS.pdf
These are two sites that will also be helpful. The first one is presented by a women involved in neurosurgery:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVhEpTDNPic
http://www.med.nyu.edu/neurosurgery/education-training/how-do-i-become-neurosurgeon
There are two people that will be very helpful in your search for information and connections with people in the field. They are the head of alumni relations of your high school and the head of alumni relations at the colleges that your are considering. These people are responsible for creating and maintaining a community of graduates, so they can and would be very happy to connect you with graduates of their schools that have become neruosurgeons so that you can meet them and learn what they are doing, how they got there, and how you feel about what you are doing. Here are some tips on getting helpful information and forming helpful relationships:
http://www.wikihow.com/Network
https://www.themuse.com/advice/nonawkward-ways-to-start-and-end-networking-conversations
Talk to your school counselor about becoming involved in coop, intern, volunteer, and shadowing programs that will allow you to see the inside of this career area. Here is a site that will help you to find internships:
http://www.fastweb.com/
Best of luck! Please keep me posted. I would like to follow you progress!
Thank you Mr. Simmons! I deeply appreciate your response, I'm also planning to attend Texas Tech because they have a good program in which you may be automatically admitted to a medical school.
Wendy
You are welcome. It would be a good move to call the head of alumni relations and arrange to talk to graduates of that program to see what they are dong, how they got there, and how you feel about what they are doing. You can learn a lot from someone who has been through the program. You might even find someone who you might want to ask to be a mentor. Such support and connections will greatly assist you in your career. Reach out as often as you can, people are there just waiting to be asked to help!!
Ken Simmons