Question:

I'm currently in a pre-nursing program but am considering becoming a surgeon instead. My original plan was to become a nurse and then a surgeon, but I'm now considering skipping the nursing step. How do I find out what classes I need or schools are best?

First Answer:

In answering this question – and it’s a great question for reasons that will appear later, I first went to my local hospital and made a list of ALL surgeons - general, cardiothoracic, neuro, podiatric, etc. Of the 110 surgeons, degrees were received from small and large U.S. medical schools as well as from schools from what I suspect are their native countries. Residencies and Internships were equally far-reaching. Then I surfed over to the American College of Surgeons (www.facs.org) and found that there are 309 surgeons in Fairfield County, Connecticut alone from medical schools all over the world.

Thinking ahead, the ACS has an online service that helps a medical student go from school to practice - http://www.facs.org/residencysearch/index.html (it’s fondly referred to as "So, You Want To Be A Surgeon"). The site further adds “each year there are more surgical residency positions offered than there are students waiting to apply.” Incidentally, RNs are in an even better position to find great jobs with great incentives these days - the aging Baby Boomer population will see that this trend continues for decades.

Want to find out what medical school is all about? Check out the American Medical Student Association. As the name suggests, AMSA is a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. Most medical schools have chapters - contact a chapter at a university near you and talk to someone.

I visited the pre-med advising page of my alma mater's website. Groovy UVM suggests that someone seriously considering medical school include the following as part of their coursework: Minimum of ...two semesters of Biology; two years of Chemistry (typically Inorganic and Organic); two semesters of Physics; two semesters of college mathematics (calculus - proficiency in in quantitative methods may improve one's achievement in Physics and Organic Chemistry); and two semesters of English (an increasing number of medical schools are "requiring" English composition or literature). Beyond this, many schools encourage course work in behavioral sciences, social sciences and/or the humanities. Some schools suggest a semester of Biochemistry.

The American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) is a non-profit, centralized application processing service for applicants at participating U.S. medical schools. The Medical School Admission Requirements, 2004-2005 is the only book with up-to-date admissions information from every U.S. and Canadian medical school. Check here for more details - the content is far greater than can be described here.

Final thoughts: Poetic license aside, Cardiologists are concerned with the heart; Neurologists with the brain; Orthopedists with the body's structure. Literature and Fine Arts; Psychology and Philosophy; Mechanical and Systems Engineering. Trials and tribulations of love are often attributed to the heart; thinking to the soul; structural integrity and forces to the muscoloskeletal system. While the science requirements are quite specific, consider a major that addresses the broader needs of the type of surgeon you would like to become.

-- Steve Levy, Principal of outside-the-box Consulting

Second Answer:

Preparing for graduate school is an arduous task, but best accomplished with a skill you'll be using quite often in the coming years: research. There are several guides and magazines (US News and World Report for example) that rank schools in various disciplines. However, it is best to focus on and research the schools that are in or close to your MCAT and GPA range. If you haven't taken the MCATs, you should plan for the timing that makes most sense for you based on what year you are in school (http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm). The tests are typically administered in April and August of each year.

You should also visit your pre-med advising office (if your school has one)to review the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR). You can purchase the MSAR on the MCAT website: http://www.aamc.org/students/mcat/start.htm as well as many other testing guides.

As with any type of graduate study, your MCAT scores will help you focus and narrow down where you should apply. The Association for American Medical Colleges has a section of their site devoted to researching programs. You can use schools' median test scores, GPAs and other criteria to determine if you have a viable shot at getting admitted. The general rule of thumb is to apply to at least three schools: one that is a reach, one that you are comfortable you'd be accepted to and one that you are 100% positive will accept you.

Finally, get out from behind the computer and start talking to the schools you are interested in! Numbers and admit statistics are only part of the puzzle. Visit your top choices, talk to admissions staff, faculty and students. They can provide you with undergraduate course requirements and other specifications that will help you make an informed decision.

-- Susan Strayer, Assistant Director, Career Services, School of Professional Studies in Business and Education at the Johns Hopkins University and founder and President of University and Career Decisions

Third Answer:

You've asked two good questions. Finding the answers is relatively easy.

As to what classes are required curriculum for becoming a doctor, check the medical school catalogues at your school or local library. Those catalogues usually show the courses required for the specialty tracks, such a general surgeon or one who specializes. Please note that most, if not all, universities now offer their catalogues as an online link.

As to learning which are the best medical schools, there are a few resources you can use. U.S. News and World Report provides an annual report on medical school rankings. You can find and compare the 2003 Medical School Rankings with the 2002 Medical School Rankings to see how they found the progress of particular schools.

Yet another useful resource is a page at Medical Students Resource Guide. It not only discusses several schools in relation to their best specialty but also discusses ways to evaluate a school. There's a brief discussion about objections to school rankings.

Perhaps these resources will get you on the road to making those big decisions ahead of you. May all your Entrances be through the doors of success!

-- Yvonne LaRose, career and professional development coach, Career and Executive Recruiting Advice

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