Alright, let me just say a little bit about myself before I ask my questions. I am currently a 16 year old junior who is a high school student with very high a high aspiration to become neurosurgeon. Ever since I was about 12 years old, this has been my goal. My parents have told me that it is never to early to start thinking about your career in the future. Despite all of this, my desire to become a neurosurgeon is very big. Here is my long array of questions, and I hope that people pardon me for my young age or my sound of ignorance.

I was recently researching on the residency programs for neurosurgery, and it has come to my attention that there is a “match system”. I have a basic idea about what this is all about, but a question still haunts my mind. What will happen exactly if I do not get matched to become a neurosurgeon? Are there any other opportunities to try for a spot again? This is one of the biggest questions on my mind right now, and I would hope that I can get an answer for this more than anything else. How many people actually get accepted, and what do I have to do to make sure I can get matched? Is there a criteria I have to fill or do good on a test? I don’t know why, but I keep thinking that this is one of those personality matches that is not exactly correct. Is this the case? And if there is a test, should I start studying now, or is that a test that I will not have to worry about for a while?

My next question is regarding the present. What exactly can I do right now to ensure I get into a reputable medical school? I have researched this subject before, but I would like some expert opinions. I have heard that good grades are not enough, but work in the community is also a must. Is there anything I can do now to prepare for my future as a neurosurgeon, or should I hold off until I actually get into medical school? I have some friends who are in the field of medicine, but they are not exactly surgeons. Should I start “shadowing” them to get ready? I have also heard that research is a big portion of your steps to becoming successful, and I was wondering if I should start getting the basic understanding of neurosurgery, or is that beyond my reach for now? I don’t mean to sound ignorant but if this is at all possible, I would love to take advantage of that situation. I also had a question about high school. When you actually get accepted into Med-School, do high school grades matter anymore? I would think that those of the Med-School would be your new grades to focus on, but this is just another random question.

I also know about the long working hours that neurosurgeons have, and I accept the fact. My next question though is will my body become used to the working hours that they have? This is not really a big issue to me, its just a question that lingers in my mind. I would assume that this would be the case, but once again, I would like some expert opinions.

These are all my questions I can think of for now, but I know there will be many more in the near future. I really hope more than anything to become a neurosurgeon, and I will do everything in my will power to become one.

Thanks,
FutureNS

Get into an Ivy League college, ace MCAT, volunteer at a hospital, get some research experience, do something (music, art, mountain climbing) that sets you apart.  And for god’s sake, don’t major in a biological science.  Philosophy or math or something.  Lastly: don’t ever quit.

If you are starting to think about your career this early you are no doubt a driven individual and will do well in life no matter what that may be. In response to your question about high school grades counting for anything I think the only thing they count for is to help you get into the college of your choice. They certainly do not come into play for med school admissions. The one thing from high school that came up during med school interviews is how i did on my SAT’s. I think if you did well on those and your mcats it shows how good of a test taker you are.

Good luck.

FutureNS,

I admire your goals and aspirations. In addition to generally enjoying life as it is, here is a basic outline map of important milestones you will need to surpass on your way to becoming a neurosurgeon (I will assume that you are in the United States, as this is the way the education system works here):

High School
- Do well on SATs/SAT2s/any and all national tests
- Get a high GPA
- Get involved in extracurriculars/research/hospital volunteering
- Get into the best college you can

College (4 years)
- Pick a major that interests you; there are varying opinions with some people saying here to pick a science/engineering major, while others saying not to do so because your GPA may be lower. Whatever the case, pick something you are interested in.
- Get involved in research
- Become a leader in your organizations
- Do well on the MCAT (the “SATs for med school")
- Maintain a high GPA, get any research/college honors you can
- Get into the best medical school you can

Medical School (4-5 years, unless you also do PhD, which is another 4 years)
- Get involved in neurosurgery research
- Do well in all your classes and clinical rotations
- Do well on the USMLE Step 1 and 2 (the “SATs for residency")
- Get any research/med school honors you can
- Get into the best neurosurgical residency you can

Neurosurgical Residency (6-7 years)
- Work hard
- Graduate your residency
- Become a neurosurgeon

There are different roads to neurosurgery, but this is the most generic and arguably successful one that most people end up doing. Achieving all the above translates into the fact that you are hardworking, highly dedicated, and smart. This in turns means you will be selected to become a neurosurgeon.

More of this may make sense as time goes by. So along the way, don’t forget to speak with your counselors (high school, college, med school, faculty, etc.) as well as students who have come just immediately before you. This will make sure you are constantly up-to-date on the current requirements of your goals.

Best of luck. I admire that you have high aspirations. Eyes to the sky, but don’t forget where your feet are. Each milestone builds on the one before it, and the best way to become a neurosurgeon is to make sure you have a firm foundation on all your education/honors/test grades in the present.

See you in 10 years.

========================

What will happen exactly if I do not get matched to become a neurosurgeon?
- You can apply again to a neurosurgical residency. I won’t go through the exact process because this is many years away, so things will probably be different when you apply. But you should be able to apply again.

How many people actually get accepted, and what do I have to do to make sure I can get matched?
- Applying from medical school, about 250-400 people apply each year for 190-200 spots. These numbers may change by the time you apply from medical school. 

I don’t know why, but I keep thinking that this is one of those personality matches that is not exactly correct. Is this the case? And if there is a test, should I start studying now, or is that a test that I will not have to worry about for a while?
- I’m not sure what you mean by personality test, there are none of those. Study for the tests immediately in front of you. Study especially for any and all national tests (as outlined above, these will be your SATs, MCATs, USMLE Step 1 and 2, etc.).

What exactly can I do right now to ensure I get into a reputable medical school?
- See above. The exact thing you can do now to ensure that you get into a reputable medical school is to get into the best college you can.

I have also heard that research is a big portion of your steps to becoming successful, and I was wondering if I should start getting the basic understanding of neurosurgery, or is that beyond my reach for now?
- You can start now, but any research you do now will only help you get into your next stage of education (e.g., high school to college). Specific neurosurgery research will be more important when you are in college and medical school.

When you actually get accepted into Med-School, do high school grades matter anymore?
- No, but high school grades will matter for your college application, which in turn will affect your medical school application.

I also know about the long working hours that neurosurgeons have, and I accept the fact. My next question though is will my body become used to the working hours that they have?
- Yes. You may still be tired, but you will be able to do it.

I echo a lot of the above comments. It’s good to know what you want to do so early on. But I would encourage you to take full advantage of the opportunities in college. I would encourage you to try to find a neurosurgeon who is willing to let you shadow him. At our institution we occasionally have high school students come and shadow one of our attending.

I want to thank all of you who posted. This means a great deal to me, and towards my future goal towards becoming a neurosurgeon.