Can I get into neurosurgery residency??

[Nuerosurgeon09]

Hi, I am a high school student who is contemplating about going to India to study for medicine. I will definitely come back every summer and do attachments at various hospitals at the US. I know that I would get an incredibly high USMLE score. what I am just worried about is whether I can get into the residency of my choice. For Instance I would like to get into neurosurgery residency. Please someone, provide me with stats, personal experiences or good advice, as I have to make a decision fast. Thank you and have a nice day.

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[smq123]

Moving to pre-allo, where the OP can get better advice about picking a medical school.

 

[marble30]

....what is this obsession with neurosurgery, I don't get it.

/random

 

[the duck]

Why are you planning on going to India to study medicine? You're only in highschool, why don't you go to undergrad first. Secondly, how do you "know" how you're going to score on a test in medical school?

 

[swamprat]

This must be a joke.

I think people in high school love n.s. because of how prestigous it sounds... I mean it can't be brain surgery right?

 

[brooklynblunder]

no

 

[Ok2Panic]

Hi, I am a high school student who is contemplating about going to India to study for medicine. I will definitely come back every summer and do attachments at various hospitals at the US. I know that I would get an incredibly high USMLE score. what I am just worried about is whether I can get into the residency of my choice. For Instance I would like to get into neurosurgery residency. Please someone, provide me with stats, personal experiences or good advice, as I have to make a decision fast. Thank you and have a nice day.

!

 

[BlueElmo]

hi, i am a high school student who is contemplating about going to india to study for medicine. I will definitely come back every summer and do attachments at various hospitals at the us. I know that i would get an incredibly high usmle score. What i am just worried about is whether i can get into the residency of my choice. For instance i would like to get into neurosurgery residency. Please someone, provide me with stats, personal experiences or good advice, as i have to make a decision fast. Thank you and have a nice day.

LOL. How do you know?

 

[plauto]

by the way you write I'd take it that you're not a US resident (if you are, I'd focus on English writing skills before worrying about medical skills). It's extremely hard to get a competitive residency as an FMG. Impossible? No. But highly unlikely since there are plenty of US graduates extremely well qualified. You don't know how you'll do on the USMLE until you take it so a little attitude adjustment is in order there. If you're a US resident I'd focus on going to school in the US.

 

[Ok2Panic]

LOL. How do you know?

I beat you Elmo!

 

[the duck]

Why are you planning on going to India to study medicine? You're only in highschool, why don't you go to undergrad first. Secondly, how do you "know" how you're going to score on a test in medical school?

and I beet you both!

 

[Tatastrophy]

!

LOL. How do you know?

he must be psychic you guys. thats one EC that could make his US MD app stand out!

 

[marble30]

he must be psychic you guys. thats one EC that could make his US MD app stand out!

Really? I thought my ability to raise people from the dead was pretty unique...

 

[Tatastrophy]

Really? I thought my ability to raise people from the dead was pretty unique...

no. jesus did that one already and I heard he had to go abroad for med

 

[FloatOn]

....what is this obsession with neurosurgery, I don't get it.

/random

This, and I don't understand why HS students put "pre-medical."

 

[marble30]

This, and I don't understand why HS students put "pre-medical."

I guess it sounds better than "pre-college".

 

[the duck]

This, and I don't understand why HS students put "pre-medical."

Because they are "so sure" that they are going to pursue a career in medicine, and either neuro or cardiothorasic surge (its always one of these) that they feel they can "skip" being in high school, and college and go straight to worrying about residency.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

no. jesus did that one already and I heard he had to go abroad for med

no, jesus just practiced medicine without a license..

 

[Catalystik]

OP, SDN has an entire subforum devoted to Neurosurgery. You can read further here, paying speical attention to the first sticky at the top of the page: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=126

If you want a US residency program, you'd be better off attending a US med school.

 

[Geekchick921]

Cart Horse

 

[FloatOn]

Because they are "so sure" that they are going to pursue a career in medicine, and either neuro or cardiothorasic surge (its always one of these) that they feel they can "skip" being in high school, and college and go straight to worrying about residency.

Yes! It's ALWAYS one of these two. No exceptions. If they say otherwise, they're lying.

 

[Tatastrophy]

Yes! It's ALWAYS one of these two. No exceptions. If they say otherwise, they're lying.

be nice you guys. I'd be lying if I said that when I realized I want to be a surgeon, my mind didn't jump to Neuro. Then I did an internship with Trauma and that was mind blowing...thats all it took me to realize that there are lots of tasty specialties out there...I don't have to pick just yet.

 

[ElegantWeapon]

I guess it sounds better than "pre-college".

can we request a new descriptive term for types like the OP?

"pre-pre-medical"

 

[Hifey]

Hi, I am a high school student who is contemplating about going to India to study for medicine. I will definitely come back every summer and do attachments at various hospitals at the US. I know that I would get an incredibly high USMLE score. what I am just worried about is whether I can get into the residency of my choice. For Instance I would like to get into neurosurgery residency. Please someone, provide me with stats, personal experiences or good advice, as I have to make a decision fast. Thank you and have a nice day.

Assuming that you don't change your mind about being a neurosurgeon anytime in the next 8 years (cause thats how long it will be before you get to be one, assuming you're a HS senior), then no I don't think anyone will tell you that you should go to India for med school now. Best advice is go to a US undergrad, excel, then apply to med school in america if this is where you wish to practice.

also, before you predict ownage of the USMLE....know that if you go to school in India, they don't teach to the AMERICAN licensing board. So, you'd have a disadvantage in that you will have to learn all this material yourself without the help or support of your school. Not just that, but when it comes time to match, it will be incredibly difficult to match into ANY speciality let alone surgery merely because you're an FMG. This is because med school enrollment is going up and residency spots are static and you can bet in the amount of time it takes you, you would not be likely to match into the US at all. Your american counterparts would not only be graduating from US schools, they'd have been doing their away rotations at the desired hospitals, developing contacts, getting letters of rec from influential people etc...putting you at a disadvantage once again.


Summary: don't go to India if you *really* want to be a neurosurgeon. There are no shortcuts here so don't try to find them. Also, before you predict an amazing USMLE score, take the MCAT. good luck.

 

[ScootDoc]

...

 

[jhamaican]

Hi, I am a high school student who is contemplating about going to India to study for medicine. I will definitely come back every summer and do attachments at various hospitals at the US. I know that I would get an incredibly high USMLE score. what I am just worried about is whether I can get into the residency of my choice. For Instance I would like to get into neurosurgery residency. Please someone, provide me with stats, personal experiences or good advice, as I have to make a decision fast. Thank you and have a nice day.

This highschooler knows that he will not just get a high score, but an incredibly high score.

Who do these people think they are?

 

[jhamaican]

SDN is such great entertainment. i can never tell if the OP is cracking up laughing right now or looking for actual advice. Either way the original post is absurd in so many ways.

 

[298609]

I know that I would get an incredibly high USMLE score.

that's good--confidence in this profession is always a +

what I am just worried about is whether I can get into the residency of my choice.

Why? If you know you are going to get an "incredibly high USMLE score"...you should know that you will be accepted to JHU and Mass General's NeuroSurg program.

I have to make a decision fast.

Why fast? are you melting and the only way to keep in a solid, human shape is to decide this now?




Also, just to let you know, you spelled "neuro" wrong in your screen name. Maybe it was on purpose?

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Why fast? are you melting and the only way to keep in a solid, human shape is to decide this now?

i'd imagine it's probably because most medical schools outside the US is undergraduate and thus OP needs to decide either to go to india or go to college stateside

 

[Hifey]

OP change your name to Neurosurgeon29..... as in 2029, because it will be at least that long until you can call yourself a neurosurgeon. But hey, if you want it...go get it. When I was in high school I thought I would become a pharmacist. Here I am now at the end of my third year of med school and find myself going into Orthopedic surgery.... far from where I started. Thats ok though because it was my desire to be a pharmacist in high school and early undergrad that motivated me. Sure, my path changed many times along the way, but you have to start somewhere. Word to the wise. If you want to practice medicine in the US go to medical school in the US.

Pre-meds responding to the post as if you were experienced, or in a better position than the OP. Shame on you acting like a bunch of pre-med pre-madonnas. You have what...+1-2yrs on the kid?? As if you know what it takes to be a medical student.

You don't need to be a medical student to know that FMG is not the route to neurosurgery if that is what the OP ends up pursuing a few years down the line... and our advice seems to be exactly like yours ( go to a us school for a us residency) so I don't see the problem here.

 

[Disinence2]

Assuming that you don't change your mind about being a neurosurgeon anytime in the next 8 years (cause thats how long it will be before you get to be one, assuming you're a HS senior), then no I don't think anyone will tell you that you should go to India for med school now. Best advice is go to a US undergrad, excel, then apply to med school in america if this is where you wish to practice.
.

Incorrect

4 years undergrad
4 years med school
5-6 years Neurosurg residency.

Also note that Neurosurg is currently NOT capped at 80 hours like other residencies. Pretty intense.

- Best of luck

 

[longhorn09]

Off topic: Are Canadian med school undergrad or grad just like U.S.?

 

[the duck]

Off topic: Are Canadian med school undergrad or grad just like U.S.?

Just like the US, except harder to get into and way cheaper.

 

[Bernoull]

Hi, I am a high school student who is contemplating about going to India to study for medicine. I will definitely come back every summer and do attachments at various hospitals at the US. I know that I would get an incredibly high USMLE score. what I am just worried about is whether I can get into the residency of my choice. For Instance I would like to get into neurosurgery residency. Please someone, provide me with stats, personal experiences or good advice, as I have to make a decision fast. Thank you and have a nice day.

If u do med sch in India, why not do neurosurg there as well?? Or do u yearn for the added challenge of being a FMG seeking an ultracompetitive US residency? Eitherway, you should be worrying about prom, a valentine's date and being locked in the school locker...

 

[Hifey]

Incorrect

4 years undergrad
4 years med school
5-6 years Neurosurg residency.

Also note that Neurosurg is currently NOT capped at 80 hours like other residencies. Pretty intense.

- Best of luck

Fair enough. I don't know much about the neuro part so I just put down what I know (which is at least 8 years).

 

[Disinence2]

Yep


At least 8 years until the real work starts!

 

[Sammich117]

I love it when people claim to 'know' they're going to do stellar on ridiculously hard tests. Saying you're going to do amazing on the USMLE's is even worse than claiming to get 40+ on the MCAT... And I really really really love it when the people who say that end up with 29s.

 

[Hifey]

If u do med sch in India, why not do neurosurg there as well?? Or do u yearn for the added challenge of being a FMG seeking an ultracompetitive US residency? Eitherway, you should be worrying about prom, a valentine's date and being locked in the school locker...

To the best of my knowledge....if the OP wants to be a neurosurgeon in the US, he needs to do his residency here. Even if OP were to do neurosurgery in India, if you move here you gotta do the residency over. I know some docs that were FMGs and specialists but when they came here, due to money and family constrictions, were only able to do intern year over and become FPs. Sooo yeah thats something to think about.

totally agree about the prom thing tho. although if the OP is this gunnerish in high school, I doubt there will be a date....unless its with a fellow gunner.

 

[metallica81788]

I love it when people claim to 'know' they're going to do stellar on ridiculously hard tests. Saying you're going to do amazing on the USMLE's is even worse than claiming to get 40+ on the MCAT... And I really really really love it when the people who say that end up with 29s.

Stuff happens. You can have a bad test day and do horrible even if you were scoring 38+ in practice tests. What if you have explosive diarrhea?

BTW, I had never even heard of the USMLE until midway through college. These high school kids need to get lives.

 

[the duck]

Stuff happens. You can have a bad test day and do horrible even if you were scoring 38+ in practice tests. What if you have explosive diarrhea?

BTW, I had never even heard of the USMLE until midway through college. These high school kids need to get lives.

If I remember correctly, I knew about it when I was 15, about the same time I began stalking these forums daily.

 

[45408]

Based on the OP's username, the answer is "No."

 

[Nuerosurgeon09]

I made a mistake by saying that i know I will do incredibly well in my USMLE. I apologize. But for those people who are ridiculing me. All I have to say is do not post if you do not have anything productive to say. I may have worded it wrongly, as I am new to this forum. I apologize for that. But what I do not apologize for is that people doubting my capability to do well on the USMLE even without knowing a thing about me. As for those who have been helpful, thank you, and yes, I do want to be a neurosurgeon, ever since I saw my first craniotomy at 14. So yes, I do want to be a nerosurgeon. I am only asking this because I do not want my parents to spend extra money for udergrad and then a huge sum of money for medical school. That is why I am asking this question so that people can actually give me their opinion on that matter, not ridiculing about me saying that "I know I can get an incredible USMLE score." As for my username, that was a tpyo, and I do not know how to fix it.That is all

 

[specter]

was there a reason why you wanted to go to india for med school? as people have mentioned, if your ultimate goal is to practice in the US (particularly in a competitive specialty), you are absolutely at a disadvantage as a FMG.

 

[BlueElmo]

Incorrect

4 years undergrad
4 years med school
5-6 years Neurosurg residency.

Also note that Neurosurg is currently NOT capped at 80 hours like other residencies. Pretty intense.

- Best of luck

Neurosurg is exempt from 80-hour rule? But why? I didn't know that.

 

[Nuerosurgeon09]

I wanted to go because I do not want my parents to pay so much for my undergraduate school and then med school, that is all. I think, ( I might be wrong ) that if I were to go to India, I would save my parents some money. Plus, the med school in India which I would go ( IF I were to go ) would be a school recognized by the US and that the USMLE exams are incorporated in the curriculum. That is why

 

[BBender716]

Based on the OP's username, the answer is "No."

THANK YOU! I was wondering if someone else caught it...

Let it be known that the first requirement of becoming a neurosurgeon is being able to spell it.

 

[Nuerosurgeon09]

Neurosurg is exempt from 80-hour rule? But why? I didn't know that.

What do you mean by the 80 hour rule?? Please explain to me.

 

[specter]

I wanted to go because I do not want my parents to pay so much for my undergraduate school and then med school, that is all. I think, ( I might be wrong ) that if I were to go to India, I would save my parents some money. Plus, the med school in India which I would go ( IF I were to go ) would be a school recognized by the US and that the USMLE exams are incorporated in the curriculum. That is why

If your parents can't finance a US education, I think it is worth it to look into other sources of funding, such as taking on loans yourself (which is what most med students do). It will give you a better shot at good residencies, since matching into nsg is difficult enough for US grads.

What do you mean by the 80 hour rule?? Please explain to me.

80 hour rule refers to an 80 hour cap placed on resident weekly work hours in most specialties, which I guess nsg doesn't follow (which I wasn't aware of).

 

[mfrizzo3]

What do you mean by the 80 hour rule?? Please explain to me.

This will not apply to you........with your 260+ you can pick your hours.

 

[riverjib]

I worked in an OR with a lot of FMG residents and attending physicians in anesthesiology and various competitive surgical specialties. But relax, young gunner. You're not even in college yet. First-year med students who are convinced that they want to get into specific fields change their minds during rotations. Even if you don't change your mind, the answer to this question may change by the time you're ready for medical school.