Becoming a brain doctor?

Question

I want to become a brain doctor and I'm wondering if I should major in neuroscience or psychology or what. I'm going into my freshman of college and haven't yet declared a major. Should I specify in neurosciences or should I wait and just major in biology for now?

Answer 1

Just major in Biology to start.  Work on the basics and then become more focussed on neurology.

Answer 2

First you need to get a bachelors degree -- it really doesn't matter what subject, but a biological subject is a good plan. (4 years). Cover a wide range of subjects as the first couple of years of med school are wide ranging -- biochemistry, physiology, bacteriology, pharmacology, pathology etc. and early prep will help.

Then you need to do the MCAT exams to get into med school.

Many med schools prefer people who have spent a couple of years between college and med school doing some relevant job first. (2 years)

Then you need to spend 4 years doing your MD. (4 years). During this time you may have a rotation in neurology.

Then you apply for a residency, either in neurology, or surgery with a specialization in neurosurgery, then you may have to do a further specialization. (4+ years).

Good luck. It is a long hard road.

Answer 3

Your eventual specialty should have nothing to do with your undergraduate degree, especially since you put the term "brain doctor" in your question instead of psychiatry, neurology, or neurosurgery. You really don't know what you want to be, though I'm sure you think you do. And even if you did, it wouldn't matter. As long as you get the pre-requisite courses, a music major would be as good as any. Medical school is pretty well generic. It's in residency that specialization happens, and there's no real advantage to trying to "get the jump" on the system.

Answer 4

It would be better if you started with basic Biology for the moment speaking, but getting now into the paths of neurology would let you learn a lot lot more things. So as long as you have decided your future speciality.. god, it's up to you! (i wanna become an oncologist)