How Do I Become a Neurology Doctor?

If you want to become a neurology doctor, there is a long and challenging road ahead of you. Done correctly, however, and with the right intentions, you could find yourself in a rewarding and lucrative employment situation. The typical path includes high school, a bachelor's degree, and medical school, followed by a specialized residency in neurology after the completion of medical school.

Due to the linear nature of the path to become a neurology doctor, it is vital that you complete each step in good standing. The medical field is a demanding and competitive one, and only the best students find themselves responsible for the lives of others at the end of this arduous journey. This begins with exceptional grades and extracurricular activities in high school, enabling a student with the opportunity to earn admission into the best university possible.

After transitioning from high school into college life, if you still wish to become a neurology doctor, academics and additional involvements should still remain priorities. Such activities could include club involvement, volunteering, and work in research. Academically, grades are very important, but the specific course work and major that you choose is of equal significance. Different medical schools vary in terms of admission requirements, but generally speaking, a heavy emphasis on physics, biology, and chemistry are among those courses required to become a medical student.

A wise college student would choose a major that also requires those science courses necessary for medical school; however, as long as course requirements are fulfilled, a scientific major itself is not required. For example, an English major who has received enough science credits may be equally considered for medical school as a biology major. Some schools may even prefer to diversify their incoming class with students who have atypical majors. If you find yourself in good standing at the end of college with a high grade point average, satisfactory scientific course work, extracurricular activities, and a number of reputable references, you may have a chance of being admitted to an accredited medical program. The last step is to score as high as possible on the MCAT exam, which tests science comprehension and potential.

After being admitted to medical school, there is still much work left to become a neurology doctor. This work consists of four intense classroom and clinical years of medical school, followed by an intense but paid training period in a specialty. This training period, known as a residency, varies in length depending on specialty. Someone who wishes to become a neurology doctor, for example, will likely experience a three- to five-year residency, whereas an internist may spend less time before he or she officially gains the right to practice medicine independently.