Neurosurgery.

[Camo]

What would I have to do to become a brain surgeon? It's something that has came to interest lately and I was wondering if anyone could give me some background information for what I would have to study at university.

[REBORN]

A brain surgeon is a 'neurosurgeon'.

Pretty sure you have to do Med first, *waits for Russ to confirm*

[Camo]

A brain surgeon is a 'neurosurgeon'.

Pretty sure you have to do Med first, *waits for Russ to confirm*

I know. I'm just thinking if I could do something more centralised on brain studies first, and then do reseach in regards to medicine or is it just straight medicine all the way?

[tony3272]

I actually looked into this a while ago because i piqued my interest as well. But as far as i can remember you need to finish your med degree first.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology

[Camo]

Looks like I'm just going to be an academic psychologist them. Oh well.

[shinny]

I actually looked into this a while ago because i piqued my interest as well. But as far as i can remember you need to finish your med degree first.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology

Neurology's a bit different to neurosurgery. One's more towards the medical side of things, other's obviously more towards surgical. But yeh, you'll need your Med degree no matter how you want to get there.

[Camo]

I actually looked into this a while ago because i piqued my interest as well. But as far as i can remember you need to finish your med degree first.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurology

Neurology's a bit different to neurosurgery. One's more towards the medical side of things, other's obviously more towards surgical. But yeh, you'll need your Med degree no matter how you want to get there.

Thanks Andrew, I guess I'll just stay with something regarding academic psychology, just really interested with the brain, but Medicine seems a bit long for me in university and training to be qualified.

[Russ]

edit, Shinny beat me but you're getting this anyway lol

Well, the pathway looks something like this:
1. medical degree at university
2. internship at a hospital
3. residency at a hospital
4. specialty training in neurosurgery (subset of surgery)

At an absolute minimum, that's going to come to 5 + 1 + 2 + 6 = 14 years
Since you haven't registered for the UMAT, you'll probably have to add another 2 to that.

It's a horribly long pathway that only attracts people who are incredibly driven, because neuro is not a lot of fun (people claim it is, but they're lying to you)

If you want to do brain research, there are plenty of other pathways. A science degree and a major in Psychology will set you up to decide exactly what area you want to move into, as well as keeping your options reasonably open (even for medicine and neurosurgery if you do decide on it).

*waits for Russ to confirm*

I hate being predictable

[Camo]

If you want to do brain research, there are plenty of other pathways. A science degree and a major in Psychology will set you up to decide exactly what area you want to move into, as well as keeping your options reasonably open (even for medicine and neurosurgery if you do decide on it).

I'm kinda big on teaching now. So do a bachelor of science mixed with education and a major in psychology so I could keep my options open and become either.

-Psychologist
-Teacher

Because these are two jobs I would love to do.

[tony3272]

If you want to do brain research, there are plenty of other pathways. A science degree and a major in Psychology will set you up to decide exactly what area you want to move into, as well as keeping your options reasonably open (even for medicine and neurosurgery if you do decide on it).

I'm kinda big on teaching now. So do a bachelor of science mixed with education and a major in psychology so I could keep my options open and become either.

-Psychologist
-Teacher

Because these are two jobs I would love to do.

The prospect of teaching is so appealing 
But looking at some of the kids at my school really turns me off becoming a teacher

[Russ]

I'm kinda big on teaching now. So do a bachelor of science mixed with education and a major in psychology so I could keep my options open and become either.

-Psychologist
-Teacher

Because these are two jobs I would love to do.

Well you need a BSc + Honours + Masters to work as an accredited psychologist. That's 3 + 1 + 2 = 6.
If you want to teach, it's a Dip. Ed. which is 2 years...I think. But you could always work as a psychologist and then go back for the DipEd to teach later in life (or the other way around).

[Camo]

If you want to do brain research, there are plenty of other pathways. A science degree and a major in Psychology will set you up to decide exactly what area you want to move into, as well as keeping your options reasonably open (even for medicine and neurosurgery if you do decide on it).

I'm kinda big on teaching now. So do a bachelor of science mixed with education and a major in psychology so I could keep my options open and become either.

-Psychologist
-Teacher

Because these are two jobs I would love to do.

The prospect of teaching is so appealing  
But looking at some of the kids at my school really turns me off becoming a teacher

Just think of all the good ones through.