Education · 1 of 5

The path

Fifteen years after high school, and that is if nothing goes wrong.

1. 1

   High school

   Grades 11 and 12

   Biology, chemistry, physics and math, with the grades for a competitive college. Start building the habit of working long hours now.

2. 2

   Bachelor's degree

   4 years

   Any major, plus the pre-medical science courses and the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test).

3. 3

   Medical school

   4 years

   Classroom science, then hospital rotations. Neurosurgery applicants usually need research published and very strong grades.

4. 4

   Neurosurgery residency

   7 years

   Seven years, including the internship year and often a year of research. The longest residency in American medicine.

5. 5

   Board certification

   After residency

   The American Board of Neurological Surgery requires exams plus a period in practice before you are fully certified.

6. 6

   Fellowship, if you want one

   1 year

   Pediatric, spine, skull base, vascular or tumor. Optional, and adds another year.