Answers from the Experts

Becoming an Orthopedic Doctor

"First off I would like to thank Ventures Scholars Program for selecting me. I have a question concerning a possible career path and the universities and colleges that affiliate with it. I want to become an Orthopedic doctor for sports medicine because I have a great passion for science and sports, being a student athlete. I want to be able to be the team doctor for professional sports teams or college. But I am not certain what the major would be and all of that information to help me find the right college. I need help finding the best college / university that suits this and is in range of New England. I have also considered playing college soccer. I have thought about Johns Hopkins and Brown University. Thanks for your time and effort."

Responses were sent from:
The University of Vermont, and Juniata College.

Member Institution and Association Answers:

From The University of Vermont:

It’s good that you have narrowed your geographic range to just New England. It will help you focus your college search to a smaller number of universities. The most important question you should be asking every college you are interested in is: "How many graduates from your university apply, and are admitted to medical school?". This will help you to determine which university is the right university for you, if you are truly passionate about become an orthopedic surgeon. You may want to inquire about their pre-medical programs or majors as well. Find out what each university can do for you to help you make your dream a reality. There is no set major that would be ideal for becoming an orthopedic surgeon. Actually, if you were to look at all applicants to all medical schools, you would find that there is a large amount of students applying to medical school who have undergraduate degrees in areas other than science! This is because medical schools like applicants who are academically strong in many areas and not just science. So choose which ever major you would like, but be sure to check with an academic adviser at your university to make sure you are preparing yourself for medical school.

Devin Harmon
Assistant Director of Admissions
The University of Vermont
194 South Prospect Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: (802) 656-4624
Fax: (802) 656-4663
E-mail: Devin.Harmon@uvm.edu
web: http://www.uvm.edu

From Juniata College:

As with any student interested in becoming a doctor, you need to look for a good undergraduate program in pre-medicine. After you've created a list of great undergrad programs, narrow it down by finding the schools that fit you best; for example, ask yourself "Do I want the excitement of a big campus, or am I looking for a small, supportive environment?" "Urban, suburban, or rural?" "Which of these schools offers the kinds of extra-curricular activities I want to be involved in?" Figure out what is most important to you, and look for a school you can call "home" for four years. Also ask the schools in question about their four-year graduation rates. It takes a long time to become a doctor, so you don't want to spend five or six years just getting your undergraduate degree!

Heather Doyle
Admission Counselor
Multicultural Recruitment
Juniata College
Huntingdon, PA
(814)641-3430
doyleh@juniata.edu