How much Schooling is there to become a Physicist or a surgeon?

[Josh041]

im just really curious...
at the moment I am roughly stuck in the middle as to whether i want to become a surgeon, neurology preferably, or a Physicist,im still not completely sure about which branch, but I am inclining towards a Molecular, Astronomical, or theoretical.
Wages and salary arent really a determining factor for me.
At the moment, I am in my junior year in high school, so i was just wondering how much schooling i would require...
thanks for the answers.

 

[lurflurf]

You should be able to easily find this information, but here it is since I have it handy...
is that human of animal surgeon? I assume human...
I also assume this is in the US?
Physicist
Undergrad 3-5 years
grad 4-10 years
postdoc 4-12+ years

neurological surgeon
Undergrad 3-5 years
MD 4 years
phd (optional) 2-7 years
basic residency 6 years
research experience 0-2 years
fellowship (optional)(example:Endovascular Surgical Neuroradiology ) 1-2 years

Hope you enjoy quantum field theory or biochemistry or both.

http://www.rush.edu/professionals/gme/neurosurgery/faculty.html

 

[arunma]

I've heard that it's an eight year residency to be a neurosurgeon, so with the four years of medical school that's 12 years out of undergrad. Grad school in physics usually five years, plus at least one two-year post doc (usually more, so let's average out and call it three). And then if you're one of those lucky few who gets a tenure-track faculty position, it's another five years before you have a fully secure job as a physicist. So that's also about twelve years out of undergrad, with the +/- 1 that we introduced.

I guess it's the same either way.

 

[dx]

I don't think postdoctoral work is considered 'schooling'. Postdocs in physics could legitimately be called physicists.

 

[numberjuan412]

Becoming a Surgeon would take a lot of schooling. My uncle is in his mid-30s and just finished his certifications and stuff. My cousin has a PhD, MS, and Bachelors at the age of 26 and already has published stuff and is currently a professor conducting research.