Qualifications
There are a lot of hoops to jump through on your way to becoming an oncologist, so you'll want to pay attention to this next part. Where you go to get your pre-med or other undergraduate degree isn't actually that big of a deal. Rather, it's mostly about your GPA and your MCAT score (source).
Once you start considering which medical schools to apply to, there are a number of things you'll want to consider. Sure, an Ivy League school like Harvard is tempting, if you can get accepted.
But the price tag? Nearly $60,000 per year will have your wallet flat-lining. And, while Harvard is considered the top U.S. school for medical degrees, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is in the top twenty-five schools and costs two-thirds less than Harvard (source).
That's a huge difference, and one you should probably consider. A few others, such as Baylor, are also ranked highly and will save you some big money on the way to getting your medical degree.
How about the top-ranked schools for those wanting to become oncologists? Many of the Ivy League schools aren't even near the top of the list. North Carolina is one of the top-rated medical schools for oncology, along with University of Texas, Southwestern, in Dallas, and the University of Alabama, Birmingham (source). If you're truly considering a career in oncology, it makes sense (and in some cases, dollars) to choose a college ranked highly for its focus on cancer research.
Considering you're looking at four years to get a bachelor's degree, four years to get a medical degree, two or three years as a general internal medicine resident, and another three years as an oncology resident, you'll need to make a wise investment in both time and money.
You'll be earning some pretty good money, which will be a relief—but getting to that point will be stressful enough without worrying about breaking the bank, too.