Can you become a doctor with a double digit IQ?

[plsfoldthx]

I wonder what percent of doctors have double digit IQs

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[link2swim06]

Very very few...but IQ is a highly dynamic....you can easily train yourself to have a higher IQ.

I'd guess just being able to do well on the MCAT requires a reasonable intelligence. According to a survey I saw last year, doctors have the highest average IQ of any profession.

 

[link2swim06]

hi,
i'm new here,
can you tell me about this forum?
=================================================

Cookie stuff much?

 

[ozzi22]

hi,
i'm new here,
can you tell me about this forum?
=================================================

rule number 1- everyone on this forum are gunners 🙄

 

[Eric01]

Very very few...but IQ is a highly dynamic....you can easily train yourself to have a higher IQ.

I'd guess just being able to do well on the MCAT requires a reasonable intelligence. According to a survey I saw last year, doctors have the highest average IQ of any profession.

I find that hard to believe. I would say physicists have the highest IQ of any profession.

 

[Person0715]

I think the average IQ of physicians is around 110. This statistic is probably a bit dated, but I doubt that it has lowered.

 

[Gigantron]

I do not see why you couldn't. I've heard that medical school is really a matter of how hard you are willing to work in order to become the best physician that you could be.

 

[Lil Mick]

There isn't anything conceptually difficult in medical school--essentially just memorization. I suppose there's a cut-off in ability to memorize large quantities of material in a short period of time, but I would imagine it would be lower than 90s. The only difficulty would be passing pre-med courses and doing well enough on the MCAT to obtain an interview.

I doubt that doctors have the highest IQs of any professionals. Many of my classmates still don't understand isolating variables in algebraic equations or figuring out allele frequencies. I'm guessing the an average physicist or mathematician would outperform an average doctor on an IQ test, but there is likely a wide range of abilities within any field (with a minimum at some point).

 

[NickNaylor]

I heard IQ is a super accurate measure of intellectual ability.

 

[Web MD]

Nice job, you've gotta have a 130+ to even recognize that this is true ^

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Why are pre-med so obsessed with numbers?

 

[flatearth22]

Yes it's definitely possible. Most doctors are in primary care and are basically just glorified mechanics (don't believe me? go shadow one). Medicine is more about hard work and effort than raw intelligence (there's a reason most premeds hate physics classes - there's nothing to memorize!) Now the guys who are in academic medicine or intellectually demanding specialties (nephrology, hepatology, radonc, etc.) probably have much higher IQ's

 

[Ignatius M.D.]

Yes it's definitely possible. Most doctors are in primary care and are basically just glorified mechanics (don't believe me? go shadow one). Medicine is more about hard work and effort than raw intelligence (there's a reason most premeds hate physics classes - there's nothing to memorize!) Now the guys who are in academic medicine or intellectually demanding specialties (nephrology, hepatology, radonc, etc.) probably have much higher IQ's

Physics is the best measure of raw intelligence? My IQ is >130, does this mean I will be pigeonholed into nephrology, hepatology, or radonc? What if I enjoy primary care?

 

[NickNaylor]

Yes it's definitely possible. Most doctors are in primary care and are basically just glorified mechanics (don't believe me? go shadow one). Medicine is more about hard work and effort than raw intelligence (there's a reason most premeds hate physics classes - there's nothing to memorize!) Now the guys who are in academic medicine or intellectually demanding specialties (nephrology, hepatology, radonc, etc.) probably have much higher IQ's

This is wrong on many levels.

 

[flatearth22]

Physics is the best measure of raw intelligence? My IQ is >130, does this mean I will be pigeonholed into nephrology, hepatology, or radonc? What if I enjoy primary care?

High IQ people can always do jobs "lower" than their intellectual level (see - Will Hunting). But try becoming a radonc with a 90 IQ....their board exams cover a good amount of physics.

It's like the whole "academic purity" chart. People who are experts in math and physics can always go "backwards" and successfully work on biochemistry and chemistry. But people who are experts in sociology rarely go "forwards" and successfully work on biology and chemistry.

per xkcd:

 

[NickNaylor]

High IQ people can always do jobs "lower" than their intellectual level (see - Will Hunting). But try becoming a radonc with a 90 IQ....their board exams cover a good amount of physics.

It's like the whole "academic purity" chart. People who are experts in math and physics can always go "backwards" and successfully work on biochemistry and chemistry. But people who are experts in sociology rarely go "forwards" and successfully work on biology and chemistry.

per xkcd:

...

You are making so many assumptions that it's ridiculous.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

High IQ people can always do jobs "lower" than their intellectual level (see - Will Hunting). But try becoming a radonc with a 90 IQ....their board exams cover a good amount of physics.

It's like the whole "academic purity" chart. People who are experts in math and physics can always go "backwards" and successfully work on biochemistry and chemistry. But people who are experts in sociology rarely go "forwards" and successfully work on biology and chemistry.

per xkcd:

Okay, I love xkcd, but you realize that it's a comic right? As in, it's intended to be a humorous representation of exaggerated facts?

 

[Lil Mick]

So what does that comic mean for someone who started out in sociology, decided to add in biology/medicine, and wound up in physics and math research?

 

[flatearth22]

Okay, I love xkcd, but you realize that it's a comic right? As in, it's intended to be a humorous representation of exaggerated facts?

I would say it's pretty accurate. Look at any university's faculty listing and what the professors got their PhDs in. You see math and physics PhD's do protein modeling and genomic studies all the time. You ever see a sociology PhD talk about the chemistry of sociology? My linguistics prof who does big time linguistics research got his PhD in math. You see any linguistics PhD's doing research on knot theory? More "pure" fields also open up doors not found in academia. Physics and math majors enter Wall Street and make big $$$ in their early 20's all the time. Try doing that with your psych degree.

 

[flatearth22]

So what does that comic mean for someone who started out in sociology, decided to add in biology/medicine, and wound up in physics and math research?

That they had the aptitude for math in the first place.

 

[Long Way to Go]

So what does that comic mean for someone who started out in sociology, decided to add in biology/medicine, and wound up in physics and math research?

Shut up, you don't exist. 😛

 

[Narmerguy]

As a physics major, I'm sure that many of the skills required to excel in physics are useful for scoring well on those types of tests, but this is a very narrow view of what "intelligence" means (and I'm not talking about IQ vs EQ stuff). I think the significance behind a lot of that stuff is very overstated.

 

[Isoprop]

I sure hope so. My IQ < 100. 🙁

 

[cge0]

...

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Physics and math majors enter Wall Street and make big $$$ in their early 20's all the time. Try doing that with your psych degree.

Yeah, and they ended up tanking the economy. Read up on the "quants" sometime and you'll see how successful they really were.

 

[Etorphine]

Oh the joy of premed forums.

 

[Eric01]

On the issue of who would score higher on the IQ exams. I'd have no trouble betting money on physicists even over mathematicans and engineers. But in all seriousness, even in abstract and ambiguous definitions of intellect, I'd still say physicists possess a greater ability in solving scientific and theoretical problems.. I mean their work is trying to figure out how the universe works, there really can be nothing more complex than that.

 

[flatearth22]

This thread was about which profession would score higher on the IQ. I'd have no trouble betting money on physicists even over mathematicans and engineers.

Strong reading comprehension skills.

This thread was about if you can be a doctor with a sub-100 IQ. The answer is, emphatically, yes.

 

[NickNaylor]

I would say it's pretty accurate. Look at any university's faculty listing and what the professors got their PhDs in. You see math and physics PhD's do protein modeling and genomic studies all the time. You ever see a sociology PhD talk about the chemistry of sociology? My linguistics prof who does big time linguistics research got his PhD in math. You see any linguistics PhD's doing research on knot theory? More "pure" fields also open up doors not found in academia. Physics and math majors enter Wall Street and make big $$$ in their early 20's all the time. Try doing that with your psych degree.

Your last two sentences are laughable. Actually the stupidity in this entire post is laughable. To suggest that people actually think there's a hierarchy is stupid.

 

[cge0]

...

 

[HatWobble]

I imagine IQ and med school admissions would be bimodal-- most people who get accepted are smart, but don't discount the poop hotdog-eating imbeciles.

 

[flatearth22]

Your last two sentences are laughable. Actually the stupidity in this entire post is laughable. To suggest that people actually think there's a hierarchy is stupid.

Wrong.

 

[SisterDisco08]

Your last two sentences are laughable. Actually the stupidity in this entire post is laughable. To suggest that people actually think there's a hierarchy is stupid.

I feel like you just click "see more posts by flatearth" and follow him around correcting him....😀

 

[235788]

Well if i found out my PCP has an IQ <100, I'd change PCPs.

 

[flatearth22]

I feel like you just click "see more posts by flatearth" and follow him around correcting him....😀

His obsession with me is getting a bit unhealthy. He might want to see an addiction psychiatrist.

 

[NickNaylor]

I feel like you just click "see more posts by flatearth" and follow him around correcting him....😀

No, I just happen to find his *****ic advice wherever I go.

 

[SteveJMarist]

I've scored anywhere from like a 125 to a 140 on IQ tests. For the record, I'm a math and physics type of guy, but I agree that there is only a slight correlation involved there. Honestly though, I think IQ only plays a role in becoming a doctor to a certain extent. God gave you a tool box; it's how you use it that makes a difference. As for sub-100 IQs, that's got to be REALLY challenging, but I suppose it is remotely possible. Key word is remotely.

I think the average IQ of physicians is around 110. This statistic is probably a bit dated, but I doubt that it has lowered.

I feel like that's pretty low. Isn't the average person like a 90 IQ?

 

[Narmerguy]

An IQ of <100 is below average "intelligence" (100 is average). Simply by going to college the vast majority of full-time college students are above 100.

 

[235788]

An IQ of <100 is below average "intelligence" (100 is average). Simply by going to college the vast majority of full-time college students are above 100.

Disagree, I feel that since everyone goes to college these days (>70% HS grads) that its safe to say a lot of "*****" slip through. C's get degrees.

 

[flatearth22]

No, I just happen to find his *****ic advice wherever I go.

 

[SteveJMarist]

I'd still say physicists possess a greater ability in solving scientific and theoretical problems.. I mean their work is trying to figure out how the universe works, there really can be nothing more complex than that.

Have you had a gf?

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Have you had a gf?

Steve is wise. 😀

 

[SteveJMarist]

Steve is wise. 😀

Smiter's a rad dude. He knows what I'm talking about.

 

[Narmerguy]

Disagree, I feel that since everyone goes to college these days (>70% HS grads) that its safe to say a lot of "*****" slip through. C's get degrees.

You forget that 40% of high school student drop out. In addition, 70% of HS grads (it's actually slightly lower now) enter college but they don't all finish. Either way, if only 60% pass HS and of that 70% attend college, only about 42% ended up attending college so yes, by going to college you are still pretty much above average.

Have you had a gf?

Amen 👍 Physics ain't got nothing on that woman.

 

[Eric01]

Strong reading comprehension skills.

This thread was about if you can be a doctor with a sub-100 IQ. The answer is, emphatically, yes.

I knew someone would feel the need to comment on that, guess I didn't change it in time.

I would say in the 90-100 range, a person could still get in, especially since there is always some error associated with a number. Once you start getting into the 80s range it would take an Olympic effort to get in.

 

[Golding]

Sure you can. I often feel like I have a single-digit IQ.

 

[flatearth22]

I knew someone would feel the need to comment on that, guess I didn't change it in time.

I would say in the 90-100 range, a person could still get in, especially since there is always some error associated with a number. Once you start getting into the 80s range it would take an Olympic effort to get in.

Or URM status.

 

[TheMightySmiter]

Smiter's a rad dude. He knows what I'm talking about.

Do I need to start talking about my period to prove that I'm female?








😀

 

[SteveJMarist]

Dan Marino scored a 92 on his NFL combine IQ test. Just a fun fact.

 

[link2swim06]