Do you think anyone can do it?

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Not the best example as professional musicianship is far far more about effort than intelligence...

He said he thinks that if your IQ is over 100, you can do anything. That's just not true, and music is an example of that. Effort is important but if you don't a ton of natural talent to back it up, you aren't going to be that 1 person who wins the spot over 1000 other people who have also devoted their lives to this.
 
Music is a poor example of intelligence (and people will disagree).

Not everyone has access to piano lessons at the age of 3. Not everyone has parents who can afford to hire master pianists to coach them from a ripe age.

To be a good vocalist, you also need good vocal cords. If I am born with a baritone voice, I am not going to be the next Mariah Carey.

Musical talent is developed through decades of effort and rigorous training. This is why bands and musicians always practice. The 10,000 hour rule probably applies here (as Gladwell wrote).

With chess, some have claimed that:
peak rating = IQ*100+100*years of professional training (up to 10)

After that, it has been argued that you plateau and are unable to improve. Not sure how true.
 
No, but a surprising amount of mediocre and below average students can.
 
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IQ is a poor measure of artistic talent. That doesn't mean artistic talent is entirely developed out of thin air, or that individuals cannot have an innate musicality. Mozart was writing symphonies at the age of 5. Intelligence is multi-dimensional after all. In fact, there have been studies that show that what is considered "good music" is surprisingly uniform across cultures, with similar chords, tempos, and so on.
 
Very ironic coming from you, no offense. There are countless stories of musical prodigies. Though I agree that musical talent is probably less influenced by intelligence than mathematical ability.
 
Mathematical ability? I don't think so.

Music is learned long before math.
You misunderstand. Solving mathematical problems requires logic and the ability to manipulate symbols, which many children show proficiency in at an early age.
 
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Children are incapable of handling the most trivial of problems. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't call this mathematical ability.

Proficiency in math is developed through education and practice, while the maturity to solve logic puzzles comes much later. Most people never reach this stage, because there are tools and ideas that need to be learned in order to have any sort of mathematical ability.

Music doesn't require math. This is why illiterate gypsy kids can often make the best musicians.

No musical genius will succeed on the Putnam without rigorous training and a minimum set of tools. Children cannot carry this toolbox. They lack the capacity. It needs to be picked up much later in life.
 
Children are incapable of handling the most trivial of problems. I'm sorry, but I wouldn't call this mathematical ability.
The smartest child is probably still dumber than the dumbest adult, yes. There brains are still largely undeveloped. That doesn't mean some children are not smarter than others.
Proficiency in math is developed through education and practice, while the maturity to solve logic puzzles comes much later. Most people never reach this stage, because there are tools and ideas that need to be learned in order to have any sort of mathematical ability.
Again, no 4-year old is going to be able to do multi-variable calculus.

I have no idea what the "maturity to solve logic puzzles" means. Children are able to solve simple puzzles. There ability to solve these problems is going to vary, though children have a very tight distribution of ability in comparison to their adult counterparts. Some scientists think this is due to lack of expressed genes (people do not reach their genetic potential until adolescence.) And yes, unless you are a literal genius, you are not going to discover linear algebra in a village in West Africa. That doesn't mean the potential isn't there, and variable between people at that. If by "tools" you mean the speed and efficiency by which our brains analyze and process information, then you are objectively wrong.

Music doesn't require math. This is why illiterate gypsy kids can often make the best musicians.
Illiterate gypsy kids can also do physics, if the intellect and opportunity is there. The scientific community is moving towards analyzing music and language as a science, one that is subject to laws and one in which people take to at different speeds. See Noam Chomsky if you want the basics on this.

No musical genius will succeed on the Putnam without rigorous training and a minimum set of tools. Children cannot carry this toolbox. They lack the capacity. It needs to be picked up much later in life.
1.) Intelligence is multi-dimensional. A musical "genius" may not be a mathematical "genius," though there is rarely complete segregation.
2.) I believe I already addressed your argument about complex mathematics.
3.) Again, if by "tools" you mean the innate ability to process information, then you are wrong. If you are talking about having the knowledge to do X, Y, and Z in math, then you are correct in most cases.
 
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I don't feel as if I am smart enough, but what I do know is I will bust my ass every day to make sure I succeed if given an acceptance.
 
IQ is a poor measure of artistic talent. That doesn't mean artistic talent is entirely developed out of thin air, or that individuals cannot have an innate musicality. Mozart was writing symphonies at the age of 5. Intelligence is multi-dimensional after all. In fact, there have been studies that show that what is considered "good music" is surprisingly uniform across cultures, with similar chords, tempos, and so on.
Isn't IQ flawed at measuring intelligence at all?
 
Again, no 4-year old is going to be able to do multi-variable calculus.
...
I have no idea what the "maturity to solve logic puzzles" means. Children are able to solve simple puzzles.
Multi-variable calculus is trivial and does not constitute mathematical ability. Solving anything beyond trivial problems requires mathematical reasoning and tools (learned theorems, ideas which were proposed and proven by the great minds of math). Math majors learn these tools throughout undergrad and graduate school. Without these tools, don't expect any musical child to contribute to the field of mathematics within the next 10 years.

Illiterate gypsy kids can also do physics, if the intellect and opportunity is there.
The opportunity is not there. They don't do physics.

Likewise, how many great mathematicians have the great tribes of Africa produced? They have great music, don't get me wrong, but this does not produce mathematical understanding or the ability to navigate through logic puzzles.

And yes, unless you are a literal genius, you are not going to discover linear algebra in a village in West Africa.

You are not going to discover linear algebra. Period. Linear algebra is a field of mathematics that was developed by many minds and the discovery of a whole field is not a one-man pursuit. It occurs over lifetimes.

Secondly, the tools of linear algebra that you learned in first-year were proposed by people like Gauss in the 1800s. These are old tools that you learn to use, but getting an A in this course tells me nothing about your ability to solve mathematical problems. Beyond the trivial, previously solved cases, you won't be solving anything. You also won't be discovering any new tools for others to use.

If you want to make an argument, don't give trivial cases.

There are plenty of child musicians that produce great music, but they are incapable of contributing to the field of mathematics. Taste for music/musical fame is also subjective, mathematics is not. They are completely different things.
 
Multi-variable calculus is trivial and does not constitute mathematical ability. Solving anything beyond trivial problems requires mathematical reasoning and tools (learned theorems, ideas which were proposed and proven by the great minds of math). Math majors learn these tools throughout undergrad and graduate school. Without these tools, don't expect any musical child to contribute to the field of mathematics within the next 10 years.
Like I said, very few people have the ability to do higher mathematics without training. The same cannot be said for general puzzles. Some people analyze and process information faster than others.
The opportunity is not there. They don't do physics.

Likewise, how many great mathematicians have the great tribes of Africa produced? They have great music, don't get me wrong, but this does not produce mathematical understanding or the ability to navigate through logic puzzles.
You seem to think I equate mathematical ability with musicality, I don't. I only said innate talents exist for both. Yes it is much easier to find the resources for creating instruments than to derive higher mathematics. As for your implication that a higher education is required to learn and understand math, I would say in most cases, probably. But mathematics is called a basic science for a reason, all of it's principles can and are derived from ancient philosophical principles. Though I don't really know what this has to do with the nature vs nurture argument. Some people process information better and faster than others. I haven't seen you address this argument yet. If you are trying to prove to me that a higher education is required to be successful, and that successful people are only "smart" and successful because of the schools they went to and the environment they grew up in, then you are objectively wrong (see last paragraph.)

You are not going to discover linear algebra. Period. Linear algebra is a field of mathematics that was developed by many minds and the discovery of a whole field is not a one-man pursuit. It occurs over lifetimes.

Secondly, the tools of linear algebra that you learned in first-year were proposed by people like Gauss in the 1800s. These are old tools that you learn to use, but getting an A in this course tells me nothing about your ability to solve mathematical problems. Beyond the trivial, previously solved cases, you won't be solving anything. You also won't be discovering any new tools for others to use.

If you want to make an argument, don't give trivial cases.
I'm not sure what your point is, my statement was clearly hyperbolic. People differ in their ability to analyze and process information. I'm starting to sound like a broken record. Yes, some things are so intellectually "heavy" that one mind is likely not enough. You are not going to make slow minds fast by registering them in difficult classes.

There are plenty of child musicians that produce great music, but they are incapable of contributing to the field of mathematics. Taste for music/musical fame is also subjective, mathematics is not. They are completely different things.
Ahh see here is what I addressed in my previous post. Scientists are finding that music obeys certain laws, so no it is not completely subjective. As I said, music is certainly more subjective than math. But if I like classical rock and you like jazz that may be due less to environment than you think.

We are going in circles here so let me wrap this up. You originally contended that environment plays a greater role than intelligence (and lets define "intelligence" as innate intelligence) in life. If we measure success in life by education level and income level, then you are wrong. IQ has a greater predictive power for success in life than race, sex, SES, education (primary education), etc. Then we pivoted and you began to argue that intelligence is not really innate, or at the very least not largely genetic and heritable. This, also, is false. Intelligence is, at the very least, 40-70% heritable (meaning directly heritable from one's parents.) That doesn't even account for whatever cognitive faculties you carry that were not inherited but are no less innate. Neither of the two bold statements are arguable, it is simply what the evidence shows. Which is why people who attack IQ studies say that the tests are biased, or that there are insanely complex reasons that IQ can predict life outcomes, or that scientists are racist/sexist/whateverist. Anyway, it's been real, I'm going to bow out now.
 
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No.

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If I had gone to med school, this is what would have happened to me!

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"Anything is possible" that's a phrase I'm sure we have all heard but is it actually true?
I feel like there is a limit to who can actually enter medical school, the person imo needs to have some sort of "natural" intelligence.
Do you think it's possible for anyone to get into medical school just by "studying hard"?
(I'm just bringing this up because my friend and I were talking and he was going on about how "stupid"people from our old school would never be able to do it etc)
 
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Let's be real here, the answer is no.

Doctors disproportionately come from middle class or higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Not everyone is born into good personal and academic situations. These things affect people's educational opportunities and chances to succeed professionally.

To address your point more specifically, yes, I agree that a certain intellectual level is absolutely necessary to be admitted into medical school. Not everyone can simply work hard and get in.

That said, hard work can cover up many things. One does not need to be a genius to be a physician. Someone with about average intelligence can certainly work hard enough to obtain a good GPA and decent MCAT score.

Tl;dr: (Almost) anything is possible (if you were born into at least a decent situation)! Having middle class or rich parents can help a lot!
 
Ben Carson is the sole exception I know of (no doubt there are many from disadvantaged, low socioeconomic backgrounds that make it to med school).

Poor child from impoverished family rises to the occasion, doesn't let his circumstance stop him, goes onto JH as top neurosurgeon - pediatric no less and now running for PoTUS.

He had brains though. Lots and lots and lots and lots of brains to overcome his socioeconomic childhood status.
 
There are plenty of child musicians that produce great music, but they are incapable of contributing to the field of mathematics. Taste for music/musical fame is also subjective, mathematics is not. They are completely different things.

No, there aren't.

Mozart? Everything he wrote before his late teenage years was unmemorable. No one plays his work from back then, except for the kicks. Because it sucks.

His level of achievement back then is seldom higher than that of a 4 y/o mastering calculus. It's "impressive", but about as significant an addition to music as hot dogs contests are to culinary arts.

I dare you to find music that's widely played and acclaimed composed by < 15-16 y/o.
 
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No, there aren't.

Mozart? Everything he wrote before his late teenage years was unmemorable. No one plays his work from back then, except for the kicks. Because it sucks.

His level of achievement back then is seldom higher than that of a 4 y/o mastering calculus. It's "impressive", but about as significant an addition to music as hot dogs contest are to culinary arts.

I dare you to find music that's widely played and acclaimed composed by < 15-16 y/o.
Justin Bieber *Kappa*
 
No, there aren't.

Mozart? Everything he wrote before his late teenage years was unmemorable. No one plays his work from back then, except for the kicks. Because it sucks.

His level of achievement back then is seldom higher than that of a 4 y/o mastering calculus. It's "impressive", but about as significant an addition to music as hot dogs contest are to culinary arts.

I dare you to find music that's widely played and acclaimed composed by < 15-16 y/o.
We've been over this. It's impressive relative to his 4 y/o peers, and that is all that matters.
 
People could achieve at least high 20s with tons of practice I think
That's really overselling the intelligence of some people. Hit a 24? Sure, most people could do it with hard work. But the MCAT does test a certain type of thinking that some people simply can never master. Your brain does have limits that it cannot exceed, and for some people those limits are lower than others. You're not going to see a person with an IQ of 80 rocking a 30 on the MCAT no matter how many times they take it, simply because that level of achievement is beyond their grasp.
 
That's really overselling the intelligence of some people. Hit a 24? Sure, most people could do it with hard work. But the MCAT does test a certain type of thinking that some people simply can never master. Your brain does have limits that it cannot exceed, and for some people those limits are lower than others. You're not going to see a person with an IQ of 80 rocking a 30 on the MCAT no matter how many times they take it, simply because that level of achievement is beyond their grasp.

No they can't. The mcat is a very difficult test that takes a long time to take requiring a fair amount of mental stamina. I have plenty of college educated friends who are reasonably intelligent that studied for many months and still couldn't obtain a competitive score. They are now studying medicine abroad or choose a different field. Hard work only goes so far and it is very limited when it comes to cerebral work. Don't sell yourself short, getting into medical school successfully is a very difficult proposition which is why so many premeds fail
 
No they can't. The mcat is a very difficult test that takes a long time to take requiring a fair amount of mental stamina. I have plenty of college educated friends who are reasonably intelligent that studied for many months and still couldn't obtain a competitive score. They are now studying medicine abroad or choose a different field. Hard work only goes so far and it is very limited when it comes to cerebral work. Don't sell yourself short, getting into medical school successfully is a very difficult proposition which is why so many premeds fail
A 24 isn't really a stellar score though- it's an average score. If you work really hard, you can probably hit the 40th percentile. Most of the time. I mean, I knew one kid that was really awesome and nice and did great in all his classes but couldn't break a 20, so there's those rare few, but most people that can complete college can land a 24. High 20s though? Not everyone can do it.
 
Even someone who made it to a 4 year college and took the prereqs??
Half of the people who take the MCAT get less than a 25/26. Presumably the vast majority of these people have taken the prereqs.
 
Half of the people who take the MCAT get less than a 25/26. Presumably the vast majority of these people have taken the prereqs.
I suspect these are often people who 1) did community college rather than 4-year university prereqs or 2) did not study extensively for the MCAT rather than 3) are incapable of a 25+
 
I suspect these are often people who 1) did community college rather than 4-year university prereqs or 2) did not study extensively for the MCAT rather than 3) are incapable of a 25+
4) non-native English speakers
5) disadvantaged
 
I think socioeconomically:

"1. Lacking financial resources: If you had to forego educational opportunities or work to support family due to economic hardship, the disadvantaged statement could be one place to mention this situation.

2. Feeling a lack of belonging: Students from immigrant backgrounds, or who otherwise faced cultural or racial adversity in school, often use this space to discuss those issues.

3. Lacking sufficient social or environmental resources: Applicants from rural or impoverished urban areas often used this section to discuss the impact of their upbringing in these areas on their educational opportunities or overall wellbeing."

Source: USnews article regarding who commonly applies as disadvantaged...

If you are constantly worried about family problems or having to put food on the table, I can't see this person doing well on the MCAT. It becomes hard to focus when you are too occupied dealing with other more important problems.
 
I think socioeconomically:

"1. Lacking financial resources: If you had to forego educational opportunities or work to support family due to economic hardship, the disadvantaged statement could be one place to mention this situation.

2. Feeling a lack of belonging: Students from immigrant backgrounds, or who otherwise faced cultural or racial adversity in school, often use this space to discuss those issues.

3. Lacking sufficient social or environmental resources: Applicants from rural or impoverished urban areas often used this section to discuss the impact of their upbringing in these areas on their educational opportunities or overall wellbeing."

Source: USnews article regarding who commonly applies as disadvantaged...

If you are constantly worried about family problems or having to put food on the table, I can't see this person doing well on the MCAT. It becomes hard to focus when you are too occupied dealing with other more important problems.
But doesn't this argument also apply to making high grades in prereqs, preventing most from getting to the MCAT at all?
 
I just don't understand why people are saying "anyone can do it with hard work!" when not everyone is capable of doing hard work.
 
I just don't understand why people are saying "anyone can do it with hard work!" when not everyone is capable of doing hard work.
incapable even if willing is the point of OP's starting post though imo, rather than "is there anyone unwilling to work hard" which is an obvious yes
 
I was called stupid in elementary school, but I got a 2300 on the SAT on my first try studying on my own, and people called me a genius. And my IQ is only above average.
It's all about being able to learn, make connections, and working hard. I'm not sure what "stupid" and "genius" means.
 
Most people can probably become a doctor if they work hard enough. Not everyone of course, but most people.
 
incapable even if willing is the point of OP's starting post though imo, rather than "is there anyone unwilling to work hard" which is an obvious yes
Oh well even then. The fact that there are people itching towards retirement and feeling mentally and physically burned out by age 45 vs people who are dreading their retirement signifies to me that some people are not emotionally capable and handling that much hard work, and that's out of people who DO decide to work.

I mean, take my aunt. When she was 12, she said "I'm going to marry a doctor, have four kids, and be a SAHM and not worry about a damn thing" and that's exactly what she did. She worked at Portillo's in high school for one day but had to quit because she couldn't handle it mentally.

I don't think she'd be capable of putting in those hours of work.
 
Oh well even then. The fact that there are people itching towards retirement and feeling mentally and physically burned out by age 45 vs people who are dreading their retirement signifies to me that some people are not emotionally capable and handling that much hard work, and that's out of people who DO decide to work.

I mean, take my aunt. When she was 12, she said "I'm going to marry a doctor, have four kids, and be a SAHM and not worry about a damn thing" and that's exactly what she did. She worked at Portillo's in high school for one day but had to quit because she couldn't handle it mentally.

I don't think she'd be capable of putting in those hours of work.
I see evidence that they're unwilling, not incapable though. If it was working at portillos vs starving to death she would probably behave differently. Threat of death still couldn't get a lot of people to the necessary grades and test scores.
 
I see evidence that they're unwilling, not incapable though. If it was working at portillos vs starving to death she would probably behave differently. Threat of death still couldn't get a lot of people to the necessary grades and test scores.
And what about people who commit suicide because they can't handle pressures of college? Or in this ridiculous hypothetical are we assuming that people are fully medicated/undergoing incredibly efficacious therapy?
 
And what about people who commit suicide because they can't handle pressures of college? Or in this ridiculous hypothetical are we assuming that people are fully medicated/undergoing incredibly efficacious therapy?
Where did that come from? We were discussing the ability of IQ/intelligence alone stopping someone from going into medicine. Hard work/will power is a different story and certainly is important.
 
IQ is a faulty indicator for one's capacity to succeed in medicine, especially since it hardly factors in hard work, and emotional intelligence, as well as significant other types of intelligence that can help one to succeed.

I think most people could potentially succeed in medicine, in many cases though, including my own, the path is way more difficult and more involved nonetheless.
Depends on how you define 'succeed'.
If you mean 'be a good doctor,' then I absolutely agree with you.
If you mean 'succeed in med school and get a good residency,' I think that IQ becomes relevant...not because it is a good, complete demonstrator of intelligence, but because it indicates 'test taking skills', and like it or not, those are currently a HUGE factor in medical education.
 
Let's be real here, the answer is no.

Doctors disproportionately come from middle class or higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Not everyone is born into good personal and academic situations. These things affect people's educational opportunities and chances to succeed professionally.

To address your point more specifically, yes, I agree that a certain intellectual level is absolutely necessary to be admitted into medical school. Not everyone can simply work hard and get in.

That said, hard work can cover up many things. One does not need to be a genius to be a physician. Someone with about average intelligence can certainly work hard enough to obtain a good GPA and decent MCAT score.

Tl;dr: (Almost) anything is possible (if you were born into at least a decent situation)! Having middle class or rich parents can help a lot!

100 percent truth.
 
Where did that come from? We were discussing the ability of IQ/intelligence alone stopping someone from going into medicine. Hard work/will power is a different story and certainly is important.
I think the question is too vague. Hard work and intelligence are too intimately tied for medical school admissions, and I don't think you can really discuss one without the other.

The fact that everyone seems to be interpreting this question in a different way is what makes it so difficult to answer.

Are we talking about from birth? Are we talking about plucking a random 12 year old? Are we talking about anyone, anywhere?
 
I think the question is too vague. Hard work and intelligence are too intimately tied for medical school admissions, and I don't think you can really discuss one without the other.

The fact that everyone seems to be interpreting this question in a different way is what makes it so difficult to answer.

Are we talking about from birth? Are we talking about plucking a random 12 year old? Are we talking about anyone, anywhere?
I think OP meant a premed student (trad or nontrad), not a 12 year old haha.
 
There are people who will never be capable of grasping and understanding certain complex subjects, no matter how hard they work at it. Now that is not to say these people are dumb. A brilliant artist clearly has intelligence, but not the kind necessary to master complex physiology or biochemistry. So to answer the question, could anyone do it (if they work hard enough)? No. But that does not make them stupid.

Everyone here seems to be assuming the only intelligence that exists is the kind that makes you good at medically-related science. There are a million forms of intelligence that may or may not lend to success as a pre med/doctor
 
There are people who will never be capable of grasping and understanding certain complex subjects, no matter how hard they work at it. Now that is not to say these people are dumb. A brilliant artist clearly has intelligence, but not the kind necessary to master complex physiology or biochemistry. So to answer the question, could anyone do it (if they work hard enough)? No. But that does not make them stupid.

Everyone here seems to be assuming the only intelligence that exists is the kind that makes you good at medically-related science. There are a million forms of intelligence that may or may not lend to success as a pre med/doctor

Million forms? Complex? nothing about pre-medical studies is complex. Most undergraduate courses are RELATIVELY simple. People cry when they take organic chem 2, but there are people taking extremely advanced physics or mathematics.

My point is that pre-medical studies are simple enough for a huge majority of people to do well in granted they put in the work.

Now... the MCAT is pretty tough. like @Mad Jack said, there is def a limit to MCAT score capacity. its a hard test, and even some of the smartest people from other "super science" fields as I call them would probably have a hard time with it.
 
There are people who will never be capable of grasping and understanding certain complex subjects, no matter how hard they work at it. Now that is not to say these people are dumb. A brilliant artist clearly has intelligence, but not the kind necessary to master complex physiology or biochemistry. So to answer the question, could anyone do it (if they work hard enough)? No. But that does not make them stupid.

Everyone here seems to be assuming the only intelligence that exists is the kind that makes you good at medically-related science. There are a million forms of intelligence that may or may not lend to success as a pre med/doctor
Why does a brilliant artist clearly have intelligence? They clearly have talent, but that's not the same thing.
Not all talent = intelligence.

On the other hand, just because they may not be intelligent, doesn't make them stupid.
Intelligence is not a black and white, 'you are either smart or stupid' scenario...it's a spectrum.

Edit: For the record, I also don't think that either physiology or biochem really requires much in the way of innate intelligence.
 
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