How to determine if you are intelligent enough for medical school?

[V781]

Through college, I personally tend to think that hard work and great time management skills are the keys to achieving successful grades as opposed to sheer intelligence.

However, medical school is an entirely different beast with heavy work/study load at an unusually accelerated pace. Perhaps only the highest IQs can handle the Med School expectations. I've seen (who I deem to be) smart students crying about "not being smart enough" because they can't seem to get As in Medical School...

I know I'm not entirely incapable. I don't consider myself an idiot. However, I've never considered myself as being far more intelligent than my peers. I have not had an IQ test but believe I am of average to above average intelligence. I do know that this is my subject (physiology), and with my interest in it, I do usually perform well. I know that my interest in the material would help me greatly in medical school. Though I do worry about my retention after completing medical school..


Intelligence wise....how does one know if they could handle it intellectually?

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[TheBiologist]

MCAT score is probably most correlated; AAMC maintains that a score of 500 or higher is "capable" of medical school

 

[V781]

MCAT score is probably most correlated; AAMC maintains that a score of 500 or higher is "capable" of medical school

Well, I figure MCAT is more a measure of one's ability to study and retain than a test of intelligence. All of the material on the test is learned material as opposed to a standard intelligence test.

But a person has an endless period of time to study for this....plus there are paid classes and tutors to assist students...Anyone can end up performing well.

The MCAT couldn't accurately determine if a student is intelligent enough to handle heavy material in a short period of time.

 

[SuaveCardigans]

If you get accepted, chances are really high you are capable. Thats the easiest way of thinking about this

 

[Pleides]

Well, I figure MCAT is more a measure of one's ability to study and retain than a test of intelligence. All of the material on the test is learned material as opposed to a standard intelligence test.

But a person has an endless period of time to study for this....plus there are paid classes and tutors to assist students...Anyone can end up performing well.

The MCAT couldn't accurately determine if a student is intelligent enough to handle heavy material in a short period of time.

Have you taken the new MCAT? It's very much more a reasoning test than just testing straight up rote memorization.

 

[V781]

If you get accepted, chances are really high you are capable. Thats the easiest way of thinking about this

Well, I'm still in undergrad and haven't taken the MCAT or most of my science courses. I'm deciding between PA school and Med School. The paths to get there are slightly different. It'd be nice not to get to the end of that road to Med School only to determine then (years from now) that I'm not intelligent enough. I'd like to determine now if Med School is a realistic path for me.

 

[V781]

Have you taken the new MCAT? It's very much more a reasoning test than just testing straight up rote memorization.

No, I have not.

 

[grapefruit17]

The vast majority are capable; but a lot lack the determination and desire. Med school requires less intelligence then people think imo

 

[ciestar]

The vast majority are capable; but a lot lack the determination and desire. Med school requires less intelligence then people think imo

I very much agree. So much discipline and work ethic is required. So even if you're "not as intelligent", you can get through on sheer determination.

 

[Mad Jack]

MCAT performance
/thread

 

[VincentAdultman]

I didn't find medical school to be an exercise in intellegence. It's more about being able to manage your time and ability to organize. You need to retain a large volume of information. I'm not sure that you need to be highly intelligent to do that.

 

[V781]

The vast majority are capable; but a lot lack the determination and desire. Med school requires less intelligence then people think imo

Good to hear. This would suggest that our success is virtually under our control.

 

[Lucca]

I forget where the chart is but AAMC data shows that >90% can graduate with the MD in 4-5 years with an MCAT score > 25 (500).

So, 500 on the mcat = ur smart enough.

Obviously, that's well below what it takes to be reasonably competitive for most schools so if you can get into medical school, then you can graduate.

If you are the type of person who is coming into medical school only wanting to do medicine to be a brain surgeon, ortho surgeon, or dermatologist then you might want to reconsider if you are not already a very competitive person accustomed to the academic grind since that will require much more effort (and maybe "intelligence") to realize than "just" (cringe) graduating with an MD.

 

[V781]

If you are the type of person who is coming into medical school only wanting to do medicine to be a brain surgeon, ortho surgeon, or dermatologist then you might want to reconsider if you are not already a very competitive person accustomed to the academic grind since that will require much more effort (and maybe "intelligence") to realize than "just" (cringe) graduating with an MD.

Well, I would definitely want to get into a specialty though I'm doubtful I could get into the most competitive ones. It's unfortunate because self-doubt often holds me back.

 

[UBLI-EINSTEIN]

Well, I figure MCAT is more a measure of one's ability to study and retain than a test of intelligence. All of the material on the test is learned material as opposed to a standard intelligence test.

But a person has an endless period of time to study for this....plus there are paid classes and tutors to assist students...Anyone can end up performing well.

The MCAT couldn't accurately determine if a student is intelligent enough to handle heavy material in a short period of time.

You are absolutely wrong. I don't want to write paragraphs to point out why you are wrong, so I would just briefly talk about that.
I've seen people suffer a year in studying MCAT and still couldn't do well. In many case, inputing time, money and effort don't necessarily make you great.
In fact, all the issues come to be about studying methods and other factors, which is associated with your intelligence.
What I mean is that intelligence never help you by its own, but rather by coming up with intelligent solutions to solve the problems.
Not studying efficiently? Then come up with a good method to study efficiently.
Not being able to memorizing all the stuff? Then come up with method to only memorize crucial concepts.
Not having enough time? Then come up with a method to manage your time.

Your mistake is that you only saw people who succeed at the end, but you didn't realize how people develop methods to succeed over time.
MCAT means a lot in terms of your ways of doing things, such as how to study, how to review, and how to critically think to solve the problems.
As long as you've got a universal idea of problem solving, acing the medical school / USMLE shouldn't be surprisingly hard.
True, medical school is stressful, but most people overcome that anyway by the end of day.

 

[V781]

So how exactly has the MCAT changed? I was under the impression that you would deal with questions similar to those you came across in tests throughout undergrad.

 

[cossackdoc]

Good to hear. This would suggest that our success is virtually under our control.

I've talked to folks who maintain that the act of intensive academic preparation, on a repetitive basis, leads to an increased functional academic capacity. My guess is if you're majoring in physiology, find it enjoyable, and are self-reflective enough to even concern yourself with your relative level o cognitive ability, you'll be just fine. As Malcom Gladwell said (essentially), you don't have to be brilliant, just smart enough.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

Here's the thing. virtually nothing in medical school requires a staggering intellect. Any reasonably intelligent person can learn the stuff. It's all a matter or how long it will take them.
It's far more important to be able to learn things quickly, think rationally, and apply what you've learned.