I want to go to med school but I don't think I'm smart enough?

[Justiii]

Before I start, forgive me for my bad grammar. Okay, so how smart do you really have to be to go to med school? I ask this, because I'm relatively smart but I lack a lot of confidence.. I had to quit school when I was 11 1/2 years old because my mom was a prescription drug addict and was gone everyday from sun up to sun down so I had to watch my infant and toddler sisters. I got my GED and started community college: I've finished one semester with a 4.0 GPA-but those were easy basic classes. I'm about to finish my second semester and I have all A's so far but Idk how I will do on the final exams to say they are going to stay that way. I'm in an honor society now too. But, I just don't think I'll make it through hard classes.. What are the lowest stats I could get and go to a good med school? How rigorous is med school?- because I don't know if I'll be able to learn so much information in such short periods of time.. Do I have to be really good at math? I suck at math.. Thanks!

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[Bismillah]

In order to get into medical school you need to do the following

• One year of biology
• One year of physics
• One year of English
• Two years of chemistry (through organic chemistry)
• MCAT Exam
• possibly One semester Biochemistry
  
• possibly One semester Psychology or 1 semester Sociology
  
• Extra curricular activities such as research, medical volunteering, doctor shadowing, random stuff you love to do
• Fill out your AMCAS or AACOMAS, apply to schools, fill out their secondary essyas
• Get invited to an interview
• ace the interview
• and voila, an acceptance

You have everything it takes to get into medical school.
Have confidnece in yourself and don't let any challenge discourage you from accomplishing your goals.

If you maintain a 3.3-3.4, and greater than a 510 MCAT, you will get into a US Medical school (probably MD due to your story)

However, if you can keep up this GPA(4.0) through undergrad and your pre med courses, and do equivalently well on the MCAT, you can get into a top top tier medical school




Again, Just have confidence in yourself, keep working as hard as you do, Don't ever stop working hard... and you will get into medical school and evntually accomplish your goal of giong to medical school.

 

[Goro]

This what I call a compelling life story

I had to quit school when I was 11 1/2 years old because my mom was a prescription drug addict and was gone everyday from sun up to sun down so I had to watch my infant and toddler sisters. I got my GED and started community college:
I've finished one semester with a 4.0 GPA-but those were easy basic classes. I'm about to finish my second semester and I have all A's so far but Idk how I will do on the final exams to say they are going to stay that way. I'm in an honor society now too.


You won't know until you try.
But, I just don't think I'll make it through hard classes..

The median GPA for MD school matriculants is 3.6; for DO students its ~3.4+. The effective floor for MD schools is ~3.4, but might be 3.3 if you live in a "lucky" state like TX, FL or LA.
What are the lowest stats I could get and go to a good med school?

Whatever you're taking right now, multiply it by 5. Imagine drinking from a fire hose. Imagine getting a MS degree every semester. That's how rigorous it is.
How rigorous is med school?- because I don't know if I'll be able to learn so much information in such short periods of time..

Really good? No. Good, yes. Just remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint. Make good use of your school's learning and education center.
See them for help with time mgt., learning styles and test taking skills.
Teaching moment: my son's tutor worked for decades in such a place, helping students. He told me that it made a letter grade difference in their GPA!
Do I have to be really good at math? I suck at math..

 

[moisne]

First step: Believe in your self - because if you don't - no one else will.
Good Luck! 🙂

 

[MrLogan13]

My favorite quote from Dr. Tom Tarter of Survivor MD: "People think of medicine like this...think that you have to be exceptionally smart to do medicine. It's really not the case. What is the case is, you can't be stupid and do medicine. You can't be a klutz and be a surgeon. But if you're reasonably well adept or you're reasonably bright, then you can do either one."

 

[VictorAlpha]

i don't think you need an exceptional intellect. However, unless you are exceptionally gifted at learning in the classical test-taking format, you will need a exceptional dedication. Over the last two years I trade other things for studying all day...most days...and I have minimal qualms about that. I think just about anyone with the appropriate dedication can do it.

 

[soulofmpatel]

I am a complete *****, and I got my MD, completed residency, got board certified, completed fellowship, and got a job...and so can you.

All you need is 46 chromosomes and massive gonads of solid steel. Just work hard consistently over a long period of time, and I guarantee success.

 

[Lucca]

If you know your limits and only work to keep improving yourself and don't destroy yourself by trying to keep up with the super gunners you can succeed in school. That might mean taking less hours than everyone else and working harder in some classes than the people that "just get it" but if your numbers are there and your heart is in it then there's nothing keeping you from becoming a physician. I believe in you. Just be really self aware and try to hone your study skills, don't brush off mistakes as "dumb"; all shortcomings in school can be optimized.

 

[Yoshers]

If it's really what you want to do, then put the fear aside and give it all you've got! You won't really know unless you try, right? It's not about being smart enough, it's about being motivated enough. Sure, you might have to work your way up and take things a little more slowly than other people, but never let that stop you.

 

[Doudline]

i don't think you need an exceptional intellect. However, unless you are exceptionally gifted at learning in the classical test-taking format, you will need a exceptional dedication. Over the last two years I trade other things for studying all day...most days...and I have minimal qualms about that. I think just about anyone with the appropriate dedication can do it.

You have poor study techniques if it consumes literally all your time. Studying all day every day is unhealthy and profoundly unnecessary.

 

[MedSchoolSurvivor]

I agree with the above, medical school won't push you to you intellectual limits, it just requires a lot of work sometimes. Other times, it isn't so bad. The hardest part is getting in. Once you do that (assuming US medical school) they want you to do well and will give you the support that you need.

 

[el_duderino]

You have a hell of a good story. Sounds like you're sailing through your CC classes, which is a great sign.

Have confidence, and go kill it in the harder classes. If you can keep up, and I think you can, you can do it. Be sure to do some shadowing of physicians to make sure it's what you want to do. Also consider PA.

 

[VictorAlpha]

You have poor study techniques if it consumes literally all your time. Studying all day every day is unhealthy and profoundly unnecessary.

different strokes for different folks... you do you. I'll do whatever I see fit (and so too should the OP do whatever he sees fit).

 

[GrapesofRath]

Its a valid discussion to have about what people's limits are and how much they are capable of. Just simply saying "oh you can do anything if you work hard enough" isn't reality; there are many people who through extensive hard work still can't muster good grades and there are alot of people with top grades who get it without that much effort, certainly far less than those who work hard and still don't do nearly as well as them.

We have no idea what you are yet. CC non science classes are a far different animal than undergraduate pre req science classes. Certainly a big key is to have confidence and mental stability, but to answer your question of are you smart enough for med school, only you can find that out once you start taking the relevant classes. It is possible that even through working very very hard you just don't have the chops needed for med school. It's also very possible you can work hard and do very well or do very well without working hard. There's no point speculating now taking classes not relevant to this question.

 

[soulofmpatel]

Its a valid discussion to have about what people's limits are and how much they are capable of. Just simply saying "oh you can do anything if you work hard enough" isn't reality; there are many people who through extensive hard work still can't muster good grades and there are alot of people with top grades who get it without that much effort, certainly far less than those who work hard and still don't do nearly as well as them.

I agree that someone with profound cognitive impairment cannot become a doctor, but someone of average intelligence can easily become a doctor with sufficient effort. Of course, if you have very high intelligence, this will make things easier as you can learn faster. As I said above, I am a *****, and I became a doctor. Just keep grinding. Do not give up.

 

[dermacat]

Somebody caught me yesterday making a very silly math mistake....it was subtraction. So safe to say, No you don't have to be good at math for med school. However, you do have to be good at math to get admissions into med school, since physics is, quite unfortunately, on the mcat and you're not given a calculator. As far as intelligence goes, there are some pretty questionable IQ levels circulating in my medical school class. How did they get in? Because they wanted it. Bad. One may have gotten in by her conviction during the interview. Another may have gotten in by his killer essay describing the experiences that molded him into an extraordinary medical school candidate. Another may have just been an airhead with their nose in the book so long that finally it all clicked. While the first two years require a lot of studying and testing, you won't be responsible for everyyything you've ever learned in med school when you are a physician. Its going to be very difficult, and becoming a doctor is a huge time commitment, but if you're willing to put in the work, the rewards will come. Thats really what it comes down to...how much you are willing to sacrifice to achieve this dream. Because it is achievable, if you want it. The first thing you need is confidence for the road.