I was reading the Technical Standards for Medical School of Harvard?

[Lita0632]

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I'm researching medical schools' application/curriculum requirements and selection factors before I decide on which undergraduate schools I want to apply for. I'm reading Harvard's Technical Standards for Medical School Admission, and it says "A candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner", and "III. Motor:"..."A candidate should be able to do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.), and read EKGs and x-rays."...
I don't know how to "do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.), read EKGs and x-rays". Do they teach that in undergraduate school? I know you don't NEED to do a pre-med program to get accepted in medical schools, as long as you get your bachelor's degree. But do they teach that in pre-med programs? Or do you learn it when shadowing a doctor?

https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/policies#technical

 

[Blessthefall]

I'm researching medical schools' application/curriculum requirements and selection factors before I decide on which undergraduate schools I want to apply for. I'm reading Harvard's Technical Standards for Medical School Admission, and it says "A candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner", and "III. Motor:"..."A candidate should be able to do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.), and read EKGs and x-rays."...
I don't know how to "do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.), read EKGs and x-rays". Do they teach that in undergraduate school? I know you don't NEED to do a pre-med program to get accepted in medical schools, as long as you get your bachelor's degree. But do they teach that in pre-med programs? Or do you learn it when shadowing a doctor?

https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/policies#technical

I know that SDN is rife with neuroticism/ obsessive worrying but this a new class of both. No, they don't expect you to have prior knowledge of these tests and how to perform them. They're expecting you to have the physical/ cognitive ability to perform and interpret both while attending school- during/after learning how.


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[typhoonegator]

Look, I am an HMS faculty member. The things you are reading on that link are oddly worded, but the intention is to ensure that applicants generally have the ability to perform tasks in a semi-independent environment, and the capability to perform gross and fine motor activities required of a physician, which in your future residency training would potentially include paracenteses, or chest tubes, or whatever. Not that you can do a paracentesis before you become a medical student.

Honestly, you almost certainly won't be able to do a paracentesis when you're done being a medical student. Certainly not independently. I only saw a couple, in my dim recollection. Then I did like 100 in internship.

Try to relax. Medical students are literally no different from college students when they show up...aside from the highly prevalent personality differences and what they've done with their summers.

 

[Instatewaiter]

Don't listen to this joker above me. You are expected to know how to do those things on day one at HMS. Can't do a complex medical procedure well you can't hack it at harvard!

THIS! IS! HARVARD!

 

[da8s0859q]

Both of those two above me are idiots.

If you can't do an awake intubation on your Harvard interviewer, you're ****ed.

 

[ed*26]

.The only reason you should worry about the technical requirements of a medical school (as a high schooler!) is if you have some type of cognitive or motor disability. You will absolutely not learn these procedures as a pre-med (unless you're something like a nurse, paramedic, STI test counselor, etc) because only licensed professionals can do that. They want to make sure that you will be able to do them in the future is all

 

[Lost In Transcription]

They mean do you have the physicial capabilities to one day perform those tasks.

 

[Mad Jack]

I'm researching medical schools' application/curriculum requirements and selection factors before I decide on which undergraduate schools I want to apply for. I'm reading Harvard's Technical Standards for Medical School Admission, and it says "A candidate should be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner", and "III. Motor:"..."A candidate should be able to do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.), and read EKGs and x-rays."...
I don't know how to "do basic laboratory tests (urinalysis, CBC, etc.), carry out diagnostic procedures (proctoscopy, paracentesis, etc.), read EKGs and x-rays". Do they teach that in undergraduate school? I know you don't NEED to do a pre-med program to get accepted in medical schools, as long as you get your bachelor's degree. But do they teach that in pre-med programs? Or do you learn it when shadowing a doctor?

https://hms.harvard.edu/departments/admissions/applying/policies#technical

Being physically capable and actually doing things are totally different. I'm physically capable of, say, operating an aircraft, which is a requirement of aviation school, but I don't have to know how to fly a plane beforehand because that's why I'm going to school in the first place.