•••quote:•••Originally posted by jimdo:
•Im new to this thread but I have a few points I would like to make. Im currently a fourth year student at a respected DO school and I am frankly ashamed of this kind of talk here. How can we be treated and considered equals of anyone else if we seek the lowest possible standards to squeak into medical school?
Every time I turn around, there is another person trying to say that DO schools look at the big picture and arent obsessed with the number game. This is true and justifiably so. However, when one makes this kind of remark, one assumes that people with higher stats have fewer of these intangibles than those with low stats. We all have unique,meaningful life experiences so that argument is not relevant, and things like good LORs and shadowing ought to supplement a file and not be the meat of the file. Im sorry to hurt anyones feelings or offend here, but there has to be a minimum standard in order to practice medicine. Trying to find the bottom of the barrel test standard is demeaning to the profession and to all of those who practice it.
In anticipation of those that will surely attack me for these comments by saying that a test does not a doctor make, I have one thing to say. YOURE RIGHT! I couldnt agree more! However, one must realize that it is a rite of passage through which we all pass. By the logic that the MCAT is a stupid, irrelevant exam, one would have to extend that same reasoning to Organic Chemistry, Physics, Calculus and all the way down the line. They are all irrelevant to our careers but we MUST OVERCOME THEM. I do not believe the MCAT is so much an aptitude test as it is a test to judge the ability to overcome a strict challenge. Where do we draw the line? It is a standardized exam that puts us all on the same field of play. If you cannot compete on the exam, then you have no business entering the same field in which others were able to overcome the obstacle.
SOME PEOPLE SIMPLY DO NOT BELONG IN MEDICAL SCHOOL, DESPITE THEIR FERVENT DESORE TO BE THERE. This is reality. I will never be a rock star even though I would like to be. Its life, not fun to hear, but cannot be denied.
I understand that it is difficult and can be quite disappointing. I apologize to anyone and this comment is not addressed to anyone individually. But if we are to be considered strong physicians, we must have BOTH the intangible experiences that have been discussed AND the stats to back it up. It is absolutely offensive to consider what is the minimum one can statistically do to enter school in the blind hope that some outside experience makes you superior to the next candidate. This applies equally well to the person that has stellar stats but no personality or experience. I would gladly accept a candidate that was middle of the road on stats and had some experience or personality ahead of anyone that is a stat genius with no intangibles or the most experienced around without some stat muscle to back it up.
Med school is far too important to be discussed in such ways. And please remember, there is no shame if youre not suited to being a physician. There are many great areas to devote ones life. owever, we cannot bend the system to the breaking point simply to fit some person's unrealistic goals.
This is my two cents worth. Ill sit back and wait for it to hit the fan and the unintended sparks to fly.•••••Jimdo, good post!!!!!!!! I agree with what you had to say!