People who we know can't make it

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Smachadams

Smachadams

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I think we all have a friend or know someone who works extremely hard at their undergrad classes and still gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.

Seeing as I'm currently in the application process, alot of these situations are coming to a head, so I'm wondering.. Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
 
Smachadams said:
I think we all have a friend or know someone who works extremely hard at their undergrad classes and still gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.

Seeing as I'm currently in the application process, alot of these situations are coming to a head, so I'm wondering.. Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
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If you have to ask...


but no seriously... a 19? And straight C's? A Caribb school might accept your money for a semester before booting you.
 
Smachadams said:
I think we all have a friend or know someone who works extremely hard at their undergrad classes and still gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.

Seeing as I'm currently in the application process, alot of these situations are coming to a head, so I'm wondering.. Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
Click to expand...

If a URM, podiatry school would probably take them. No one else would even touch that app with a 10 foot pole!
 
I'd like see someone who actually studies for the MCAT and still can't break a 19.
 
It's really too bad, I have met people like this before. If they are your friends, the best you can really do is hope they realize other talents they might have.
 
Chops369 said:
I'd like see someone who actually studies for the MCAT and still can't break a 19.
Click to expand...


They're out there. They are theoretically about as common as people who break 31 on the first try.
 
Smachadams said:
I think we all have a friend or know someone who works extremely hard at their undergrad classes and still gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.

Seeing as I'm currently in the application process, alot of these situations are coming to a head, so I'm wondering.. Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
Click to expand...
No hope for some. Today we got our test back in molecular biology and one of the girls that I helped tutor bombed. I got a 99 and she got a 16. Didnt know that was possible. She is(was) going for dental school. The professor basically said "if you really bombed this test then you might want to change your major because they will get alot harder". I agree since most of the students made B/C with minium studying. To summerize, science and math isn't for everyone, the hard part is realizing this.
 
CodeBlu said:
If you have to ask...


but no seriously... a 19? And straight C's? A Caribb school might accept your money for a semester before booting you.
Click to expand...


Fortunately, there's some great students from where I'm from, but there's also the people who repeat Ochem 3 times and still think they have the smarts for med school.. For example, one friend of mine got a 14 on his MCAT...

I was wondering "Is he in denial now or what", if I was doing that badly, Id just find someonthing else to do.. He's a great person with the desire to make a diference, but that wont get you through med school. He's going to take it again, but I know it won't make much of a diference.
 
is this thread really necessary...
 
Smachadams said:
Fortunately, there's some great students from where I'm from, but there's also the people who repeat Ochem 3 times and still think they have the smarts for med school.. For example, one friend of mine got a 14 on his MCAT...

I was wondering "Is he in denial now or what", if I was doing that badly, Id just find someonthing else to do.. He's a great person with the desire to make a diference, but that wont get you through med school. He's going to take it again, but I know it won't make much of a diference.
Click to expand...

A 14 is slightly better than guessing on every question. Unfortunately I do know someone with a 19 who got into med school. It was Ross in the Caribbean but it's his second year and he is still there.
 
Doctor246853 said:
No hope for some. Today we got our test back in molecular biology and one of the girls that I helped tutor bombed. I got a 99 and she got a 16. Didnt know that was possible. She is(was) going for dental school. The professor basically said "if you really bombed this test then you might want to change your major because they will get alot harder". I agree since most of the students made B/C with minium studying. To summerize, science and math isn't for everyone, the hard part is realizing this.
Click to expand...

SDN subtlety in full-effect!

(Congrats on the grade, btw 🙂)
 
ppfizenm said:
can't tell if it is designed to make some people feel really good or others really bad.
Click to expand...

Its adressing the elephant in the room, we all think it sometimes, but never talk about it.. And since I haven't gone through med school yet, there might be a more mature perspective on the matter..

I'd like to think this thread had the opportunity to do some good, where it goes...is out of my hands :laugh:
 
Smachadams said:
I think we all have a friend or know someone who works extremely hard at their undergrad classes and still gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.

Seeing as I'm currently in the application process, alot of these situations are coming to a head, so I'm wondering.. Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
Click to expand...

Is it lonely up there on you pedestal?
 
Smachadams said:
Its adressing the elephant in the room, we all think it sometimes, but never talk about it.. And since I haven't gone through med school yet, there might be a more mature perspective on the matter..

I'd like to think this thread had the opportunity to do some good, where it goes...is out of my hands :laugh:
Click to expand...

what good?
 
I have a friend who's taken the MCAT multiple times, studied like crazy for months (and did nothing but study), and didn't even do as well as a 19 on their most recent attempt. I have another friend who is unable to pass many prereq courses. I know some people who were in these types of situations who eventually realized that medicine wasn't going to work out for them, and they started looking into other paths that were better suited to their talents.
 
Slack3r said:
Is it lonely up there on you pedestal?
Click to expand...


Im actually pretty average as undergrads go, but I live in Puerto Rico, land of the low MCAT scores...some are because of language barriers, alot aren't. Which is why I was asking myself that question.. Maybe in the states its rare to see bad scores, but here it is all too common..

Comprende?
 
Slack3r said:
Is it lonely up there on you pedestal?
Click to expand...

Eh, this thread could seriously motivate people.... Or seriously depress people.... Or it's just for douchebags to stroke their own ego
 
Most the students I tutor almost never go home and study on their own. 95% of the reason they can't crack a B.
 
Chances for those are extremely slim. I know quite a few people who major in bio because it sounds cool to say you plan to go to medical school. I guess it does earn a small amount of respect when people first know you but when they see you getting a 16 on that bio test despite studying every way possible they will starting labeling you delusional.
 
Slack3r said:
Perhaps you're a ****ty tutor?
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****ty or not a 16 is unacceptable. Im a tutor not god. If you can only answer 16 out of 100 questions right then its you..not the teacher/tutor.
 
Chops369 said:
:laugh:

Or maybe he's a gunner in disguise who sabotages everybody he tutors and saves the good stuff for himself. Strong work, strong work.
Click to expand...
The other three I tutored made 88 90 91. Thats her, not me.😎
 
gettheleadout said:
Would that really be surprising to you?
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Personally, I don't find the fact that such people exist surprising. What I DO find surprising is that nobody stopped them LONG before the MCAT and said, "Maybe you should consider another area of study?" ...I mean, if you're making less than a 20 on the MCAT, you obviously don't know your science. Your foundation is pretty much nonexistent at that point...so why didn't someone stop you earlier and "suggest" another field?! The 25-30 range is much more reasonable. Heck, I'll even give a 20-25'er the benefit of the doubt that perhaps their foundation is reasonable and they simply get test anxiety or just had a bad day but <20?!
 
Stumpyman said:
Most the students I tutor almost never go home and study on their own. 95% of the reason they can't crack a B.
Click to expand...
Agree 100%
Always study after the tutoring session if you can. Don't let the tutoring session be your study session because you are not really studying, you are just getting help.
 
gettheleadout said:
Would that really be surprising to you?
Click to expand...
Yes. It's not that difficult to get a 20 on the MCAT, and I imagine that a large proportion of test takers who score that low didn't spend much time studying, didn't take it seriously, or underestimated the difficulty of the test/overestimated their own abilities. Do you really think that someone who has taken the AAMC/Kaplan/whatever full lengths and consistently scored <20 would go ahead and proceed with the actual exam?

tl;dr - If you slave over review books for 3 months, take practice tests and only get a 19, you have problems.
 
Last edited:
Smachadams said:
Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
Click to expand...
There's always a chance. Maybe not a good one, but WAMC sees such folks who've pulled it out of the basket, so it can be done.

If you have a friend in this position, it's not your job to help them "realize" medicine isn't a realistic goal. It's your job to encourage them (and maybe refer them to SDN).
 
You shouldn't be so condescending towards others. If medicine is their dream, that has nothing to do with you. They're probably well aware that it is a long shot for them but it won't kill them to try.
 
Doctor246853 said:
No hope for some. Today we got our test back in molecular biology and one of the girls that I helped tutor bombed. I got a 99 and she got a 16. Didnt know that was possible. She is(was) going for dental school. The professor basically said "if you really bombed this test then you might want to change your major because they will get alot harder". I agree since most of the students made B/C with minium studying. To summerize, science and math isn't for everyone, the hard part is realizing this.
Click to expand...

you got a good grade on a test and someone else didn't. have a cookie.
 
Chops369 said:
Yes. It's not that difficult to get a 20 on the MCAT, and I imagine that a large proportion of test takers who score that low didn't spend much time studying, didn't take it seriously, or underestimated the difficulty of the test/overestimated their own abilities. Do you really think that someone who has taken the AAMC/Kaplan/whatever full lengths and consistently scored <20 would go ahead and proceed with the actual exam?

tl;dr - If you slave over review books for 3 months, take practice tests and only get a 19, you have problems.
Click to expand...
it's all relative. i don't think it's that difficult to get a 36 either, does that make most applicants dumb from my perspective?
 
kpcrew2oo2 said:
You shouldn't be so condescending towards others. If medicine is their dream, that has nothing to do with you. They're probably well aware that it is a long shot for them but it won't kill them to try.
Click to expand...

One of the few common sense statements in this thread.

I'm convinced that a majority of people in college could handle medical school if they really dedicated themselves to it. The problem is that they either don't want to commit to the time and work involved OR, in the case of the people we're discussing, they may not understand just how high the bar is set in order to be successful in the application process. Some people are stuck in this confusing paradox where they "know" they want to be a physician and yet are unwilling to put forth the effort necessary to do well. That's probably the worst situation to be in.
 
RogueUnicorn said:
you got a good grade on a test and someone else didn't. have a cookie.
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Well I will my good man, I will...dont mind if I do...
shoulder+cookie.jpg
 
The worst is seeing people who you know would make great doctors but just don't put the time and effort in, or can't due to how college is structured and the fact that we have to go through a barrage of standardized tests that don't really test intelligence, seeing as there are prep courses for them. Then you have those that would make horrible physicians, but because of their rich mommy's and daddy's can afford top notch tutors,, blah blah you get where I'm going. Life is unfair lol
 
Smachadams said:
I think we all have a friend or know someone who gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.
Click to expand...

What is the point of this thread? OP, do you feel better? You're smarter than some people.

I pretty much got straight Cs the first 3 years of college. Guess what, I'm a doctor.
 
Instatewaiter said:
What is the point of this thread? OP, do you feel better? You're smarter than some people.

I pretty much got straight Cs the first 3 years of college. Guess what, I'm a doctor.
Click to expand...

👍 👍👍 :laugh:
 
This thread makes my heart sad.

Dr.Ben Carson was asked multiple times if he thought medicine was really for him, even encouraged to quit. People thought he'd fail out too. Mega fail on their part.

Sometimes the person really isn't suited for a certain path, but sometimes people just assume problems are due solely to an inherent personal flaw. "Fundamental attribution error" I believe it's called. Could be wrong. Gen psych. was ages ago 😉.
 
Doctor246853 said:
****ty or not a 16 is unacceptable. Im a tutor not god. If you can only answer 16 out of 100 questions right then its you..not the teacher/tutor.
Click to expand...

Maybe I'm just stupid, but I thought the point of getting a tutor was that an upcoming assignment wouldn't wipe the floor with you like a trashy mop.

You can't really go much lower than a 16... What did she even ask you for help with?
 
Smachadams said:
I think we all have a friend or know someone who works extremely hard at their undergrad classes and still gets straight C's and there's nothing he or she can do about it. People who've studied for the MCAT religously and can't even crack a 19.

Seeing as I'm currently in the application process, alot of these situations are coming to a head, so I'm wondering.. Do you really think there's a chance for those people, or if there isn't, what do you think it will take for them to realize that medicine is just not for them...
Click to expand...

Of course there's a chance, just not NOW.

Sometimes it's not about work ethic but finally figuring out the right way to study.

This type of backhanded talk helps the ego, doesn't it.
 
Doctor246853 said:
No hope for some. Today we got our test back in molecular biology and one of the girls that I helped tutor bombed. I got a 99 and she got a 16. Didnt know that was possible. She is(was) going for dental school. The professor basically said "if you really bombed this test then you might want to change your major because they will get alot harder". I agree since most of the students made B/C with minium studying. To summerize, science and math isn't for everyone, the hard part is realizing this.
Click to expand...

You may be surprised. We had a number of students fail out of one of the weeder ChemE courses that I took. At least 2 of them went onto med school and one scored much higher on the MCAT than I did.
 
Conflagration said:
Maybe I'm just stupid, but I thought the point of getting a tutor was that an upcoming assignment wouldn't wipe the floor with you like a trashy mop.

You can't really go much lower than a 16... What did she even ask you for help with?
Click to expand...
She came to the tutoring sessions but didnt read and study on her own. Since this was outside of class I guess she took it as sufficient. She also is on facebook during lectures but I sit at the back of the class and notice everyone is, so that might not mean anything. It was only the first test and Im sure many ppl got a wake up call to get serious, so we'll see what happens.🙂
 
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