I am going to medical school in Sep and happen to run across this. I think both sides have a point, but I am terribly worried since I am the kind of person who is quiet and intelligent (which means I don't stand a chance of getting honors during third year). Man, better utilize my time now to learn how to fix tires in sub-zero temp before it is too late!
That's not true at all. See, this is the misconception that threads & attitudes like these perpetuate. You're already resigning any chance of getting honors third year? That kind of attitude is actually what will make it impossible, not your personality.
Listen, social factors are a HUGE part of practicing medicine. You have to engage in the social component of medicine if you want to be successful. If you can't work well with others, develop rapport with patients and colleagues, give a positive impression to your colleagues, and get yourself out there to showcase in some way your strengths, you'll never get letters of rec, good evals, good cases, fellowships, faculty support, consults, referrals, appointments, promotions, job offers, practice partnerships, and yeah, even friends.
This isn't a fairy objective standardized test land any more folks, this is the real world. People in every industry in the world accept this component of their working life without much complaint. The fact is, medicine is actually lighter on this sort of stuff than most industries. How can you expect attendings to evaluate you if you're silent during rounds? How can you expect a letter of rec if you don't demonstrate your own motivation to go above and beyond? How can you develop very human relationships with people with whom you either refuse or are unable to chat up, converse professionally, or laugh with?
The bottom line is that the so called "silent, intelligent types" are no more intelligent than the rest of us, you're just more silent than the rest of us. Whether or not it's a crippling illness or dysfunction on your part is irrelevant. It's like anything in medical school - either get it done or don't. It doesn't make the people who speak up superficial twits who ass-kiss their way to overshadow your greatness, it makes you a pansy for not having the guts to make a joke here or there, to volunteer for tasks, to ask questions you put some thought into, to prepare ahead of time & afterwards on patients & presentations, and to take on the universally-known go-getter attitude that classically accompanies success. You can be the smartest guy in the world but if you can't talk to a colleague or superior in a way that shows your professional demeanor, you are just as DEFICIENT in a clinical setting as the guy who's dumb as a rock but you think kisses ass to get his honors.
Just go be yourself (in a demonstrable way), show your enthusiasm, interest, and this "intelligence" we hear so much about, and don't hide behind excuses and conspiracy theories about how everyone's against you.
