Should Medical Schools require a degree?

[dr_dre]

Looking over the cutoffs for several ontario schools is pretty depressing. But what makes me very angry is how some schools do not require a specific degree or only 'recommend' rigorous courses like orgo or physics.

Most people I know do not have straight A's. And something inside me fails to believe that every single medical student out there had straight As in undergrad. I know a few medical students and a couple of residents who will be starting their own practices soon, and they're definitely not the world's smartest people.

I feel that medical schools should clearly say that they require a specific degree in science or health studies. First of all, knowledge gained while pursuing such a degree will be beneficial in medical school. I want to puke when I think of arts students who never took any rigorous science courses because these were only recommended, and are now doctors because their English preparation helped them write their essays.

Lets face the facts, most of us knew that we wanted to be doctors or health practicioners of some kind way back in high school. That's why we worked so hard in bio, chem, calculus and other advanced level courses to help us get into the best undergrad. Why should we reward an English major with no serious science background who realizes that their only options are teaching or writing books?
Is there anyone out there who really wants their doctor to have an undergrad in arts who has only been rigourously studying science during his 3 years as a med student??

Don't get me wrong, doctors do need good written and oral communication skills, and they do need a basic knowledge in social science and ethics. But science has been the foundation of medicine. Sure we need a good bedside manner but what's more important is our understanding of the human body, of its interactions with drugs, of the way viruses and bacteria evolve and overtake us in disease. And I just can't agree that you can jump into science as a medical student and learn everything you need to know in a three year period.

Unfortunately, at a lot of medical schools that's the way admissions are these days.
So to all the high school students aspiring to be pre-meds:
Don't be too keen, remember to take the easiest courses you can, because if your curiosity actually causes you to engage yourself in too many advanced science courses noone will recognize it in the end anyway. All that matters is your GPA and not how you got it.

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[erichaj]

I can't think of a single medical school in the USA that does not require someone to take O chem, chemistry, physics, biology and math.

In fact, how do you take the MCAT?

Whats listed on the websites for medical school requirements are very general. Don't take this to heart. Medical school is competitive. That english major will have to study some hardcore science before they get into medical school.

 

[trustwomen]

I can't think of a single medical school in the USA that does not require someone to take O chem, chemistry, physics, biology and math.

In fact, how do you take the MCAT?

Whats listed on the websites for medical school requirements are very general. Don't take this to heart. Medical school is competitive. That english major will have to study some hardcore science before they get into medical school.

The OP was referring to a few Ontario schools (and they are in the minority among Canadian schools) who have few or no prerequisites.

Taking the MCAT is also not required at a few Ontario schools (the ones with fewer prereqs also tend to not require MCAT). Again, these schools are exceptional in Canada.

I wouldn't mind if my doctor came from an arts undergrad. They still had to pass med school, and that is not easy. It requires a whole lot of science knowledge.

Why so bitter, OP?

 

[trustwomen]

Lets face the facts, most of us knew that we wanted to be doctors or health practicioners of some kind way back in high school. That's why we worked so hard in bio, chem, calculus and other advanced level courses to help us get into the best undergrad. Why should we reward an English major with no serious science background who realizes that their only options are teaching or writing books?

Don't get me wrong, doctors do need good written and oral communication skills, and they do need a basic knowledge in social science and ethics. But science has been the foundation of medicine. Sure we need a good bedside manner but what's more important is our understanding of the human body, of its interactions with drugs, of the way viruses and bacteria evolve and overtake us in disease.

I didn't know until I was 25. And when I knew, I KNEW. I doubt most arts majors who go into med are doing it just because they "can't bear to write books". Why not recognize their intelligence and capacity to succeed? Do they flunk out more than science students?

I don't believe that "bedside manner", aka the human side of medicine that you seem to be dismissing, is less important than scientific knowledge. One just does not work without the other.

 

[akinf]

I'm a Biochemistry major who also sometimes wonders if arts is easier than science. However, I think the OP just has no respect for those humanities majors.

This is the 2nd place I've seen this thread posted so I am not even going to give it the time of day by providing some long-winded opinion.

All I have to say is if you can be that close-minded about the abilities of others entering medicine, how do you expect to collaborate with other health professionals who aren't docs when you get there?

 

[D30417995]

yes, communication skills and good rapport with patients and colleagues are vital

but, let's not forget one thing:

a doctor with very solid biomedical knowledge can be an effective doctor nevertheless;
a doctor with all the compassion in the world but shaky foundation in biomedicine is someone you'd like to avoid (i hope)

 

[tussy]

I went to a Canadian school that did not require any specific courses. Although I had a science background a few of my classmates did not. There were people with music degrees, arts degrees, etc. These people were exceptional. First of, it was not a joke for them to get in. They had to score very high on the MCAT, and have a stellar application to counteract their non-traditional degree program. Second, these people had to work so hard to pass the biochem and physiology courses in med school. These people were some of the smartest in my class and really brought a different perspective to our medical education. We had a PBL model and having people with different backgrounds really broadened all of our education.

I'm sure these students without science degrees could have easily gone back and upgraded their sciences courses, but this would only accomplish delaying their admission by a couple years.

Finally, Medical School Admissions Committees aren't stupid. If the students with non-traditional backgrounds were consistently failing out then they would change the admissions requirements. Fortunately, this isn't the case and so these students will continue to get admitted.