What Would House's application look like?

[mmmcdowe]

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I'm thinking 45J, because he would have found the essays beneath him. What about GPA? Did house have a 4.0, or did his disdainful attitude cost him it?

ECs? I'm thinking lots of research, minimal patient exposure, maybe some time working in a path lab. Possibly an EC relating to guitar or piano playing?

 

[Law2Doc]

I'm thinking 45J, because he would have found the essays beneath him. What about GPA? Did house have a 4.0, or did his disdainful attitude cost him it?

ECs? I'm thinking lots of research, minimal patient exposure, maybe some time working in a path lab. Possibly an EC relating to guitar or piano playing?

Nah. The House attitude is one that probably took years to generate. So he probably jumped through all the hoops like everybody else. But then in med school his idealism came crashing down and he became the jaded individual he is today. You don't assume all patient's lie. You experience it. And then you adopt the 'tude. So I suspect he was like every other premed.

But don't get too hung up in the "reality" of TV. A character like House would not survive in medicine. He would be sued by many patients to the point that he would be unable to practice. His attitude would make it impossible for him to find an academic position. And nobody looks the other way when a physician is regularly popping vicadin like he did on the show. Wouldn't happen. (I won't comment on the other thousand unrealistic problems with the show). Suffice it to say that he is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (who in turn was modeled on Conan-Doyle's teacher, a physician). Wilson is Watson. And lots of other similarities. There are websites devoted to this. But he isn't based on any physician who practices today, and isn't similar to any physician who practices today.

Not a great show for premeds to watch to see much real medicine. Rent the first season of ER (back when Michael Crichton was still involved). Or check out the old series St Elsewhere on Hulu. Much closer to the real thing.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Nah. The House attitude is one that probably took years to generate. So he probably jumped through all the hoops like everybody else. But then in med school his idealism came crashing down and he became the jaded individual he is today. You don't assume all patient's lie. You experience it. And then you adopt the 'tude. So I suspect he was like every other premed.

But don't get too hung up in the "reality" of TV. A character like House would not survive in medicine. He would be sued by many patients to the point that he would be unable to practice. His attitude would make it impossible for him to find an academic position. And nobody looks the other way when a physician is regularly popping vicadin like he did on the show. Wouldn't happen. (I won't comment on the other thousand unrealistic problems with the show). Suffice it to say that he is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (who in turn was modeled on Conan-Doyle's teacher, a physician). Wilson is Watson. And lots of other similarities. There are websites devoted to this. But he isn't based on any physician who practices today, and isn't similar to any physician who practices today.

Not a great show for premeds to watch to see much real medicine. Rent the first season of ER (back when Michael Crichton was still involved). Or check out the old series St Elsewhere on Hulu. Much closer to the real thing.

It was meant as a fun diversion, I know that people like House don't get into medicine. Besides, according to the show he was always cynical and unconcerned with patients.

 

[202781]

42J (He would write about how little the essay matters)

He did research at the drug company that makes viccodin

He has no volunteer activity, but he made up some great ones.

 

[229141]

42J (He would write about how little the essay matters)

He did research at the drug company that makes viccodin

He has no volunteer activity, but he made up some great ones.

House would have like a 3.96...getting a B in some stupid GER class that required too much busy work.

MCAT would be 43J..I agree he would mock the essay

Research would include making huge breakthroughs as a mere undergrad, and I agree all his volunteering/clinical would be made up 😀

 

[soundbyte]

I'm going to go with a 35O...tops. From the show, House isn't portrayed as one who is ridiculously booksmart. It appears moreso that his knowledge is all experience based (and who knows what he was really like before his leg accident). As a result, I assume he would still be bright, but no way above a 40. I imagine he would argue the MCAT is not heuristic for medicine, and therefore not care anymore than required to earn admittance to a school. And while I agree he would mock the essays, he would do so in such a way that would present his ability to generate coherent ideas.

Then again, he apparently went to JHU and then Michigan, so he had his crap together. And someone like House (althought maybe not THAT extreme) could easily survive in medicine. It's hard to argue with results...

 

[thiems]

And someone like House (althought maybe not THAT extreme) could easily survive in medicine. It's hard to argue with results...

No they couldn't. He gets the results he does because it is fictitious television.

 

[amph119]

Nah. The House attitude is one that probably took years to generate. So he probably jumped through all the hoops like everybody else. But then in med school his idealism came crashing down and he became the jaded individual he is today. You don't assume all patient's lie. You experience it. And then you adopt the 'tude. So I suspect he was like every other premed.

But don't get too hung up in the "reality" of TV. A character like House would not survive in medicine. He would be sued by many patients to the point that he would be unable to practice. His attitude would make it impossible for him to find an academic position. And nobody looks the other way when a physician is regularly popping vicadin like he did on the show. Wouldn't happen. (I won't comment on the other thousand unrealistic problems with the show). Suffice it to say that he is based on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes (who in turn was modeled on Conan-Doyle's teacher, a physician). Wilson is Watson. And lots of other similarities. There are websites devoted to this. But he isn't based on any physician who practices today, and isn't similar to any physician who practices today.

Not a great show for premeds to watch to see much real medicine. Rent the first season of ER (back when Michael Crichton was still involved). Or check out the old series St Elsewhere on Hulu. Much closer to the real thing.

Though basically everything you said makes sense... talk about a buzz kill good lord.

 

[RoyBasch]

Or check out the old series St Elsewhere on Hulu. Much closer to the real thing.

The only thing I know about St Elsewhere is that it is famous for apparently having one of the worst endings of any TV show (something like it was all just the dream of a construction worker who had a hospital snow globe or something). 😀
-Roy

 

[Law2Doc]

The only thing I know about St Elsewhere is that it is famous for apparently having one of the worst endings of any TV show (something like it was all just the dream of a construction worker who had a hospital snow globe or something). 😀
-Roy

Yeah, I think the writers just said F it once the show got canceled. But the early episodes were quite good and I think give a better feel for the experience of overworked interns than a lot of the other shows out there. It's free on Hulu.

 

[shindotp]

House would easily survive in the medical field. How would he get sued when he solves every effing case? Give me an example of when (in the show) House should have gotten sued but didn't because it was just on TV.

"I'm going to go with a 35O...tops. From the show, House isn't portrayed as one who is ridiculously booksmart. It appears moreso that his knowledge is all experience based (and who knows what he was really like before his leg accident). As a result, I assume he would still be bright, but no way above a 40."

Wow, do you really watch the show? House is a logic GOD. And logic = being able to do well on standardized tests like the MCAT. It's not experience - House was genius from the start. And he got into JHU Med School.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I'm going to go with a 35O...tops. From the show, House isn't portrayed as one who is ridiculously booksmart. It appears moreso that his knowledge is all experience based (and who knows what he was really like before his leg accident). As a result, I assume he would still be bright, but no way above a 40. I imagine he would argue the MCAT is not heuristic for medicine, and therefore not care anymore than required to earn admittance to a school. And while I agree he would mock the essays, he would do so in such a way that would present his ability to generate coherent ideas.

Then again, he apparently went to JHU and then Michigan, so he had his crap together. And someone like House (althought maybe not THAT extreme) could easily survive in medicine. It's hard to argue with results...

Cuddy refered to House as a 'legend' at U of M. And to reiterate, he is a master of deduction. The MCAT tests that through and through. He would have rocked the MCAT, if he were a real person.

 

[mmmcdowe]

42J (He would write about how little the essay matters)

He did research at the drug company that makes viccodin

He has no volunteer activity, but he made up some great ones.

I love it!

And to the person who mentioned it, House would not survive in real life because no hospital will willingly let a physician work while he is stoned out on mega vicodin binges. Being an addict alone makes it a touchy subject.

 

[chiz2kul]

I love it!

And to the person who mentioned it, House would not survive in real life because no hospital will willingly let a physician work while he is stoned out on mega vicodin binges. Being an addict alone makes it a touchy subject.

Was he ever stoned in the show?

 

[Law2Doc]

House would easily survive in the medical field. How would he get sued when he solves every effing case? Give me an example of when (in the show) House should have gotten sued but didn't because it was just on TV....

Um, pick an episode. Any time you run a test that could potentially kill the patient, as an experiment just to prove you are right, and then are wrong, you have committed negligence and deviated from the standard of care. House does a number of such experiments per episode. The whole show is about House sneaking around and doing things he shouldn't behind Cuddy, the administrator's back. He usually hits on the right answer by the end of the episode, but not before deviating from the standard of care a number of times. The rule isn't if you solve the case your past transgressions get ignored. In real life that just means the patient would live to enjoy his judgment award.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Was he ever stoned in the show?

Take six vicodin at once and tell me you aren't stoned! The fact that he acts "normalish" does not mean he isn't drugged up. Multiple episodes have been about him taking too many vicodin in a given period of time.

 

[epyfathom]

mmm to me house seems like the guy who would just squeeze through barely making it doing as little work as possible. prob had borderline gpa/mcat. he did cheat in med school... 😳

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

I think House was an above average applicant, you'd have to be with his caustic personality. He probably had a 3.7 (blew off some classes he thought below him, before figuring how to scam good grades) and an MCAT in the high 30s. (agree his writing score would be dismal). He didn't seem to be an overwhelming genius though, since he did have to cheat on that guy (who he ended up discrediting) and getting caught. Probably turned it around in third and fourth year.

Back when he applied, EC's weren't as important, but remember he traveled extensively in his youth, understands (speaks?) multiple languages as well as foreign customs, so if he applied today I bet adcomms thought he would make a unique addition to his his class. I wonder if he would use the story he shared to Coma Guy about being inspired by the Japanese "untouchable" janitor/doctor in his personal statement...

 

[mmmcdowe]

I think House was an above average applicant, you'd have to be with his caustic personality. He probably had a 3.7 (blew off some classes he thought below him, before figuring how to scam good grades) and an MCAT in the high 30s. (agree his writing score would be dismal). He didn't seem to be an overwhelming genius though, since he did have to cheat on that guy (who he ended up discrediting) and getting caught. Probably turned it around in third and fourth year.

Back when he applied, EC's weren't as important, but remember he traveled extensively in his youth, understands (speaks?) multiple languages as well as foreign customs, so if he applied today I bet adcomms thought he would make a unique addition to his his class. I wonder if he would use the story he shared to Coma Guy about being inspired by the Japanese "untouchable" janitor/doctor in his personal statement...

From what I remember, that other student and house were the top two kids, and it was implied that House only cheated because he didn't care to put in the effort to study. Or something like that.

I think a lower GPA makes sense, but I still stand by my 40+ MCAT store. Lying about his ECs makes sense, after all he cheated in medical school. ECs weren't as important, but they still were necessary.

 

[MDman87]

I think he'd have a GPA in the mid 3's, and that would be with no studying. He didn't have any time to study; he was too busy drinking, partying, sleeping, experimenting with drugs, women, etc. He wouldn't have any time for boring, useless ECs (again, preoccupied w/other things). He'd definitely have a killer MCAT, though. This, combined with his fantastic made-up ECs, completely BSed personal statement, and LORs that he personally wrote (complete with forged signatures), would make him the ideal applicant

 

[DeVeras]

One of the best threads I've seen on SDN by far.

 

[Long Dong]

I don't think he would of gotten into med school in real life. His personallity would of come through in the interviews and no body would want this guy in their med school no matter how bright. He's better off in a lab not working with real people.

 

[Upgrayedd]

The only thing I know about St Elsewhere is that it is famous for apparently having one of the worst endings of any TV show (something like it was all just the dream of a construction worker who had a hospital snow globe or something). 😀
-Roy

I can't stop laughing at the thought of this...

Screw it, I'm gonna watch it on hulu

 

[starfishprime]

I like to think his app would look exactly like mine.

 

[scg]

I don't think he would of gotten into med school in real life. His personallity would of come through in the interviews and no body would want this guy in their med school no matter how bright. He's better off in a lab not working with real people.

*Spoiler alert?

I don't think House was a misanthrope prior to his leg injury. In a recent episode where House uses methadone for the pain he turns out to be a nice guy/have a nice personality.

Btw, he finds out he can't be a brilliant physician/make the right decisions when he's happy and pain-free so he decides to quit the methadone treatment.

 

[starfishprime]

I don't think House was a misanthrope prior to his leg injury. In a recent episode where House uses methadone for the pain he turns out to be a nice guy/have a nice personality.

I just watched that episode. He stole my interview suit down to the tie - red with blue dots. Though, to be fair, my belt is a slightly different color.

 

[deleted202457]

Well in season 4 House says that he aced his MCAT because he said his grandmother gave him a gift for doing so. Also, obviously he is smart because he went to JHU for undergrad and got into their med school, then, after being kicked out, he was still able to get into another good med school, which i feel is indication of at least higher than normal intelligence. He could have put piano and guitar and playing in a band for ECs, but he also played lacrosse (he really enjoyed the sport). If he did not compete for the school he still could have played intramurals. As for his GPA, I could see him having less than a 4.0, but he is also to stubborn to admit that someone is better than him to make anything less. Plus, his broad range of knowledge could be indicitive of excelling in many areas while in school.

 

[mmmcdowe]

Well in season 4 House says that he aced his MCAT because he said his grandmother gave him a gift for doing so. Also, obviously he is smart because he went to JHU for undergrad and got into their med school, then, after being kicked out, he was still able to get into another good med school, which i feel is indication of at least higher than normal intelligence. He could have put piano and guitar and playing in a band for ECs, but he also played lacrosse (he really enjoyed the sport). If he did not compete for the school he still could have played intramurals. As for his GPA, I could see him having less than a 4.0, but he is also to stubborn to admit that someone is better than him to make anything less. Plus, his broad range of knowledge could be indicitive of excelling in many areas while in school.

Wasn't he just a cheerleader for the lacrosse team? Or was that high school?

 

[deleted202457]

I'm not sure. I thought in one of the earlier episodes (perhaps season 1) that it was said that he played lacrosse.

Also, about his horrible attitude, he has shown throughout the show that he has the ability to fake niceness (which he could've done during interviews).

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

House was always a jerk. It's been implied heavily (and I think outright stated by people who knew him for years (Cuddy, Wilson, Stacy) that he was pretty much the same before he got the infarction. Remember, in the "Three Stories" episode, people thought House had drug seeker tendencies when his leg first started hurting him.

As for the Lacrosse, House did seem to play lacrosse (a very early episode ends with him standing on empty lacrosse field, watching an imaginary match where his cured patient is playing, and knowing the lingo, moves). He also was apparently a cheerleader, based on the picture the PI showed to Cuddy. So maybe he did have good ECs.