Is a brilliant mind a prerequisite for medical school?

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A strong psychological makeup is the main requirement. Even more important than intelligence.
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<p>I believe that is an important factor…it may be equal in important to intelligence.</p>

<p>No wonder the interview is the Crazy Test.</p>

<p>That said, I always feel a little uneasy when a premed posts and mentions having depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. I just can’t see those folks making it thru med school or being successful physicians. </p>

<p>^This is very true.
When considering UG, look much closer to the factors that may affect you personally and remove the considerations for the Med. School from your decision making. You personal match to certain UG, the ability to have a balanced life their, to create a support group, to be among peers who you can connect easy, all personal considerations (yes, even pretty campus may make a difference for some) will be of more importance. They will create environment where you can thrive acdemically or be miserable stressed out. At least, that was how D. has made her choice and looking back, she (MS4) feels that she was correct. There is noobdy there who can point out for the right UG for you, you have to determine this for yourself.<br>
So, all this talk about smart or not is only one side of the story and may not be a decision making or breaking side.</p>

<p>Thankfully, I have very good people skills. I’m an EMT and went to an excellent training program where communication with the patient was just as important as actual skill and knowledge in the field. I am also quite mature for my age as a result of various events in my childhood, and that has forced me to learn how to cope in stressful situations and maintain a healthy, balanced attitude towards the world and more importantly, myself. My culture stresses self-awareness, personal growth, and mental stability, so hopefully all this will work in my benefit when it comes time for medical school. Until then, I’m just going to have to work extremely hard to maintain a high GPA and study my $#@ off for the MCATS.</p>

<p>As an MD/PhD student: <a href=“I AM THE SMARTEST MAN ALIVE.avi - YouTube”>I AM THE SMARTEST MAN ALIVE.avi - YouTube;

Most American medical schools are harder to get into than Harvard, accepting about 5% of applicants. To be a doctor and excel in medical school you have to be disciplined to study and memorize for four straight years non stop above all else. Forget about any social life for four years.

"Forget about any social life for four years

IMO you are doing something wrong. D has a full social life, athletics, parties, weekends or short trips away, hobbies, etc. I can’t imagine no social life for four years, nothing is worth that.

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Ha Ha. No. A brilliant mind (whatever your definition of that is) is not a prerequisite for medical school.

Hahahaha @ IWBB. Funny video.

"accepting about 5% of applicants. "

  • A bit more exclusive than in reality. I do not know the latest, but it used to be about 43% of applicants. And it is easier to get into Med. School than combined bs/md that includes the same school. That has proven with 2 schools (both used to be top 20) on my D’s list. People who blame selectivity may be geniuses, but they are not hard working kind. I blieve that the last one are more likely to get in, than geniuses.