Advice to Pre-Meds

It is the policy of the CRIMSON to print only letters which are signed. Names will be withheld from publication upon request, but must appear on all letters before such letters can be considered for publication. In all but exceptional cases, the CRIMSON reserves the right to cut letters of more than 300 words.

To the Editors of the CRIMSON:

So many times have the pre-medical students been disappointed following concentration in the sciences that I have written the paragraphs below for whatever use you may wish to make of them...

The pre-medical student is faced with early decision concerning his outline of College study. Too often he is advised to concentrate in the fields of bio-chemistry, biology, chemistry, or physics. The present letter directed toward Freshmen is to caution such concentration. Having talked with members of the admission committees for three medical schools, and with dozens of graduating pre-medical science concentrators as well as medical students, the writer would like to summarize the information so gained.

First, it is a misconception that medical schools give preference to the science concentrator. The usual requirements amount simply to two years in chemistry and a year each in biology and physics. If they thought more concentration desirable, they would assuredly demand it in their admission requirements. Rather, it is the hope of many committees of admission that the student broaden his education in the humanities and social sciences, leaving the bulk of scientific training to the four-year medical school and the succeeding one- to five-year hospital programs. Today, it is the feeling that too many physicians emerge from their education with little but a high school education in all but the field of science.

Some students will feel that science courses taken now will make their medical training easier or more thorough. To a slight degree, it will make later courses easier, but certainly anyone with intellectual curiosity has no desire to repeat courses merely because they are offered in separate schools. Time is too short to allow duplication of the program. Insofar as thoroughness of education goes, rest assured that the medical schools anticipate no preliminary training beyond the stated requirements, and therefore discuss all relevant material in far greater detail than that taught in College.

The desirability of broadening the base of college education for pre-medical students has been discussed. It is strongly urged that the student, if now intent on concentrating in science, discuss the problem further with both medical students and medical school authorities. Pre-medical students need not enmesh themselves totally in the time-consuming lecture rooms and laboratories of science to prepare themselves for medical school. The time for gaining a broad, liberal education is now. The later program for training in medicine should not be confused with your present College period. John Sonneland '46.