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Pre-Med’s New Priorities: Heart and Soul and Social Science
New York Times ^ | April 13, 2012 | ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

Posted on 04/15/2012 5:24:22 AM PDT by reaganaut1

...

In addition to the hard-science and math questions that have for decades defined this rite of passage into the medical profession, nearly half of the new MCAT will focus on squishier topics in two new sections: one covering social and behavioral sciences and another on critical analysis and reading that will require students to analyze passages covering areas like ethics and cross-cultural studies.

...

In addition to more emphasis on humanistic skills, the new test had to take into account important new values in medicine like diversity, with greater focus on health care for the underserved, Dr. McGaghie said.

As a result, there will be questions about gender and cultural influences on expression, poverty and social mobility, as well as how people process emotion and stress. Such subjects are “the building blocks medical students need in order to learn about the ways in which cognitive and perceptual processes influence their understanding of health and illness,” explains the preview guide to the new MCAT.

While the guide avers that such material is generally covered in introductory psychology and sociology classes, surveys by Kaplan Test Prep have found that fewer than half of pre-med students currently take these courses, said Amjed Saffarini, executive director of Kaplan’s pre-health programs. The company estimates that the changes, including more advanced science questions on genetics and biochemistry, could effectively double the coursework for med school admission.

Getting pre-med preparation right is a high-stakes game for colleges, which attract applicants because of their medical school admissions rates. Virtually all are now scrambling to figure out how to revise pre-med programs. Will all students on the pre-med track be required to take psychology and sociology, for example?

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: doctors; mcat; medicalschool; premed
Making pre-meds take sociology courses won't improve their bedside manner but is a chance for leftist academics to supply the brainwashing that the organic chemistry professors neglect.

It should not take four years of college before one can go to medical school. There are a few 6-year medical programs that shave 2 years from the 8-year bachelor's degree and medical school sequence, but it may take 4 or more years of college to meet pre-med requirements if unnecessary requirements like sociology are tacked on.

I wonder if de-emphasizing science requirements for medical school is a way to solve the "too many Asians" problem.

1 posted on 04/15/2012 5:24:24 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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To: reaganaut1

Could be. Or is it another step in the progressive dumbing-down educational process? I’m sure it will increase diversity and lower standards, producing docs who will follow suggested guidelines faithfully, push the social justice meme and not question boldly or scientifically.


2 posted on 04/15/2012 5:38:15 AM PDT by Pat4ever
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To: reaganaut1
I was required to take introductory psychology and sociology classes, and that was 40+ years ago!

What I found striking about my kid's "elite" liberal arts college curriculum is that the classic liberal arts curriculum doesn't seem to exist any more, replaced by additional major subject course requirements and fluffy PC courses.

I can understand how Zero could graduate with two ivy degrees, and not have the faintest concept of how capitalism works. I don't think this is a good thing.

3 posted on 04/15/2012 5:53:49 AM PDT by Sooth2222 ("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
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To: reaganaut1

More dumbing down of the medical field. Focus on the “underserved” and their issues is important to the successful practice practice of medicine? Show me the non agenda driven series of studies that proves this.


4 posted on 04/15/2012 6:08:26 AM PDT by Jake8898
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5 posted on 04/15/2012 6:24:50 AM PDT by deoetdoctrinae (Gun-free zones are playgrounds for felons)
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To: reaganaut1
Rahm's brother weighs in.

After fighting a losing war against the doctors for 40 years, the commies have decided to replace them with a slightly-less troublesome group.

6 posted on 04/15/2012 6:28:55 AM PDT by Jim Noble ("The Germans: At your feet, or at your throat" - Winston Churchill)
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To: reaganaut1

If you’re going to set up Death Panels, you really want doctors with Heart and Soul. They don’t need medical skill — they aren’t going to be giving out so much medicine anymore.


7 posted on 04/15/2012 6:32:07 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (Like Emmett Till, Trayvon Martin has become simply a stick with which to beat Whites.)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Pat4ever
increase diversity and lower standards

A huge motivator for many smart people to become doctors is the prestige factor. If leftists destroy that they will lay waste to yet another industry. With another source of envy gone, those on the left side of life's bell curve will finally be able to achieve true happiness, or so their thinking goes.

9 posted on 04/15/2012 6:56:45 AM PDT by Reeses
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To: reaganaut1

“What’s wrong with me, Doctor?”

“I don’t have a clue, but I feel sorry for you.”


10 posted on 04/15/2012 7:33:10 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Reeses

What an elitist, using science, math and logic to make your point/sarc. I’d rather have a doc who did well in science and math than one who excelled in sociology. This is sadly an inter-professional, concerted effort. I’m fighting in the trenches.


11 posted on 04/15/2012 7:51:40 AM PDT by Pat4ever
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To: Jake8898

“Show me the non agenda driven series of studies that proves this.” Hope you are not holding your breath. Good luck getting that published if you can fund it yourself. Using the receptiveness to global warming opposition as an example... Seriously, we need an academic/professional group that hasn’t swallowed the KoolAid.


12 posted on 04/15/2012 7:59:10 AM PDT by Pat4ever
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To: Pat4ever
Seriously, we need an academic/professional group that hasn’t swallowed the KoolAid.

Since you asked.

13 posted on 04/15/2012 9:14:47 AM PDT by Jim Noble ("The Germans: At your feet, or at your throat" - Winston Churchill)
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To: Jim Noble

Thanks for that-joined immediately and will recommend to like-minded health related academics. Resist we much!


14 posted on 04/15/2012 9:34:45 AM PDT by Pat4ever
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To: reaganaut1
My pre-med curriculum at a large, well-known northeastern university from '63-'67 (I was a bio major) required (1 semester = 1/2 year) 2 years foreign language, 2 years English, 1 year history (either Euro or American), 1 semester econ, 1 semester calc, 1 year physics, 1 semester inorganic chem, 1 year organic chem, 1 year classics (i.e., Greek and Roman art and history), 1 semester philosophy, 1 semester statistics, 1 year EITHER music or art, 1 year phys ed, 1 semester EITHER psych or sociology, plus physics, chem, and biochem labs. I might have missed a course or two, but that's prety much it.

FWIW.

15 posted on 04/15/2012 1:37:19 PM PDT by Pharmboy (She turned me into a Newt...)
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