Posted on 04/15/2012 5:24:22 AM PDT by reaganaut1
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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.
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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 Kaplans 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 ...
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.
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.
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.
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.
After fighting a losing war against the doctors for 40 years, the commies have decided to replace them with a slightly-less troublesome group.
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.
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.
“What’s wrong with me, Doctor?”
“I don’t have a clue, but I feel sorry for you.”
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.
“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.
Thanks for that-joined immediately and will recommend to like-minded health related academics. Resist we much!
FWIW.
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