Do you need to be a genius to become a doctor or just hard working?

Question

I want to go into medicine and have good grades. I am a mature student (over 21++). Is it worth applying to med school? I do well be working hard and am not gifted !

Will i survive in medical school if i get in? I am in the UK.

Answer 1

Definitely not a genius ... I've worked with a lot of doctors and know they are not that (no disrespect intended)!

You do need a certain kind of mind I think - you need to be able to process/memorise a lot of factual information on anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, etc.

Also you need to be quite thick-skinned... the clinical placements involved require you to work with consultants who can be, shall we say, somewhat abrasive if you don't know the information they're looking for.

Most of all I think you need dedication, the whole process is very long what with the university portion of training and then all the various stages of postgraduate clinical training, often working long hours and having to change departments or even hospitals every few months. From where I've been sitting (midwifery/clinical audit) it all looks a pretty intense process.

Why not contact some universities and find out about open days for medicine? You would probably be able to pick up written info and maybe talk to some of the staff and current students to get a better idea of what the training's like and entry requirements.

Answer 2

I'm not super clever or super dumb. I have now completed my GCSEs which I began 2 years ago. In my 1st year when I was doing triple science I got F's and D's. Luckily my teacher gave me another chance. I learned from my mistakes and I studied a lot. I retook the exams that I did bad in. Now I have got my my reesults and I got an A for Chemistry B for biology and physics. Also I was in set 1 for maths I got a grade C for my 1st exam and they moved me down to set 2. I was so embarassed so I decided to work hard. I worked hard and I got a high A at the end. Revision does help a lot. But you need to make sure you know the basics. I'm now about to begin college and I have decided to do Maths Chemistry and Biology at A level. This would have never happened if I didn't learn from my mistakes before it was too late. Good luck. I forgot to answer your question. Working hard can't really beat a genius because the genius in my class got all A*s for all his subjects. However nearly everyone calls me clever as I got some A's and B's but i'm not a genius.

Answer 3

Yes! I know a mature student who got accepted into med school. Plenty of people either choose or get forced to apply as graduates, so mature students in medicine are fairly common. I'm doing vet, which is probably as close there is, and only 50% of my course are school leavers, possibly up to 25% graduates (oldest was 52, but he suspended studies, oldest now 34) Typical grades for entry from the students I know seemed to be around the ABB or AAB mark, depending on which med school they were applying to, and how much they were liked at interview. It is worth noting that A levels have a timelimit on them (ie, most applications say have achieved Grades XYZ within **years) Graduate entry grades (again, I only know vet, but I'm assuming they'd be similar, are around a 2:1 in a related biological degree, and I think they're fairly generous over what's related or not.)

Another thing to think about when applying is that the NHS quite often will offer bursaries to mature students, not sure exatly what their requirements are, but surely worth checking out. They're crying out for good doctors, so if you want to do it, go for it.

Working hard is the key, though - if you're prepared to do that, then you'll be fine. Yes, there is hard work involved, but its also fun. Always remember, doctors only treat one species, some people out there treat the rest of them!

Answer 4

Doctor's don't have to be geniuses, but they do have to be intelligent. A doctor must have a thorough knowledge of biocheistry, as well as biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Pharmacuticals, Medical devices, and medical techniques, most of which is constantly changing with new technology. Those are just the basics. Take a couple classes in Organic chemistry, if you can handle those with hard work, you can probably handle most anything.

Answer 5

Im at uni now reading radiography and last year i shared a flat with 4 med students here in Leeds. Genius no! But you do have to work hard, really hard. Forget the student social side its very long hours of reading, essays revision plus exams and it lasts for 5 years. Not that it stops then cos you need to keep your knowledge up to date! So if you believe you have the will power to eat sleep and breath medicine for 5 years go for it and good luck..

Answer 6

OK ....i had no idea they allowed people over 21 to be doctors in this country, since at A-level the process was hard and ofcos you can be but its usually after doing a science based undergrad degree and getting a first in it...so can I ask what is your background that has led you to this and why medicine?

Now there in my opinion is NO such thing as genius...every single genius simply worked hard to a degree where it became an easy habit for them...and doctors are NOT geniuses at all...they only follow set out information and must have good memory skills.

Most real geniuses such as mozart, da vinci, etc all learnt what worked best for them, for mozart was he a genius in music if his parents werent the real motivational educators and influences in his very early and very young childhood life??

Dont think youre not a genius, ask yourself are you willing to learn and willing to work..if yes you can be all you want to be and I sincerely believe that, all that you must do is find the answers, as youre doing here.

Bill Gates was a genius, not for making money but for knowing what he wanted, so left college and worked at it. He had an interview for IBM, so went, but according to what I recall, the interview was a full days (maybe nights) flight away in another state of the USA...he as a genius in that way. I agree with my learned collegue above, scientist are the real geniuses and I believe they save lives, doctors simply take the credit.

Hope that helps and good luck if this is the way you want to go x

Answer 7

There are two major components to a successful career (doctor or other): abilty and persistence.

For a doctor, key abilities include intelligence, ability to think rationally, and a good memory.

You should know whether or not you are persistent enough to follow through with your goal.

Answer 8

Hard Working.... Geniuses do not become Doctors, they become Scientists.

Answer 9

no you do not need to be a genius but it could help. Not many doctors are genius. If they were there would be no malpratice, and there would be a cure for AIDS, and cancer.

Answer 10

Hard work will do it. Before going to schoolyou will be given a premed test, and that will tell you.