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Is it pretty much required to have stellar grades to study medicine?
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I mostly agree with the rest of your post, but do GPs even do IVs anymore?
A lot of nurses don't even do basics like measuring blood pressure by hand because so much has been automated.
But the crux of being a doctor isn't measuring pulse or making small talk; it's being really sharp with diagnosis and treatment. Doctors work with other healthcare professionals to deliver care. Their role isn't to be a good phlebotomist; it's to craft the total treatment and direct others to achieve the best results for the patient. For that, I do want an academic genius.
OP: if you're asking this question, then you already know the answer.
GPs? Can't imagine any GP getting their hands dirty! Hospital doctors on the other hand, they need to be able to put an IV in. Sure, there's usually a nurse, or if an operation, a dedicated anaesthetist. Still, you'd be a useless doctor if you needed to urgently put an IV in and couldn't.
I don't think doctors put IVs in, even in the ED/ER because if the patient is brought in by ambulance, it's done en route, and if the patient is a walk-in, the take-in nurse usually does it.
Now I'm not suggesting that doctors shouldn't have at least these basic skills (and AFAIK they are still taught these basics), but I don't think it's a fair metric to measure doctor quality. It's much more important that doctors are good at the aggregate aspects of healthcare since the minutia is usually handled by others.
To get into a prestigious program, high stats (GPA, MCAT) might be necessary, but are generally not sufficient.
The stats increase the chances of an interview or a closer look at your file, at which point you have to demonstrate that you have other experiences/skills that are necessary to succeed as a doctor.
What? If you notice practically all the things were we both post, I post first. You would like that though.
Once upon a time I was a TA for an experimental Physics lab many pre-meds had to take. It was hell, because they would always push for a 90+% grade even if their work was truly substandard.
I remember telling one kid frankly at one point that I really didn't want a doctor that could not tell the difference between kilograms and grams or meters, cm or mm.
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I remember telling one kid frankly at one point that I really didn't want a doctor that could not tell the difference between kilograms and grams or meters, cm or mm.
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What UW school are you referring to wisconsin or washington or what? Do you study music?
Washington. My alma mater.
Just study and try your best. Many med schools out there. UW is a great school, but there are many others out there.
Just as with university, any medical school can teach you more than you'll ever be able to learn.
Here's a fun fact, this forum is large but the tendency of seeing someone post frequently before and after you is going to be high. It's time to get over yourself.
Truth be told, I can't tell you the grades or the school of any doctor I've ever seen and if I did look I certainly can't say where I'd find out their average. It simply seems not to matter providing they did meet the standards to get their license.
Definitely, I would rather have someone who made the most out of a lesser school than someone who coasted at a prestigious university. It is what you make out of it.
Here's a fun fact, this forum is large but the tendency of seeing someone post frequently before and after you is going to be high. It's time to get over yourself.
Stop following me, jessica. Out here, in there, you're everywhere I go. Heck, I even used to live in RTP and you moved there.
Well I did come here for you.Stop following me, jessica. Out here, in there, you're everywhere I go. Heck, I even used to live in RTP and you moved there.
University of Washington. And no I'm studying Atmospheric Sciences and Japanese. I just play piano and guitar for fun.