It's OK to make generalizations. It's OK to make blanket statements if pointing out the minor deviations would just be tedious. However, it is not OK to stereotype a group of people. It is not OK to label people, call them names or make claims about them that are untrue, unfounded and incredibly unkind (... and rude, insulting and malicious work too, but I liked the "un-" alliteration.)
Paul Szerlip: In your March 29 viewpoint, "Applaud the pre-meds ... applaud the problems," you did exactly what is not OK to do. I am both insulted and appalled. I am confused as to why you would write such a biting article and as to how you think it is true. And how many pre-meds have you met that are really, truly, like the people you described?
I can easily concede that pre-med students work hard. But so do many other students, too. And why does it matter? I'm pretty sure that - besides making you look bad - other people working hard do not affect you. It's not really your business, anyway, how hard people work.
Additionally, your claims as to why pre-meds work hard are not representative of the entire pre-med population. I do not have "overbearing parents." Believe it or not, I motivate myself to work hard, not because I "go from test to test, [worrying] only about the outcome," but because I want to learn the material. You can only get out as much as you put in, and you can't achieve your goals by sitting passively.
You say you've never seen a pre-med student on crystal meth? Well that's probably because we're smart enough to know better. But that's probably the limit of the effect our pre-med status has on our social behavior.
I'm not an annoying drunk (I know, I asked), and my friends who are pre-med aren't either. (But even if we were, so what? It's not a pre-med specific trait, and it's not like anyone can help it - they're drunk.) Also, I never, ever drink coffee (though tons of other non-pre-med students do), nor have I ever been close enough to a Red Bull to even contemplate drinking it. But if I did drink coffee or Red Bull, how does that fact relate to and support your argument?
OK, now I'm ready to attack the big one - this self-interest thing. Are you saying that you are not at all self-interested? I highly doubt that. And who are you to say that when I volunteer my time or take a leadership position in a club or organization that I am doing it only because I want to pad my r?©sum?©? You don't know that. If you ever said that to my face, I would slap you. And I know the same goes for many other pre-meds I am friends with. I also don't buy my experiences nor do I take opportunities and appreciate them only as r?©sum?© padders.
Actually, since I'm only allowing myself one slap, and I just re-read your article looking for more points to disprove, I'm retracting my previous slap.
If you ever try to tell me that I will be the type of doctor you described in your article, I won't slap you; I will full out punch you.
First, to point out a factual error: surgeons don't perform risky surgeries to save their reputation, there are host of other factors (like fiscal cost, providing false hope, risks/costs outweighing the benefits, etc.) that determine why doctors do or don't perform a surgery.
So not only is your statement false, but you certainly cannot use it (true or not) to "claim they aren't good doctors." Performing surgeries are only one aspect of being a doctor. And again, how do you know that doctors "opt to do surgery only if it's in their best interest?" Did you take a survey of all the doctors - did you, or anyone else, do any research to support that claim?
Second of all, how dare you say that doctors specialize to make the most money. Specializing is not a bad thing and I know many doctors who truly love the work they do everyday in their specialized field - money is just a perk.
Third, the reason I want to become a doctor is to help people solve their medical problems and health-related issues. I think becoming a doctor is the most effective way I can make a difference.
I'm deeply offended that you think you can generalize about me (in the future) and my family and friends who are doctors, and that you have the nerve to call us "not good doctors" and to tell us we won't care about our patients.
I don't know why you are targeting pre-med students and making these vicious claims. All of the negative qualities you described apply to all types of students with interests in all areas, and they definitely are not universal within any specific area.
I appreciate that you acknowledge that there are good doctors, but then I lost all the respect (and more) for you when you couldn't even take two minutes to look up "that doctor" in "Mountains Beyond Mountains."
His name is Paul Farmer, by the way, and he graduated summa cum laude from Duke University. I bet he was a hard working pre-med just like the rest of us.
I don't think you realize how insulting your false comments are, but you really should do your research before you state such a bold opinion.
You also should be careful about whom you insult. If you keep at it, when you grow old and need a "kidney doctor" (they're called nephrologists) you may be hard pressed to find a doctor, who you once labeled a "c-pres," willing to go anywhere near your kidney - so you better try to keep it healthy.
So sit back, Paul Szerlip, and enjoy slacking off and blaming the hard work of others on your shortcomings.
While you try to save your kidney, I'm going to save the world.
Hayley Marcus is a freshman who has not yet declared a major.
