Dear Editor:
I was dismayed to read Lydia Mitts' October 17th Features article entitled, "Kaplan study finds MCAT scores, grades are main determinants of med school admission."
If you were writing an article on the efficacy of diet pills, would you base your article largely on the research that the diet pill manufacturer had done?
Although Ms. Mitts did not deem it necessary to contact me, I am glad to see that she at least contacted Prakhar Agarwal, President of the Pre-med Society. I am also delighted that Prakhar provided the mature, balanced perspective that the Kaplan study and the headline did not.
My main purpose in writing is to strongly underscore what Prakhar said and to assure pre-medical students that it is NOT all about grades and MCATs.
Now, please do not misunderstand. It is certainly important to study hard and do well in your classes - all your classes - if you want to be a competitive medical school applicant. This has always been the case; this is not news. Also, a standardized test that provides a common denominator for all applicants is used in all academic admissions processes, whether it be the SAT, LSAT, GRE or other test. This test is also important.
But I do not want any student to think for one minute that this is the whole story. Medical schools across the board value students who take a leadership role, who reach out to others in need and who make a difference on their campuses, in the broader community or around the world.
For students, finding a balance is the key: putting in the time to do reasonably well in your academic work but also making time to get involved. These students are the ideal candidates for medical school.
If you do not believe me, I hope you will come and hear Brenda Armstrong, M.D., dean of admissions at Duke Medical School, who is making a special trip to Boston to speak to Tufts students on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m.
Armstrong and her school have been at the forefront of a movement that has been growing for the past 15 years to take a holistic and broad view of applicants and LOOK BEYOND THE NUMBERS.
Carol Baffi-DuganAssociate Dean of Undergraduate EducationProgram Director for Health Professions Advising
