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I always heard that medicine was the fallback for the students who couldn't hack it as physicists.

• quickthrower2 5y ago
  Odd comment because 'hack it' has multiple dimensions. If you can't 'hack' physics (I correlate this with very high IQ, stoic commitment to research) it doesn't mean you'd hack medicine (Which needs decent IQ, amazing memory/recall and very good interpersonal and communication skills, and ability to handle stress, blood and dead bodies).
  • slumdev 5y ago
    Oh, it's definitely not the case anymore. Anecdotes about students in competitive disciplines falling back on medicine are usually multiple decades old. Today, there's no such thing as medicine-as-a-fallback. If you aren't solidly and deliberately premed for several years, building relationships with people who can write strong LORs, doing and documenting volunteering hours, and getting everything else in order, you don't stand a chance at admission to a competitive school.