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Comment by angry_octet | Hacker News Reader

It would be interesting if they got different diplomas depending on what basis they were admitted. BA(History, Sports), BSc(Chemistry,Donor), MD(Legacy). I'd be happier if the doctors at least we're not legacy advantaged. Of course, legacy might be a determinative factor in life success, but I'd prefer the doctor who got in on academic merit alone.

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>Of course, legacy might be a determinative factor in life success, but I'd prefer the doctor who got in on academic merit alone.

I agree with you, but to play devil's advocate: I think it's very possible that the legacy child of two doctors becomes a better doctor than a more academically-talented student.

> I think it's very possible that the legacy child of two doctors becomes a better doctor than a more academically-talented student

Mom & Dad doing patient diagnosis & surgery at home to bond with the kids...

Sounds more problematic than a software engineer opening up the editor.

I cannot tell if you're being serious, but I'd doubt the scenario you described is commonplace.

Do you think that academic talent implies success in medical practice? It is a necessary but not sufficient condition.

Although that would be admitting that the initial (possibly biased) selection is more important that the actual education.

I often felt my university studies were something to overcome rather than a process of education. As in, I taught myself to overcome a series of obstacles.

By the surprising number of bad doctors I would hope academic merit wasn't the only factor. A good doctor needs more and the smartest are more suited to research and curing cancer rather than seeing 100 people a day in a walkin environment with runny noses.

I'm lumping all the selection criteria except legacy and football under the banner academic. Obviously those who just pass exams make poor doctors, but I didn't think we were arguing about that.

I think those that ace the test make bad doctors. Those who barely pass might even make better doctors because they had to socially navigate the system where someone who aced just studied.

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