Readiness for Medical School: a Radical Proposal

Abstract

Readiness for medical school, like readiness for reading, includes physiological, psychological, educational, and sociological aspects of growth. Full cognitive and neurodevelopment including higher levels of adult thought order occur generally towards the ends of the third decade. Earlier patient care experiences and an understanding of the social and structural determinants of health demand some experiences in the world. We believe a requirement to prove medical school readiness should be to hold a job for a year that interfaces with the public and proves responsibility, reliability, and accountability as documented by a supervisor.