Do We Know the Personalities of Our Doctors?
In 2015, it was reported that 6,847 individuals applied to a Medical School in Ontario. 957 people were accepted (~14% acceptance rate). Maclean’s ranks McGill University as the top Medical school in Canada, wherein roughly 2,500 individuals apply every year, and only 185 of those are accepted. How does every Medical School in Canada decide who gets in and who doesn’t?
The fundamental component of an individual’s application is their GPA from their Bachelor’s Degree and Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores. Furthermore, applicants need to complete many hours of volunteer work, provide strong reference letters, and fill out related documents. Because seats in Medical Schools are so limited, the MCAT score can make or break one’s chances of being admitted. But how does the admission board know that they are choosing someone compassionate, diligent, and determined — someone with a good personality?
As of April 2015, the MCAT is now seven and a half hours long, compared to the original 5 hours. This test puts students through ample amounts of stress, not just physically and emotionally, but the test puts stress on their or their parent’s income. Registering to take the MCAT is by no means cheap — it costs $305.00 to take the seven hour test.
So does having a high MCAT score prove that the accepted applicant will become a suitable doctor? The MCAT tests individuals on various scientific and academic sections. But, it is a multiple choice exam; can we put faith on multiple choice exams to determine our future doctors?
The MCAT, like the LSAT, GRE, GMAT and others, is a standardized test. It is easy to administer and objectively measures the achievement of the individual. However, just like any standardized test, the MCAT tests only a small portion of what makes a good doctor. The multiple-choice format also represents an inadequate assessment tool, as there are only right or wrong answers which cannot be carried over in the real-world. The test cannot tell us if the individual will have good communication skills or if they are determined to take on years and years of schooling.
In 2009, Lievens, Ones, and Dilchert considered administering a personality test that might predict how successful applicants will be as future doctors. The team found that the results from the personality test related with the students’ success in medical school. The most important predictor for success in medical school was conscientiousness. Being open and extraverted was seen to be important for applied practice in their curriculum. Using personality tests may work consistently across various groups of the population, such as those who have different socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, and religions.
Could we possibly see a personality test component as a future admission criterion for Medical Schools? It’s hard to say. The recent MCAT has added psychology and sociology components in order to assess how applicants make a link between science and society, which is a big step towards the future of medicine. However, it is still solely a standardized test, with no means of testing the individual’s personality.
Works Consulted
Canadian Medical School Profiles. Oxford Seminars. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.
Chen, Pauline. “Do You Have the ‘Right Stuff’ to Be a Doctor?” The New York Times. 14 Jan, 2010. Print.
Lievens, F., Ones, DS., & Dilchert, S. “Personality Scale Validities Increase Throughout Medical School.” Journal of Applied Psychology. Nov, 2009. 94(6): 1514–1535. Print.
University Rankings 2015: Medical Doctoral. Maclean’s. 6 Nov, 2014. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.
