re: How smart do you have to be to be a brain surgeon?

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The truly intelligent know that that doesn't occur

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Only in that warped shitshow you call a mind, Gerald.

But whatever helps you sleep at night.

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Had mediocre grades in HS and on standardized tests. He just started working very hard his junior year of college, and has continued to do so

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A lot of people think having bad grades or even low standardized test scores is indicative of intelligence. While smarter people tend to be naturally gifted at academics, not all intelligent people are focused or have great study skills.

I don't like the wording in either explanation provided by the linked articles in the OP. Being considered "smart" amongst peers in your field shows that perceived intelligence is relative.

I suspect some of this more revolves around personality. Kind of like how nerds are viewed as smart, but in reality most of them are just socially awkward. Some of the smartest people I know do a great job at hiding it. They are the ones that sit in the back and goof off, but still went on to graduate or professional school and beyond.

This is likely where the "hard worker" label comes from as they weren't viewed as intellectuals, but they were able to hit the books hard and reach their goals. The difference from these students and the valedictorian types that I've known is that the high achievers were typically perfectionists.

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It's like being a mechanic. Once you learn anyone can do it.

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True. Assuming it is as easy to learn as changing a spark plug.

Fact is, the only intellectual elite can become a doctor. I tried to learn all the crap my wife knows and failed miserably. I needed way less smarts to get my measly degrees in chemistry and history.

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They are hopefully smart enough to not open this thread.

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Now everyone knows I'm not a brain surgeon

Come on dude. You know your agenda.

And if anyone tells me you dont have to be smart to be a brain surgeon I will tell them why they sound so foolish

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I agree that Derm is the most competitive speciality. Do they possess the most medical knowledge? Nope (see brilliant internist, critical care specialist i.e House MD). Derm is way too narrow in focus to make that claim.

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Gotcha. I would go with a med/peds. Internal medicine is limited to adults and have zero orthopedic, surgical, or ped skills. And little derm training. Or gyn. Most medical knowledge if we are judging by scope of knowledge? A good FP. Unfortunately, most programs are watered down now and they turn out doc's that are essentially glorified NP's. Training covers it all. Gyn, peds, surgery, internal medicine, critical care, ER, endoscopy, geriatrics, ortho, derm. It's up to the resident how in depth they have to learn it. I've worked as a ER doc, critical care, hospitalist and thrived in each one. Ultimately, it's what you make of it. You can be really good or really shitty.

ETA-FP's residencies do tend to attract less than stellar students.

Yes, probably.

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BS degree, MBA, retired accountant

Controller/Shill for Salon, Democratic Underground, MSNBC, and the DNC

CFO with a CPA.

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FIFY.

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Rex

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Are you smart enough to understand that you have zero credibility because you have such a deep and abiding bias ?

Can you comprehend that someone with such a strong disposition to a rigid mindset must be intellectually lacking and to such a degree that stupid would be a compliment ?

Nothing you say can be considered thought provoking because you put such little thought into it. Your mind is made up. So no matter what you see, read , hear you will ignore what doesn't fit your preconceived notion and embrace anything that reinforces your position. Probably because you inherently know how lacking you are and are constantly seeking reinforcement.



At least Peeej has a big dick.
Ive sincerely have never seen anyone so publically admit on a daily basis that their dick doesn't even measure up to a gapping vagina.

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en Carson is smarter than Barack Hussein Obama any day of the week. BTW, Ben Carson successfully separated Siamese twins. What community has Barack Obama ever successfully organized?

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I guess we'll just skip over the whole Columbia Undergrad and Law Review at Harvard bit?