Tutors Deny That Pre-Med Students Get Wrong Advice

Two members of the tutorial board of the Biochemical Sciences said yesterday that despite Medical School propaganda advocating the "broadly educated man," most pre-medical students are forced to major in science to meet all their requirements.

In rebuttals to accusations by Dr. Daniel H. Funkenstein, a member of the Committee on Admissions of the school, that students were being misled about pre-med qualifications, the two advisers said that prospective medical students are not being told definitely to major in science, but nevertheless many are forced to.

Dr. John T. Edsall '23, Chairman of the Board of Tutors in Biochemical Sciences, said that often there is not time for a pre-med to major in a field outside the sciences, even though the medical school wants "diversity of opinion."

Good Grades important

"Under the college rules it is quite difficult for a student to undertake an Honors Program in History, for instance, and at the same time meet the General Education requirements, the pre-medical requirements, and language requirements," he stated.

Dr. Ronald M. Ferry '12, Master of Winthrop House, said that most advisors encourage as wide a choice of courses as possible, but that this is best accomplished by majoring in a science. "If a student takes his five required courses for medical school as part of his major, he will have more time for other courses," he said.

While the Medical School professes not to emphasize high marks in fact, 80 percent of those admitted have averages of B-plus or better, Ferry pointed out.