A survey on the 'premedical syndrome'

The "premedical syndrome" has been widely discussed but only anecdotally described. To learn whether the syndrome exists in the South Carolina schools and which traits compose it, the authors surveyed faculty members and students of 13 undergraduate colleges in the state. Premedical students were perceived as differing from nonpremedical students in being excessively competitive, academically, overspecialized , overachieving , more highly motivated, more highly self-disciplined, goal-oriented, and proud of their career choice. The perception by students and faculty members of the premedical syndrome may have important effects on the undergraduate curriculum and students' choices of major areas of study. Only 3 percent of the premedical students who responded to the survey were majoring in the liberal arts, and only 9 percent of the nonpremedical students were majoring in the natural sciences. These data suggest that the natural science departments in U.S. colleges may have become training grounds for premedical students to the exclusion of others. Modification of medical school admissions policies may be able to reverse some features of the premedical syndrome and some of its effects.