Evening star., 1962-02-04
EDUCATION
FORUM
By BENJAMIN FINE

QUESTION: I am a sopho-
more and am seriously thinking
of entering the medical field to
become a doctor. Is it harder
for a woman to get through
medical school than for a man?
Does a student have to be above
average to gain admission?
What are the chances of the
student with a B-plus average?
I understand it is expsenive to
go to a medical school. What
are the chances of defraying
this cost? Thank you for any
help you may give me. Should
I take any special courses in
high school?
ANSWER: You have selected
a difficult field, but one in
which more women should be-
come interested. Yes, it is
harder for a woman to get &C
cepted by a medical school, but
once you are admitted, it is
not more difficult to remain
than it is for a man. The medi-
cal schools accept only about
S per cent women applicants.
I think this is unfair and a
tremendous waste of potential
talent. BY way Of contrast, 80
per cent of the Soviet Unions
physicians are women! We
don't have to ape the Commun-
lists, but there is no reason why
more of our good women STU
dents should not become doc
tors.
AS to your other questions: A
better than average academic
record is almost essential,
particularly in the case of a
woman. A B-plus or an A ave-
rage would put you right up top
among the potential canGi-
dates.
I would recommend that you
take a liberal arts or college
program while you are in high
school. This would include
courses in English, History, one
or more languages, social
studies, math, and physics OF
chemistry. These are good
solid" subjects and will prove
valuable to you no matter what
profession you may enter.
Yes, it is expensive to go tc
a medical school. You have tc
figure on at least $4,000, pos
sibly $4,000, for your foul
years. And then you'll have
two years Of internShip. If you
want to specialize, you'll ado
another year or two. Many
States now give scholarships tt
medical students. The Fedora
Government is talking about
aid, too. But whether anything
will come through Congress
this session is doubtful. Gooc
luck to you! We need more doc
tors, especially good ones.
Question: I'm a second-grad'
teacher with an insatiabl'
yearning to see Europe and tn
place I teach about. Is ther'
any place that I could get
travelling grant or scholarship
,, for the summer? I have B.A
and MA. degrees from excel
lent colleges and have takel
special courses at Columbis
Are summer scholarships avail
able?
) Answer: I applaud your de
sire to travel abroad this sum
!, mer. Every teacher, regardles
of grade level, should have tina
opportunity. If I had my way
I'd propose that every schoc
system set aside part of tn
budget to permit teachers T.
travel abroad. Either that. o
!; raise salaries high enough t
enable them to go!
S As for practical suggestions
. There are a limited number O
i travelling scholarships or fel
lowships for teachers who wan
to study abroad. You Nigh
: check with the Institute of In
: ternational Education, l Eas
Sixty seventh street, New Yor
:, City, for specific information
y If anyone would have a list G
e summer grants, it would be tn
: institute, since it acts as
s clearing house for studer
e study abroad. Also, you Nigh
check with some Of the larg
= travel agencies. They occasion
:, ally select teachers to act g