Skip to content
  • About
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Book
  • Careers
  • Podcast
  • Recommended
  • Speaking
  • All
  • Physician
  • Practice
  • Policy
  • Finance
  • Conditions
  • .edu
  • Patient
  • Meds
  • Tech
  • Social
  • Video
    • All
    • Physician
    • Practice
    • Policy
    • Finance
    • Conditions
    • .edu
    • Patient
    • Meds
    • Tech
    • Social
    • Video
    • About
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Book
    • Careers
    • Podcast
    • Recommended
    • Speaking

Tiger Woods and the pre-med gunner mentality

Ryan Gray, MD
Education
April 11, 2013
476 Shares
Share
Tweet
Share

tiger woods

What can Tiger Woods teach us about pre-med competition and the medical school gunner mentality? A lot.

I was recently watching Tiger’s latest win, his 76th win on the PGA. Tiger was dominating the competition, not unlike your classmate in your organic chemistry or biochemistry class that just crushes every test and sets the curve for everybody else.

What was different about this tournament though was the fact that the commentators repeatedly were talking about the help that Tiger received. Not from his coach, but from his competition.  From the person that eventually finished 2nd.

Would you, the classmate, the “competition,” ever go up to the student who crushes every test and offer advice on how they could study just a little bit better? How they might be able to remember just a little bit more? Would you help that person?

In today’s pre-med world, the answer would overwhelmingly be no. With how much competition there is for each medical school, with over 50% of applicants being rejected, every advantage that you can gain, seems to be in your best interest. I’m here to tell you it’s not.

Let’s bring this back to Tiger Woods and the runner up, Steven Stricker. What did Stricker do with Tiger. He helped him. Yes, Stricker lost to Tiger Woods on Sunday, less than a week after giving Tiger some tips on putting. Why in the world would Stricker do that?

He should have been a gunner, right?

What if he acted like a gunner and hoarded all of the resources of the practice putting greens? What if he purposely lead Tiger astray with poor techniques. He might have won the tournament. With a win, he would have earned more money and more sponsorships. He would have earned more of everything.

Yet when asked about it, Stricker said that the advice that he gave Tiger is the culture on the PGA Tour. It’s the norm. When he was younger, the older players helped him, and he in turn, is now paying it forward.

Why can’t we have this same mentality with the pre-med culture? We can. It takes people like yourself to make the decision that your classmate is not your enemy, she is your ally. Together, you make up a stronger unit than individual people. Study together and learn more, in a shorter period of time. Help those who are weak, and they will do the same with you.

There are plenty of seats in medical school for students who truly deserve them. A large percentage of people applying to medical school probably should not have applied and instead, taken a year to strengthen their application.

Don’t worry about the competition, because the only real competition is what is inside of you. Do your best, help your fellow classmates through the marathon and you will all with cross the finish line together.

Ryan Gray is publisher, Medical School HQ.

Prev

Sharing my loss helped a patient's loss

April 11, 2013 Kevin 4
…
Next

Beauty in surgery: Traction and counter-traction

April 11, 2013 Kevin 1
…

Tagged as: Medical school

Post navigation

< Previous Post
Sharing my loss helped a patient's loss
Next Post >
Beauty in surgery: Traction and counter-traction

More by Ryan Gray, MD

  • Ace your medical school interview by being yourself

    Ryan Gray, MD
  • a desk with keyboard and ipad with the kevinmd logo

    Treating the enemy still requires respect and professionalism

    Ryan Gray, MD

More in Education

  • The secret to success in medical school: self-awareness and courage

    Kaelor Gordon
  • Is mandating pre-medical training widening disparities in the U.S. physician workforce?

    Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD
  • Equalizing the future of medical residencies: standardizing work hours and wages

    Deepak Gupta, MD and Sarwan Kumar, MD
  • From studying to baby kicks: Navigating motherhood in medical school

    Natalie Eichner-Seitz
  • The power of advocacy: a medical student’s journey to helping an uninsured immigrant

    Fabiola Plaza
  • From AI to love: the key to a better future in medical education

    Stevan Walkowski, DO
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Revolutionizing COPD management with virtual care solutions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Breaking free from a toxic relationship with medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices

      Kevin Haselhorst, MD | Physician
    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
    • 10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Amy Bissada, DO | Finance
    • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician

Subscribe to KevinMD and never miss a story!

Get free updates delivered free to your inbox.


Find jobs at
Careers by KevinMD.com

Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now.

Learn more

View 9 Comments >

Founded in 2004 by Kevin Pho, MD, KevinMD.com is the web’s leading platform where physicians, advanced practitioners, nurses, medical students, and patients share their insight and tell their stories.

Social

  • Like on Facebook
  • Follow on Twitter
  • Connect on Linkedin
  • Subscribe on Youtube
  • Instagram

CME Spotlights

From MedPage Today

Latest News

  • Journal Shows Its Commitment to Exploring AI in Medicine
  • Do Away With 'Lockout' Period in iPLEDGE, FDA Advisors Urge
  • Cluster Headache, Migraine Linked to Circadian System
  • Smaller Liver Transplant Candidates Wait Longer, Less Likely to Receive Organ
  • A 'Double Whammy' for Gastric Cancer Risk

Meeting Coverage

  • Oral Roflumilast Effective in the Treatment of Plaque Psoriasis
  • Phase III Trials 'Hit a Home Run' in Advanced Endometrial Cancer
  • Cannabis Use Common in Post-Surgery Patients on Opioid Tapering
  • Less Abuse With Extended-Release Oxycodone, Poison Center Data Suggest
  • Novel Strategies Show Winning Potential in Ovarian Cancer
  • Most Popular

  • Past Week

    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • What is driving physicians to the edge of despair?

      Edward T. Creagan, MD | Physician
    • The untold struggles patients face with resident doctors

      Denise Reich | Conditions
    • The psychoanalytic hammer: lessons in listening and patient-centered care

      Greg Smith, MD | Conditions
    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Revolutionizing COPD management with virtual care solutions [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
  • Past 6 Months

    • The real cause of America’s opioid crisis: Doctors are not to blame

      Richard A. Lawhern, PhD | Meds
    • The fight for reproductive health: Why medication abortion matters

      Catherine Hennessey, MD | Physician
    • The vital importance of climate change education in medical schools

      Helen Kim, MD | Policy
    • Nobody wants this job. Should physicians stick around?

      Katie Klingberg, MD | Physician
    • It’s time for C-suite to contract directly with physicians for part-time work

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Corinne Sundar Rao, MD | Physician
    • Resetting the doctor-patient relationship: Navigating the challenges of modern primary care

      Jeffrey H. Millstein, MD | Physician
  • Recent Posts

    • From clocking in to clocking out: the transition to retirement

      Debbie Moore-Black, RN | Conditions
    • Breaking free from a toxic relationship with medicine [PODCAST]

      The Podcast by KevinMD | Podcast
    • Tom Brady’s legacy and the importance of personal integrity in end-of-life choices

      Kevin Haselhorst, MD | Physician
    • The hidden truths of hospital life: What doctors wish you knew

      Emily Stanford, DO | Physician
    • 10 commandments of ethical affiliate marketing for physicians

      Aaron Morgenstein, MD & Amy Bissada, DO | Finance
    • The heart of a Desi doctor: Balancing emotions and resources in oncology

      Dr. Damane Zehra | Physician

MedPage Today Professional

An Everyday Health Property Medpage Today iMedicalApps
  • Terms of Use | Disclaimer
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
All Content © KevinMD, LLC
Site by Outthink Group

Tiger Woods and the pre-med gunner mentality
9 comments

Comments are moderated before they are published. Please read the comment policy.

Loading Comments...