Prospective med student can't rely on Dad's legacy

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Dear Dr. Fournier:My daughter is a junior in college with a 2.6 GPA, and I would like her to begin studying for final exams early this year. This semester is a chance to raise her grade point average, because she wants to attend medical school like her father. Unfortunately, she isn't properly motivated because she believes her father's connections and legacy will get her into med school. How do I convince her that she needs to prove herself instead of depending on her dad's reputation?ASSESSMENTEven if your daughter is right and the "good ol' boy network" will get her into medical school, it is no guarantee she will graduate. Medical school requires ability combined with determination. Many very smart (and committed) students are accepted to medical school, only to learn that they cannot handle the pressure and rigorous academic requirements. If she doesn't take her undergraduate work seriously and doesn't develop good habits now, how will she succeed in medical school?Furthermore, her elitist and arrogant thinking already disqualifies her in my book, and admission boards can often sense these attitudes in the application process. Today's medical schools want their graduates to be leaders in a global community -- they do not want less-than-committed students who rely on their parents' reputation. If your daughter wants to be a doctor for the right reasons, then there still might be hope for her dreams. But if she wants to be a doctor for the wrong reasons, then she needs to choose a different career. People who want to be doctors for the wrong reasons usually find out the hard way that they made a poor decision. WHAT TO DOFirst, a reality check and personal assessment are needed. Speak candidly with your daughter and determine if she wants to attend medical school for the right reasons. If she wants to continue down this path, she must make very high grades for the remainder of her undergraduate career. You are correct -- she needs to begin studying for final exams right now. She should meet with each of her teachers and ask for assistance in preparing for exams in advance. This will give her insight into what she needs to study and let her teachers know of her renewed commitment to school. Once your daughter has a plan in place for this semester, she needs to start preparing for the MCAT admission examination. With a lower GPA, she will undoubtedly need a higher MCAT score. Purchase her a MCAT preparation guide and have her take the practice test.After she scores herself on the practice test, she should contact prospective medical schools to compare her grades and test score range with the averages of past classes. You and your daughter must determine if admission to medical school is a feasible goal. Even if your daughter gets into medical school, you should ask yourself if she has the determination, perseverance and self-respect to get through a career in which mediocre is not acceptable. At times we have to accept that we are not ready for our goals, and other times we must realign those goals with the reality of our situation.(Write Dr. Yvonne Fournier, Fournier Learning Strategies Inc., 5900 Poplar, Memphis, Tenn. 38119. E-mail her at drfournier(at)hfhw.net or visit her website: www.hfhw.net)