The Myth of Cut-Throats Among Premedical Students: On the Role of Stereotypes in Justifying Failure and Success

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Abstract
This paper reports a study of the premedical student culture at a major university, based on fieldwork and interviews with 30 premedical students. The paper examines the role of stereotypes in the predmedical culture; specifically, the common belief in "cut-throats" among premedical students. Cut-throats are described as excessively competitive, selfish, grade-hungry students who cheat, steal books and lab reports, and sabotage lab experiments. Despite the widespread belief, our findings suggest cut-throats are a myth. We found more evidence for cooperative than cut-throat behavior. The myth emerges from the competitive and pressured situation of premedical students and the uncertainty of the medical school admission process, and is in part a manifestation of students'' collective anxiety. More significantly, it provides cultural explanations for failure and success for premedical students. We discuss its connection to the general premedical stereotype and its relation to pre-medical education.

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