As a member of the College of Human Medicine, the headline ( “Study: med college racist,” SN 6/14) certainly got my attention. I am a white male.

As someone who definitely had “too much fun” as an undergraduate at MSU, I can guarantee you there were numerous applicants with higher test scores and grades than me, yet I was still given the opportunity to attend the college. That’s the thing: Being a med student and potentially a physician is not just about test scores and grades. Clinical experience, volunteer experience and life experiences are all factors that go into making a potential physician who he or she is.

The College of Human Medicine sets a minimum standard of academic achievement that every student who attends has to meet. I can’t speak for the college, but I would venture to say that after those standards are met, the school is looking for what else makes an applicant unique.

Minority students have had different life experiences than myself. That’s something they add to the college, and part of what makes it great. The college also has the responsibility and goal to serve the people of Michigan.

Here’s a news flash: The state of Michigan is not comprised of only white males. It is my hope that the college continues to recruit a diverse set of students, but it is also my feeling that the headline “ med college racist” was a little extreme.

Mickey Meilinger
second-year medical student