The figures suggest that "as a preparation for the study of law or medicine it makes comparatively little difference what subject is mainly pursued in college." That is to say, college interests in natural sciences, as indicated by the election of that course, does not indicate special aptitude for the work of medicine; nor does the election of courses in history and political science indicate a necessary superiority in the more or less related work of law. Lowell shows that only during the first year or so of the medical school do those who have already specialized in natural sciences have any advantage over those medical students who have specialized in other subjects.
What is the relation between the men's records in college and their achievement in the professional schools? In the following table are given the number of college men of each degree of distinction who were awarded "cum laude" in the professional schools:
SHOWING RELATION BETWEEN COLLEGE HONORS AND HONORS IN THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS (LOWELL)
----------------------------------------------- Record in College |Number Awarded "Cum Laude" | in Law --------------------+-------------------------- 609 Plain Degree | 40 6.6% 305 Cum Laude | 68 22.3% 200 Magna Cum Laude | 80 40.0% 33 Summa Cum Laude | 20 60.0% --------------------+-------------------------- Record in College |Number Awarded "Cum Laude" | in Medicine --------------------+-------------------------- 239 Plain | 86 36.0% 85 Cum Laude | 65 76.5% 39 Magna Cum Laude | 34 87.2% 2 Summa Cum Laude | 2 100.0% -----------------------------------------------
It is apparent at once that there is a close relation between the college records and the records in the professional schools. Both in law and in medicine those who are awarded honors tend largely to be those who were awarded honors in college. And the higher the college honors, the greater the percentage of men receiving honors in the professional schools.
We may now ask how far back in the academic careers of these men it is possible to predict their probable achievement in the professional schools. Have those who are awarded the professional honors already distinguished themselves from their fellows at the time of their entrance into college? The following summary of the results presented by Lowell in much more detail will help answer this question: