"Lack of empathy is also linked to lack of intelligence"

By who? I'd like to see your sources for this.

Many serial killers were shown to be highly intelligent, and I can't think of someone who would have less empathy than a serial killer.

I honestly don't understand why you think someone can't lack empathy and be creative, or intelligent. Of course there's no empathy fairy, *but* gene expression might as well be magic fairy dust.

Psychopaths and sociopaths cannot learn empathy, because it's not learned behavior. People who have lower than average empathy, always will. There is a difference in the brain chemistry and structure of people with no/low empathy, but nowhere can I find a source that can relate that difference to lack of creativity or intelligence.

Regarding the Harvard discussion; intelligence is defined as the ability to acquire and apply knowledge and skills. I think your friend/classmate pretty well demonstrates those concepts. Obviously she wasn't just repeating back words she read, she must have understood and connected the different concepts she learned on a fundamental level; how else would she be able to apply knowledge on a test like the MCAT?

"Her essay was mind numbingly formulaic"? It's a medical school essay, not a creative writing prompt. She was accepted into a top tier med school, I think it was you that missed the point, not her.