To think medical school admissions favour people from a middle class (or upper middle class) background?

[CampionMN]

The medical school admissions process in this country is deeply flawed in my opinion. It favours people from middle class backgrounds (or upper middle class) and disadvantages people from poorer backgrounds.

I know plenty of people will come in to talk about how they grew up in a council estate, went to the local comp and went to medical school easily. I am aware this happens sometimes but we all know such situations are rare and not the norm.

The typical medical student (and doctor) is a middle class boy or girl who went to a private school or a highly selective grammar school (where teachers knew the medical school admissions process and coached them heavily beforehand). Had family access to doctors and had parents who were very involved in their medical school admission process (some of them wrote their child’s personal statements). This isn’t their fault, nor is it necessarily wrong. However I still feel medical schools should take these factors into account before granting admissions to students and admit those (from all backgrounds) who have a genuine desire to study medicine and a genuine passion to work as a doctor. Not just those who are doing it because it’s the expected path for them or because their parents really want it for them.

There are many, many people from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the desire to do medicine but will never be given the chance. This is because growing up in a home where parents are uneducated/have never been to university means they do not receive anywhere near the level of parental help required for medical school. Going to a not so great comprehensive school means a lot of teachers there cannot advise on how to navigate the entire process of getting into medical school (because it’s so rare for them to send a student to medical school). Having no access to doctors in the family means that no one can help you study for the admissions exams or help you write a good personal statement or help you get medical work experience. It also means your grades may not be the highest because you had additional challenges outside of school that may have affected your ability to revise properly (although they may be considered high for your school).

I also wonder if the selection process is contributing to doctors not being able to cope with working as a doctor. Struggling to accept criticism or being judged negatively. Struggling with to deal with 12 hour shifts (whereas most working class jobs, like care work are 12-12.5 hours long for a minimum wage salary and often no breaks because care homes are usually short staffed).

There’s a class problem within medicine (and dentistry too - everything I’ve said applies to becoming a dentist as well but slightly less so because of the difference in working hours and because dentistry isn’t necessarily seen as the end goal for all smart middle class students).

People from upper class backgrounds tend not to do medicine. So that’s why I haven’t included them.

My daughter is pretty pampered, spoilt and middle class. Has 7 grade 9s and 4 grade 8s at GCSE and is doing all Sciences at A level. Won't consider medicine as in her words 'I don't want to touch people who might not be very clean' and she certainly wouldn't want to get puked on or covered in blood. I think anyone who can survive Med school is pretty down to earth.

My DD at state school announced she wanted to study medicine, I tried to talk her out of it at first. Her school newish sixth form no experience of anyone going to med. school, promised help, that didn't really materialise, DD with some help from me did research, a few practise tests etc. and eventually managed to spend 2 weeks in intensive care ward of London hospital, commuting every morning and seeing things I would have struggled with. She was Invited to all 4 choices for interview, attended 3 and got 3 offers - problems at school with teaching staff leaving, both chemistry and biology so didn't get the grades. She says she is still sad about it but studied pharmacology instead and is planning on working in health comms. and earning some money - she may go for post grad. medicine at some future date. I would support that, but she has had health issues of her own which on the one hand make her empathetic but on the other I think would impact when working long shifts. I am certain at a different school the issues with A levels would have been better managed. I was surprised as the only student to receive an offer they didn't provide more support, 4 applied and only DD got an offer - in the end the head girl got an offer with a foundation first. A relative a year below at private school got tutoring and extra help to prepare from aged 15, very high numbers get in, lots of contacts for work ex. and due to covid predicted A levels meant all got in. I can say without exaggerating that my DD is as bright or even more so, relative got extra time for dyslexia that was diagnosed just before GSCES at top London private school.... DD got not help despite eye condition that medical school said she would need a slight adjustment for. It feels that some selective schools have more experience and more interest in getting high numbers into Medical school. DD school likely perceived her as coming from middle class family and not on their list to worry about, but she was on gifted register and her A levels results aren't in line with that. I feel I should have played interfering parent, got extra time and paid for extra outside revision for A Levels. .

I think pre med system would be better, with a year at Uni where at the end medicine is one of a number of choices and depends upon that year's results, interviews etc at that stage. Would be fairer for those without schools or parents who have helped and mean those pushed to give it a go can change their minds.

Mother of relative who is studying medicine didn't like it when I said, you know how poorly paid it is for the first few years - make sure you DC understands this. Answer was , 'all the doctors I know are on six figures'.

I do know some wonderful trainee doctors who have gone into it for all the right reasons.