TSR Med Students' Society Part III

But then you have to cut something else, the country is running at an unsustainable level of deficit. You can't look in isolation at this sort of thing. Plus I am not sure why medicine should be a special case other that the job security.

I come from a priveldged background myself so can't really talk and I suspect I probably worsen the issue. I am all for more acess schemes and going by the fact they are hugely oversubscribed (so there is demand) I would say that just widening them (and shrinking. Normal places) would be the way to go for now.

I think trying to get the US culture of pays icing back to you alma mater is the way to go to fund additional scholarships (not that our uni is doing well seeig as it came 164 out of 167 in feedback in the NSs I believe lol)

I managed with no help from my parents as well but I feel a big thing was I knew they were there/could support me to a certain extent IF the **** hit the fan. That makes a huge difference. I was never going to have to drop out because I couldn't fine rent etc.

Also, taking on massive debt when you don't even know if you would pass the course is a big ask.

Genuinely, what do you think the issues are?

But what you need is to give the details of how it is paid back and make that clear.
Yes the total debt might be 100k but explain that once you graduate you will only be paying £x a month they seem to get it (or did when I explained it...) plus that it comes out as a tax and so you never ever have to worry about not being able to afford to pay it back that you don't
Maybe thinking that education on how it works is all that is needed (wrt this as a barrier) is naive but I have seen it work.

I do find it bizzare that the government rejected the idea of a graduate tax before effectively implementing one in all but name. Had they implemented an explicitly named graduate tax it would have avoided a lot of the student unrest and accusations of breaking promises - the lib dems could even claim they'd abolished up-front student fees.

I think because I managed with basically zilch help through school - I have a rather dim view on these things, as I think with the way things are if you're clever enough you can manage it. There's already a very reasonable income-assessed loan (up to 5k in london) and bursary given out (2.5k from student finance, which is often topped up by unis by another 2.5k), and then fees can be paid back as normal like anyone else - I don't see the problem.

I went to a meh comprehensive and managed so why can't anyone else... I'm sure you have some very valid points Sarky so if you want to give us your 2ps worth...

A tax would be applied uniformly to all grads though, surely? This at least takes into account how much you borrowed.

This punishes the wealthy far less than a tax. Not that I am impressed with the new system either.

Yeah, I'm with you man.

I went to a meh comp and I seem to be doing fine. I'm of the opinion of that anybody can do it. With the amount of burseries etc available at the moment I really don't think anything else is necessary.

If anything the way the loan is done pisses me off. Why should you only have to pay back 70% (or whatever %) of your loan and me 100% despite the fact that we are both leaving with the same degree?

Give them access to more 0% interest loans, sure. Not having to pay half of it back despite the fact it's 0% interest and you pay back tiny amounts per month? Wtf? If anybody was deterred off medicine by the amount of 'debt', I put debt in inverted commas because it's essentially the nicest 'debt' you'll ever have, they deserve a slap in the face.

I do find it bizzare that the government rejected the idea of a graduate tax before effectively implementing one in all but name. Had they implemented an explicitly named graduate tax it would have avoided a lot of the student unrest and accusations of breaking promises - the lib dems could even claim they'd abolished up-front student fees.

The fear with the graduate tax is that it would just disappear into the wide blue yonder, whereas at least now, all monies are recycled through the SLC. Then again the government is reportedly considering selling off the loanbook...If you do not earn over 21K after your degree, it has to be said, - what additional skills has that degree bought you? And indeed - potentially if you are doing a job not necessitating a degree - then has the taxpayer investment been wasted?

Will I ever look down a microscope and know what I'm looking at?

No, but you'll get better at blagging it.

Will I ever look down a microscope and know what I'm looking at?

I wouldn't be optimistic. But shotgun histology on youtube is a reasonable way of getting better at it.

Ahh just watched the introduction, that sounds great! Thank you