Lack of socioeconomic diversity in medicine

There is a definite advantage for those who are able to afford the right books, courses, overseas volunteering experiences etc. when it comes to medicine applications.

The only way I can see to fix this would be for more free materials to be available but that'll probably be unlikely.

Saying that, it is very possible to do very well with regards to work experience, entrance exams and interviews without any paid 'extras' because I've done it this year.

You're judged by your academic ability not your wealth status.

Do you honestly think it's that simple or are being deliberately ignorant?

How do you think someone becomes academically excellent? Do you think perhaps it would be rather more difficult to achieve 4 As at A-level and string of GCSEs if you lived in a single parent family on a council estate with no one in your immediate family in employment and went to a comprehensive school filled with badly behaved children and disillusioned teachers?

Maybe if you had 2 supportive and well adjusted parents who were in professional roles and you went to a grammar or public school with excellent teachers, facilities, pastoral care and work experience opportunities you'd fare a bit better? Especially if you were surrounded by children raised with manners and discipline who got into the school based on prior achievement - children who would challenge you to work harder rather than ridicule you for any hint of intelligence.

OP - this isn't just a problem particular to medicine, it's a deep rooted problem in the whole structure of this country which is shameful to still be so profound in the 21st century. Look at, management, medical related professions, teaching, councils, law etc. But especially look at the government. The higher echelons of British society are saturated with middle class publicly educated people (mostly men). This isn't unique to medicine - it's a problem with our society. From the moment they're born, some people are miles ahead in terms of the education, opportunities and support they will have. That's just how the world is. It's not fair - but life isn't. It's how you deal with the hand you're dealt that defines you, not what you were dealt.

I say this as a working class comprehensive educated woman from a single parent family with a degree - about to start another in a typically middle class profession related to medicine. I know how hard it is because I've personally experienced it and not many people (virtually none) have the patience, resilience and determination to do what I've done coming from my background.

Do you honestly think it's that simple or are being deliberately ignorant?

How do you think someone becomes academically excellent? Do you think perhaps it would be rather more difficult to achieve 4 As at A-level and string of GCSEs if you lived in a single parent family on a council estate with no one in your immediate family in employment and went to a comprehensive school filled with badly behaved children and disillusioned teachers?

Maybe if you had 2 supportive and well adjusted parents who were in professional roles and you went to a grammar or public school with excellent teachers, facilities, pastoral care and work experience opportunities you'd fare a bit better? Especially if you were surrounded by children raised with manners and discipline who got into the school based on prior achievement - children who would challenge you to work harder rather than ridicule you for any hint of intelligence.

OP - this isn't just a problem particular to medicine, it's a deep rooted problem in the whole structure of this country which is shameful to still be so profound in the 21st century. Look at, management, medical related professions, teaching, councils, law etc. But especially look at the government. The higher echelons of British society are saturated with middle class publicly educated people (mostly men). This isn't unique to medicine - it's a problem with our society.

I say this as a working class comprehensive educated woman from a single parent family with a degree - about to start another in a typically middle class profession related to medicine. I know how hard it is because I've personally experienced it and not many people (virtually none) have the patience, resilience and determination to do what I've done coming from my background.

I agree with you and thanks for taking the time to post this.

I guess I tend to approach this from a slightly different perspective as a working class man from a single parent family (although my parents were together until into my teens) where employment/finances have been major problems, who has been gifted enough to manage to get decent qualifications but I definitely think my background has counted against me in many interviews including those for medicine.

Do you honestly think it's that simple or are being deliberately ignorant?

How do you think someone becomes academically excellent? Do you think perhaps it would be rather more difficult to achieve 4 As at A-level and string of GCSEs if you lived in a single parent family on a council estate with no one in your immediate family in employment and went to a comprehensive school filled with badly behaved children and disillusioned teachers?

Maybe if you had 2 supportive and well adjusted parents who were in professional roles and you went to a grammar or public school with excellent teachers, facilities, pastoral care and work experience opportunities you'd fare a bit better? Especially if you were surrounded by children raised with manners and discipline who got into the school based on prior achievement - children who would challenge you to work harder rather than ridicule you for any hint of intelligence.

OP - this isn't just a problem particular to medicine, it's a deep rooted problem in the whole structure of this country which is shameful to still be so profound in the 21st century. Look at, management, medical related professions, teaching, councils, law etc. But especially look at the government. The higher echelons of British society are saturated with middle class publicly educated people (mostly men). This isn't unique to medicine - it's a problem with our society. From the moment they're born, some people are miles ahead in terms of the education, opportunities and support they will have. That's just how the world is. It's not fair - but life isn't. It's how you deal with the hand you're dealt that defines you, not what you were dealt.

I say this as a working class comprehensive educated woman from a single parent family with a degree - about to start another in a typically middle class profession related to medicine. I know how hard it is because I've personally experienced it and not many people (virtually none) have the patience, resilience and determination to do what I've done coming from my background.

How do you think your background affected your interviews?

I can't say mine ever came up during any of my interviews.

The way you walk, the way you talk, your presence in a room. All considerably influenced by background as peoples' perceptions of them are influenced by their background.

That is true, and I can see where you are coming from. People tend to be drawn to those like themselves. Which is why I quite liked the MMIs, there is more opprtunity to get interviewed by a greater range of people.

But I do think while it's not perfect (and probably will never be perfect), it is getting better. Just out of curiosity, so are you saying you'd like to see a switch to a purely academic basis of entry to medicine?

Nope, but I would probably like to see circa 20% admitted on academic results alone like Germany or Australia. Everyone else going through an interview process.

Until very recently, neither Edinburgh nor Southampton interviewed prospective medical students. They must have had a very good reason for changing their system.

Nope, but I would probably like to see circa 20% admitted on academic results alone like Germany or Australia. Everyone else going through an interview process.