Should pupils from terrible state schools only require BBB for Medicine & Oxbridge?

Physician

14

Should pupils from poor state schools only require BBB to apply for Medicine & Oxbridge?

Original post by Physician

Should pupils from poor state schools only require BBB to apply for Medicine & Oxbridge?

Wouldn't changing poor state schools be the better issue to deal with? Then everyone would be better off, not just the few who get BBB.

Reply 2

Physician

OP

14

Original post by threeportdrift

Wouldn't changing poor state schools be the better issue to deal with? Then everyone would be better off, not just the few who get BBB.

Not many people have that option. My parents couldn't afford the daily bus fare for me to attend a better school or college.

Original post by Physician

Not many people have that option. My parents couldn't afford the daily bus fare for me to attend a better school or college.

You weren't offering an option that included individual solutions. You seemed to be suggesting that the quality of the medical profession and Oxford and Cambridge should be diluted to make up for the inadequacies of the universal education provision.

I was suggesting that it should be the other way around, the government should be pressured into providing universal education whereby young people can develop their full academic potential. Then everyone would be able to enter the career or university on their own merits.

Reply 4

lilysilly_5454

13

Original post by Physician

Should pupils from poor state schools only require BBB to apply for Medicine & Oxbridge?

I mean in most cases they dont they look at other things as well. Going to a poor state scool isnt enough my secondary school would qualify as this but they had a good attainment score i also know people who went to the school just cause so i would say no plus the courses are demanding and BBB are options for some people

Reply 5

Admit-One

Universities Forum Helper

21

Well, they already get contextual offers so I’m not sure why Oxbridge and Med are being singled out or why BBB has been settled on?

Reply 6

Scotney

20

Original post by Physician

Not many people have that option. My parents couldn't afford the daily bus fare for me to attend a better school or college.

Sixth forms have bursaries for pupils on lower incomes which would cover most travel costs.

Reply 7

SSRR

1

Original post by Physician

Should pupils from poor state schools only require BBB to apply for Medicine & Oxbridge?

The exams are standardized regardless of school, and there is so much online help that can make up for a poor state school teaching. I would think it is a lot to do with abilities and motivation rather than failings in the system. I would prefer an AAA doctor to a BBB one.

Reply 8

Scotney

20

Original post by SSRR

The exams are standardized regardless of school, and there is so much online help that can make up for a poor state school teaching. I would think it is a lot to do with abilities and motivation rather than failings in the system. I would prefer an AAA doctor to a BBB one.

Reality is though not all schools are equal and a kid getting BBB at a truly terrible school is probably as bright as one getting AAA at a good one.They just will not have had the standard of preparation and environment a good school provides Teaching needs to be better rewarded and teachers better supported to get more able people into the profession

Reply 9

Physician

OP

14

Original post by Scotney

Sixth forms have bursaries for pupils on lower incomes which would cover most travel costs.

When was this introduced? I went to sixth form a long time ago. I have always thought a College would have better teaching due to the higher qualifications of lecturers.

Reply 10

Scienceisgood

21

Original post by Physician

When was this introduced? I went to sixth form a long time ago. I have always thought a College would have better teaching due to the higher qualifications of lecturers.

I can assure you your degree classification doesn’t mean *hit after so long from qualifying! What matter after university is experience…

Reply 11

lilysilly_5454

13

The fact is if you gp to a truly bad school and meet some other requirements contextual offers are available which do drop requirements same as Foundation years amd to do with burdarues the 16-19 bursary is available at most schools if you meet reqs if you dont meet the read for that then theres not a lot that can be done but it also means that you may not be in as bad as a position as other so may Need to look at alternative ways is all

Reply 12

Guru Jason

21

I would say no. I would also say no to any university accepting BBB. I understand that we need to help students from poor state schools but medicine is once of the courses you shouldn't accept lesst than the best.

When you have your life saving op at the hospital, do you want the best of the best operating on you or some DEI doctor? I'm sorry, but no. Any other non medical course sure go ahead but not medicine.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 13

Physician

OP

14

Original post by Scienceisgood

I can assure you your degree classification doesn’t mean *hit after so long from qualifying! What matter after university is experience…

It depends on the field one wishes to work in. For example, the current Prime Minister graduated from Leeds and Oxford. The current Chancellor graduated from Oxford. That is quite a common theme in UK politics, that one must have attended Oxbridge or the equivalent to stand any real chance of getting the top two jobs in politics, and arguably the top two jobs in the UK. There have been exceptions, of course, with Gordon Brown having attended Edinburgh, and John Major having not attended university at all. But these are special exceptions, and not the norm. If you want to get the top jobs in ultra competitive fields, then the calibre of university you went to, amongst other things, does matter a lot.

Edinburgh, btw, is doing really well in the global rankings of late, and after having overtaken KCL, it is now only just behind UCL.

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 14

ash210

12

I know someone who met most of the contextual criteria and his offer from Cambridge was A*A*A (Chemical, Bio and Math) so not sure where BBB is coming from? maybe other medical schools but definitely not Oxbridge.

Reply 15

lilysilly_5454

13

Original post by ash210

I know someone who met most of the contextual criteria and his offer from Cambridge was A*A*A (Chemical, Bio and Math) so not sure where BBB is coming from? maybe other medical schools but definitely not Oxbridge.

Oxbridge doesnt give contextual offers so Ye and I Think this person is stating they should

Reply 16

ash210

12

Original post by lilysilly_5454

Oxbridge doesnt give contextual offers so Ye and I Think this person is stating they should

Got it, thanks.

Reply 17

Scienceisgood

21

Original post by Physician

It depends on the field one wishes to work in. For example, the current Prime Minister graduated from Leeds and Oxford. The current Chancellor graduated from Oxford. That is quite a common theme in UK politics, that one must have attended Oxbridge or the equivalent to stand any real chance of getting the top two jobs in politics, and arguably the top two jobs in the UK. There have been exceptions, of course, with Gordon Brown having attended Edinburgh, and John Major having not attended university at all. But these are special exceptions, and not the norm. If you want to get the top jobs in ultra competitive fields, then the calibre of university you went to, amongst other things, does matter a lot.

Edinburgh, btw, is doing really well in the global rankings of late, and after having overtaken KCL, it is now only just behind UCL.

I said classification, not the university itself.

Reply 18

SSRR

1

Original post by Scotney

Reality is though not all schools are equal and a kid getting BBB at a truly terrible school is probably as bright as one getting AAA at a good one.They just will not have had the standard of preparation and environment a good school provides Teaching needs to be better rewarded and teachers better supported to get more able people into the profession

I'm sure those achieving Cs will see both Bs and As achivers very bright, but at medicine the competiton is between As and A*s. GSSEs, choosing schools and subjects for A Levels are part of the process, and if one wants to apply for medicine will choose a school that supports it. Regardless of school, the student can seek additional suport via teachers and head teacher and can tune off from environmental distractions. Past papers and manuals is all that's need i, and in this country they are free, elsewhere they are really pricey.

Original post by Physician

Should pupils from poor state schools only require BBB to apply for Medicine & Oxbridge?

Hi @Physician,

I just wanted to jump in and give you some information about how this works at Exeter. We have a great Contextual offers process and work by Access, Participation and Outreach which makes our programmes really accessible. Contextual/WP students for medicine are also given an uplift when we are shortlisting for interview, which is something to consider. Here are a couple of links where you can find more information about this: https://www.exeter.ac.uk/departments/communication/studentrecruitment/wideningparticipation/#a1 and https://www.exeter.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entryrequirements/contextual/ .

It's worth mentioning that a couple of my friends here got into the University through this process, and have absolutely loved their time here so far. Staff and students alike are so supportive so there is always someone to contact if you ever need any help or advice, from the application stage through to studying here.

I hope that helps and please let me know if you have any further questions.

Sophie
University of Exeter Student Ambassador

Should pupils from terrible state schools only require BBB for Medicine & Oxbridge?

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