Ahhhhh!

[Niceguy123]

Are you on your period kinkers?

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by Niceguy123

Are you on your period kinkers?

Funny stuff Niceguy. Awesome.

There's a difference between being on your period and putting a point across.

PS: Male. So periods would be pretty damn alarming.

[dsn]

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

Well not too many people actually get 7A* or more...

I think the point is that they do have enough people applying with with 8A* to select them. Considering that they interview over 1,000 people, that's a lot of people with 8A*...

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by dsn

I think the point is that they do have enough people applying with with 8A* to select them. Considering that they interview over 1,000 people, that's a lot of people with 8A*...

Even so it's still a lazy way to do things, in my opinion...

[Diya]

Ok. So Birmingham's panel for admission are LAZY. What shall we do to remedy the situation? Write a strongly worded letter suggesting they adopt a different selection process?

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by Diya

Ok. So Birmingham's panel for admission are LAZY. What shall we do to remedy the situation? Write a strongly worded letter suggesting they adopt a different selection process?

Not necessarily saying I think they should change their ways. People continue to get the set A* number and therefore get their "free" interview, thus have a fair chance of getting an offer, which is what the applicant wants.

I'm saying that I think it's a pretty poor way to select the next set of doctors, and that I disagree with the way their admissions department works. Well, in the shortlisting applicants for interview anyway. I have no idea about what goes on in those interview rooms. For all I know they could have the best interview process for selecting the "right" candidates, but I don't think any Medical School can claim that.

This is simply my opinion though. Not exactly going to change things...

[dsn]

Originally Posted by Kinkerz

I'm saying that I think it's a pretty poor way to select the next set of doctors, and that I disagree with the way their admissions department works. Well, in the shortlisting applicants for interview anyway. I have no idea about what goes on in those interview rooms. For all I know they could have the best interview process for selecting the "right" candidates, but I don't think any Medical School can claim that.

We've had this argument a hundred times, but... do you think Birmingham medical students are much different to those at any other medical school? I very much doubt it. It's true the A* requirement means it is harder for people from more deprived backgrounds to get in, but actually that doesn't mean they don't - we have quite a few people from deprived parts of Birmingham (and beyond). What's interesting is that they are predominantly Asian, which suggests that a major problem white working class kids is not a poor teaching or not having any aptitude, but really just a lack of aspiration. Obviously, not a very scientific basis on which to build such a statement...

But this is besides the point. If you are talking about "selecting the next set of doctors" then an interview is surely where it is assessed whether someone has a suitable character - is it really possible to tell that from a personal statement that could be a lot of nonsense and lies or plagiarised or written by someone else?

[Kinkerz]

Originally Posted by dsn

We've had this argument a hundred times, but... do you think Birmingham medical students are much different to those at any other medical school? I very much doubt it. It's true the A* requirement means it is harder for people from more deprived backgrounds to get in, but actually that doesn't mean they don't - we have quite a few people from deprived parts of Birmingham (and beyond). What's interesting is that they are predominantly Asian, which suggests that a major problem white working class kids is not a poor teaching or not having any aptitude, but really just a lack of aspiration. Obviously, not a very scientific basis on which to build such a statement...

I think, often it's a combination of two/three of the criteria you listed.

Originally Posted by dsn

But this is besides the point. If you are talking about "selecting the next set of doctors" then an interview is surely where it is assessed whether someone has a suitable character - is it really possible to tell that from a personal statement that could be a lot of nonsense and lies or plagiarised or written by someone else?

You make a fair point. But I feel personal statements hold significantly more power when selecting suitable candidates for interview, than the volume of A* achieved at GCSE. Some people may write nonsense and lies on personal statements, but the best way to catch people out is to interview 'em! But then of course, to interview all applicants would be way too time-consuming and resource-consuming. It's a tough balance, but on the whole, I think the more suitable people would be selected on the basis of the personal statement, than A*A*A*A*A*A*A*. Sifting through a load of statements is boring and takes alot of time though...

[dsn]

Obviously I'm biased because Leeds and Sheffield obviously missed my brilliance when they chose not to interview me...

[Diya]

Notts did the same with me. How could they?!