BMJ  2007;335:1169 (8 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.39416.374815.BE

Letters

Graduate medical school entry

Bad for state school applicants

The first 100% of the full text of this article appears below.

Peile’s article advocating graduate medical school entry raises several points.¹

I take issue with the assertion that candidates are somehow "stronger" for a previous degree and "life experience." Candidates from poorer backgrounds have been totally disadvantaged by the changes in maintenance grants and the introduction of tuition fees.

It is not economically viable for these kinds of entrants to have done a previous degree, as their medical degree would be unaffordable because of the levels of debt sustained during their first degree and the fact they must pay for at least a part of their medical degree.

As both articles found no real evidence for or against a graduate medical course,^{1 2} such a change should not be introduced without trialling or debate, as has happened with so many initiatives in the past 10 years.

¹ London

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Competing interests: None declared.

1. Peile E. Should all medical students be graduates first? Yes. BMJ 2007;335:1072. (24 November.)[Free Full Text]
2. George C. Should all medical students be graduates first? No. BMJ 2007;335:1073. (24 November.)[Free Full Text]

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Should all medical students be graduates first? Yes

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