A Letter In Disgust
Well, about a year ago I attended a wonderful work observation programme that enabled me to witness operations, autopsies and various other medical things. I have recently been asked to provide feedback. Now, one of the people involved in that work observation programme was on the admissions panel of Cardiff Medical School. So, I thought I would take this opportunity to let Cardiff know of my disgust with regards their behaviour over admissions.
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Hi Mr ___,
I'd like to thank you for what was a wonderful period of work observation, an observation from which I have taken a number of valuable experiences. The opportunity to attend operations in theatre as well as the chance to see the mechanics of the hospital in both clinical and surgical settings was certainly appreciated, and your kindness not forgotten. I'd also like to thank Mrs ___ for her invaluable information regarding admission to medical school, her help and informative leaflets without doubt enhanced my application.
However, despite how brilliant the experience was it seemed to prove a futile endeavour when it came to the actual application process. In what was, in my opinion and the view of very many others, a very good application I documented all my extensive experiences (including my work with autistic children which lasted for two years) and this was enhanced by a fantastic referee's report explicating my suitability to the medical profession. With exemplary grades and a strong desire to study medicine I was incredibly rejected for reasons that are well beyond my scope of comprehension. I received a very vague, generic letter from the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Cardiff stating that my rejection came on the back of an unprecedented cohort and that competition was fierce. Unprecedented cohort? Fierce competition? I have been speaking to a few people who received an offer of AAB from Cardiff School of Medicine who went on to miss the grades, usually scoring ABB (sometimes less), and were still being considered for a place! When I phoned up after receiving my A Level results I was told rather quickly that there were no places available. Well clearly there is an inconsistency here; on one hand there are no places and on the other there are applicants who missed their offers still being considered!
If this scenario isn't bad enough, some of those with ABB who were being considered were awarded a place to study. This is scandalous, especially when there are people far better qualified to occupy that space. I achieved 5 A grades in my A Levels (Biology, Chemistry, History, Maths and Physics) and yet I don't get a fair shot. These grades were even predicted yet it didn't satisfy the criteria set by Cardiff Medical School. The criteria, the disgraceful and nepotistic guidelines for admission were never going to be satisfied by me. There was one qualification that I was never going to have and that is one or both of my parents being a medical professional. From speaking to many people who work in the allied medical professions, I have developed a more than satisfactory montage of how things work in the "elite" corridors of Cardiff Medical School and Hospital.
This elitism isn't of the justifiable meritocratic sort, no, it is of the odious sort which includes parental occupation and societal status based on financial foundations. I don't feel for one second that I am telling you things here that you don't already know, Cardiff Medical School seems to have a reputation for this kind of despicable behaviour. I even know of people whose parents are doctors that have been given many offers to study medicine with an extremely mediocre application. Many of the successful applicants are worryingly deficient in matters of spelling. Some of the spelling is so bad that an average eight year old could have a better go at it. 'Definately' for example, I don't know about you, but I would like my doctors to be able to spell!
After having the door to the medical world slammed shut in my face I decided that I wouldn't give admission staff the satisfaction of being able to behave in such a manner regarding my application again and will not be repeating my application to study medicine in this country. I have been accepted to study physics, a subject which seems to determine the best candidates based on merit rather than irrelevant, elitist factors that medical schools seem to be unable to part from.
I have seen recently on the news that there is going to be a shortfall of doctors in Wales due to the new points based immigration system that is being adopted. Do you not agree that we have an incredible pool of Welsh talent that is being ignored? Why do we insist on going abroad to get our doctors when there are so many well qualified, erudite individuals from Wales and England who more than desire to partake in the profession? I suspect that, just like everything else, it comes down to money.
Thanks you for your time and a response would be much appreciated. If this could be forwarded to Mrs ___, I would be most grateful. This e-mail isnt intended to be hostile in any way but it does demonstrate my anger over the entire affair.
Jonathan ___
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I don't expect a reply as there really is no justification for the way the medical school admissions programme is conducted.
12 Comments:
Outstanding! You stated your opinions, you stood your ground and you presented it all in a professional, educated manner.
They are fools for not offering you a place. Just because someone has parents in the medical profession does not mean the candidate is a qualified candidate. After all, will the parents be right along side of the candidate during school and the practice of medicine...I think not!
Power to jonnowales. Now all I need to do is move to Wales. You are the kind of doctor the world needs.
Good luck to you in everything.
By Deunan, Sep 01 09 11:17 AM
Jonno, please come to the states, and realize your dream! We desperately need you! Beautifully written!
By veronikkamarrz, Sep 01 09 1:56 PM
I was really shocked when I read this and your last entry. I can't believe they even consider what your parents do for a living - what on earth does that have to do with your suitability to study medicine??
Anyway, I do hope you receive a reply, although I too doubt whether it will happen. Should you get one, please let us know.
I'm really sorry this has happened but I wish you the very best of luck in your physics degree. Enjoy yourself - university is a fantastic experience! :)
By EmmaF2008, Sep 01 09 2:37 PM
Jon, welcome to the real world. We may do our bit to fight this arbitrary behaviour but as I keep saying, those given power tend to do so because they enjoy using it. All we can do is get where we want despite them and never ever treat others the same way if we ever get to those levels. No need to drop to anyone's level just because you can. But I don't think you'd do that anyway.
By satguru, Sep 01 09 5:10 PM
Nicely written Jon!
Any university with that attitude is not worthy of what you can offer!
It's unfortunate that Lineage and Profession are equated with the ability to Be Something - Talk about it's not What you know but Who you know!
I have friends who have entered research fields due to the same elitist attitude and I Know that Behind every Good Doctor there is a medical scientist who proves his theories and verifies his data!
Enjoy your physics and the freedom that will give you to explore!
By MarchHare007, Sep 01 09 6:33 PM
Goodness, they won't be expecting this! I am impressed by what you've written and delighted that you've written it. If the admissions people have the smallest shred of decency, they'll all be falling on their swords.
What will probably happen is that you will qualify in another country and we will continue to import doctors who can't speak English. (Most of the doctors appearing in front of the GMC's "Fitness to Practise" panel seem to be imports.)
All you need now is a wider audience for their stupidity. Where else in the world is ABB preferable to AAAAA? How about sending it to a major newspaper, as an "open letter" to Cardiff University?
By lesley153, Sep 01 09 7:30 PM
You've written a superb letter. It certainly deserves a response. I hope the admissions people are shamed into a reply.
By tobyone, Sep 02 09 1:39 AM
I wish you had stuck with your dream, someone with your attitude and commitment would have made it. Not at Cardiff, of course. I, like you, would not have been able to stomach going to them again with proverbial cap in hand. Surely there were other choices of medical school? They need more like you to make it through and try to affect change.
I hope you enjoy Physics, a good friend of mine studied Physics at Cambridge and has gone on to do a PhD at New York University. He's still a student though! He loves it of course.
Good luck!
By nasty_liar, Sep 03 09 5:29 PM
Thanks everyone. Sorry for not replying sooner.
Deunan - do visit Wales :) Apart from in medical schools it is a friendly, mostly beautiful place.
VMarrz - I would love to go to the USA but it doesn't seem compatible. I would have to do a pre-med degree there before doing the medical degree and I haven't got the sort of money that American colleges ask for.
Emma - I certainly will let you know if I hear anything. I am looking forward to the university experience indeed. It'll be a welcomed change.
Sat - It certainly is a frightening wake up call to the real "Britain", I wouldn't say world. We are probably one of the worst countries in the world for nepotism and keeping the talented working class out of the legal, medical and other such professions.
By jonnowales, Sep 04 09 4:34 PM
MarchHare - Your comment is very encouraging. To hear that others have been through much the same thing and have managed to do well for themselves without the rotters is such good news. :)
Lesley - "All you need now is a wider audience for their stupidity. Where else in the world is ABB preferable to AAAAA?" -- This is so very true, as sad is it may be, that it probably doesn't go on to the extent it does in this country, anywhere else in the world. Sad indeed.
Tobyone - They should be shamed into a reply but I doubt they'll care. I am just glad I don't have on my conscience what they have on theirs.
By jonnowales, Sep 04 09 4:35 PM
Nasty_liar - Thanks! There is a large part of me saying that I am making a mistake not going into medicine. I probably will apply again...though I don't know when. The point about bringing about change is interesting. If I did get into medicine, I would love to get political and try to campaign for more transparent admissions to allow the RIGHT candidates to get through, not the rich and privileged. I suspect
that I will probably be slaughtered for doing such a thing though.
By jonnowales, Sep 04 09 4:35 PM
You're probably right not to expect a reply, because they can hardly justify themselves, but have you at least had an acknowledgment?
By lesley153, Sep 11 09 7:06 AM