NDLI: Medical school personal statements: a measure of motivation or proxy for cultural privilege?

Content Provider	Springer Nature Link
Author	Wright, Sarah
Copyright Year	2014
Abstract	Students from state schools are underrepresented in UK medical schools. Discussions often focus on deficient academic and motivational traits of state school students, rather than considering the effects of student support during the admissions process. This qualitative study explored student experiences of support from schools and families during the medical school admissions process with particular focus on the personal statement. Interviews were conducted with thirteen medical students at a British medical school who had each attended a different secondary school (classified as private or state funded). A thematic analysis was performed. Bourdieu’s concepts of capital and field were used as a theoretical lens through which to view the results. Interviews revealed substantial differences in support provided by private and state funded schools. Private schools had much more experience in the field of medical school admissions and had a vested interest in providing students with support. State schools were lacking by comparison, offering limited support that was often reactive rather than proactive. Students from private schools were also more likely to have social contacts who were knowledgeable about medical school admissions and who could help them gain access to work experience opportunities that would be recognised as legitimate by selectors. While medical schools endeavour to make fair admissions policies, there is an unintended link between a student’s access to capital and ability to demonstrate commitment and motivation on personal statements. This helps explain why academically capable but financially or socially challenged students are less likely to be recognised as having potential during the admissions process. Medical schools need to be challenged to review their admissions policies to ensure that the do not inadvertently favour cultural privilege rather than student potential.
Starting Page	627
Ending Page	643
Page Count	17
File Format	PDF
ISSN	13824996
Journal	Advances in Health Sciences Education
Volume Number	20
Issue Number	3
e-ISSN	15731677
Language	English
Publisher	Springer Netherlands
Publisher Date	2014-09-09
Publisher Place	Dordrecht
Access Restriction	One Nation One Subscription (ONOS)
Subject Keyword	Admissions Bourdieu Inequality Personal statements Non-Academic Medical Education
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Education Medicine

Sl.	Authority	Responsibilities	Communication Details
1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
2	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Host Institute of the Project: The host institute of the project is responsible for providing infrastructure support and hosting the project	https://www.iitkgp.ac.in
3	National Digital Library of India Office, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	The administrative and infrastructural headquarters of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in
4	Project PI / Joint PI	Principal Investigator and Joint Principal Investigators of the project	Dr. B. Sutradhar bsutra@ndl.gov.in Prof. Saswat Chakrabarti will be added soon
5	Website/Portal (Helpdesk)	Queries regarding NDLI and its services	support@ndl.gov.in
6	Contents and Copyright Issues	Queries related to content curation and copyright issues	content@ndl.gov.in
7	National Digital Library of India Club (NDLI Club)	Queries related to NDLI Club formation, support, user awareness program, seminar/symposium, collaboration, social media, promotion, and outreach	clubsupport@ndl.gov.in
8	Digital Preservation Centre (DPC)	Assistance with digitizing and archiving copyright-free printed books	dpc@ndl.gov.in
9	IDR Setup or Support	Queries related to establishment and support of Institutional Digital Repository (IDR) and IDR workshops	idr@ndl.gov.in

A multi-site study on medical school selection, performance, motivation and engagement

A research agenda for establishing the validity of non-academic assessments of medical school applicants

A research agenda for establishing the validity of non-academic assessments of medical school applicants

A qualitative analysis of statements on motivation of applicants for medical school

A multi-site study on medical school selection, performance, motivation and engagement

Developing a standardised tool for assessing personal statements.

Statistical Criteria for Setting Thresholds in Medical School Admissions

Uncertainties in the selection of applicants for medical school

A qualitative analysis of statements on motivation of applicants for medical school

Medical school personal statements: a measure of motivation or proxy for cultural privilege?

Similar Documents

A multi-site study on medical school selection, performance, motivation and engagement

A research agenda for establishing the validity of non-academic assessments of medical school applicants

A research agenda for establishing the validity of non-academic assessments of medical school applicants

A qualitative analysis of statements on motivation of applicants for medical school

A multi-site study on medical school selection, performance, motivation and engagement

Developing a standardised tool for assessing personal statements.

Statistical Criteria for Setting Thresholds in Medical School Admissions

Uncertainties in the selection of applicants for medical school

A qualitative analysis of statements on motivation of applicants for medical school

Medical school personal statements: a measure of motivation or proxy for cultural privilege?