Graduate and mature entrants to medicine: changes in career intentions

Abstract

Fifty-nine students who had previously taken degrees or commenced careers in subjects other than medicine entered the Cambridge Clinical Course in its first 5 years of operation, commencing in 1976. A questionnaire was used to ascertain their original career plans when entering medical education, their career plans in 1981, and the reasons for any changes. Graduates originally planning careers in general practice and teaching or research maintained their intentions, but some of those who had favoured hospital clinical work changed their minds in favour of general practice. General practice was also the most common choice amongst those students who were earlier unsure as to what branch of medicine they would enter. Of students changing their career intentions, half indicated that disenchantment with hospital medicine was a prime reason for the change.

Graduate entry to medical school? Testing some assumptions

“…There is no substantive evidence from our study to support the notion that increasing the quota of mature age entrants in itself will change the likelihood of graduates choosing a career in the research sciences or producing more scientific publications. Previous studies show mixed findings on this issue, with 1 showing that older graduates were more likely to choose research careers, 6 while others show either no differences in terms of research careers, 7 or differences in favour of secondary entrants 3 …”

“…Academic performance of secondary and tertiary entrants with completed degrees suggests, at best, no differences 5 or differences in favour of secondary entrants 3 . The literature is conflicting with respect to employment in the research sciences 3,6 , 7 …”

“…3 The literature is conflicting with respect to employment in the research sciences. 3,6,7 The medical course at Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, is in a strong position to evaluate potential outcome differences between entrants with secondary and tertiary training. Since its inception in 1978, candidates with secondary backgrounds or those who have completed at least 1 year of a tertiary degree have been admitted to the programme.…”

Mature-age entrants to medical school: a controlled study of sociodemographic characteristics, career choice and job satisfaction

“…1981). However, Calkins & Wakeford (1984) examined the career plans of 59 mature‐age entrants at Cambridge, and found that only 15% were committed to a career in teaching and research, and that most of these were already in possession of a PhD or equivalent research degree. The authors concluded that mature‐age and normal‐age entrants were fairly similar in terms of career aspirations, and that there was little evidence to suggest that mature‐age entrants were more likely to become medical scientists and enhance medical research.…”

“…While many educators have continued to call for an increase in the mature‐age intake (Fink 1989; Howdle 1989; Wakeford 1989), this step is not to be taken lightly because medicine is a popular career choice, places in medical school are finite, and any increase would be at the expense of school‐leavers among whom competition for places is already intense. However, there is little information in the literature to allow for a more rational decision, as there have been only three reports which pertain to this topic (Ward 1981; Calkins & Wakeford 1984; McManus & Richards 1986).…”