By THERESA GARNER
Selection criteria at the two medical schools are being overhauled, with school-leavers being shut out of the Auckland Medical School and Otago introducing tests of non-academic personal qualities.
The Auckland school will follow Otago's lead and bring in the Undergraduate Medical Admission Test (UMAT) but first wants to consider the effect it may have on Maori and Pacific Island students.
UMAT, used in most Australian medical schools, tests logical reasoning and problem-solving, interaction skills, and non-verbal reasoning - non-academic qualities considered important for practising health professionals.
Professor Peter Smith, dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at Auckland University, said he planned to bring in the test next year. "We want to make sure we're not disadvantaging Maori and Pacific Island students by introducing it."
Otago University's dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor John Campbell, said he was introducing the UMAT this year and, depending on the results, might add an interview or oral assessment in future.
Meanwhile, this is the last year that school results will be enough to get into the Auckland Medical School.
The replacement of the bursary exam with the National Certificate in Educational Achievement is one of the driving factors, as universities will no longer be able to identify the top scholars.
From now on, seventh formers can enrol in a Bachelor of Health Science or the open-entry BSc in biomedical science. A place in medical school depends on their first-year results and interviews.
The Auckland school's spokeswoman, Ellen Strickland, said the new system did not extend the number of years of study and was fairer. "Kids from different schools with different teaching methods and courses, can compete on a level playing field."
Auckland Grammar headmaster John Morris said he was disappointed.
"It is not the university's job to even up the playing field. It's up to schools to do the best for their kids."
Some bright students would bypass seventh form and go straight to university.
Both medical schools are waiting to hear from the health and education ministries whether they can raise the cap on the number of students by 20 each.
The proposals also includes rural health initiatives, such as giving weighting to students from rural backgrounds in the hope they return to practice in rural areas.
Professor Campbell said the Otago school was having to turn away many potentially top-rate doctors.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Comancheros gather in Christchurch for national event
Activity prompts higher police presence around the area of gang's HQ.