A teenager who was told he could not become a doctor because of a conviction for burglary has won a place at a top medical school.
Majid Ahmed, 19, will study at Manchester University’s medical school this September.
The straight As student, from Little Horton, Bradford, one of the poorest parts of the country, was rejected by Imperial College London medical school last July after he revealed his conviction.
Ahmed was given a four month community service order for a burglary he committed aged 16 in Nov 2005.
Since then he said he had turned his life around, achieving top grades and helping out at GPs’ surgeries and charities.
The case, first revealed by the Guardian, triggered an outcry about Imperial’s decision.
I can’t say how happy I am to see my usual cynicism over institutional ennui reversed. Congratulations to young Ahmed, kudos to Manchester University.
Thanks for posting this update.
Its good to see that a mistake in this man’s youth will not destroy his future.
Its still fair to ask==what is the “best” basis for medical school admissions. Student A–Gets average Pre-Med score of 95 and has a spotless record. Student B–gets average Pre-Med score of 92 and has overcome a life of poverty and a minor conviction. The school has many applicants with spotless records and average scores of 93-94.
Who “deserves” to get in, or is it relevant to consider how society might benefit from the choices made in addition to just what the applicants might want?
How many points should be given to an applicant who states they want to care for the poor versus those majority of candidates who only want an office on Harley Street.
Bobbo=Are you so insecure that you need to argue on every post? How about just saying good job? Wow take a chill pill man.
#2
Every candidate says they want to care for the poor. That is, until they get the bill for their $200,000 medical school loan.
#3–Czen==all I did was pose a series of questions. I made no argument.
#4–montanaguy==you are right. I tried to keep my post short and not get into “contracts for rural care obligations” and what not. 200K is a snap when average grads can pull down that much their first year and top grads in the specialities do 2-3 times that their first years. Why do you think women want to marry doctors?
#2, Bobbo,
Its still fair to ask==what is the “best” basis for medical school admissions.
1)Did your father attend that school,
2)How much money has your father given the school,
3)Will you last the six or seven years of med school on the money you do have.
And kudos to Manchester for looking further than a juvenile criminal record.
There was a medical dr up here in New Hampshire that stole all sort of stuff. Doctor by day, thief by night!
He finally got put away, he did it for the rush he said.
Crippling a person’s whole life for what they did as a teen hurts society as much as the individual.
I’ll make an exception really really terrible stuff but not for burglary.
Too bad nobody will give him a job, house or time of day. Since every employer/banker/insurer who does an identity check feels the need to do some vigilante justice.
He did his time, and good for him for making it into medical school.
Oh, and by the way Bobbo, thanks for stereotyping women as gold diggers. Because there are absolutely no women in the world who themselves become doctors.