Medical students - Points deny those with true calling

THE day is fast approaching when young Irish people hoping to be doctors will need the brains of Einstein to qualify for entry to medical school.

With almost a perfect Leaving Cert currently required to become a GP, only the brightest and the best will succeed in getting into one or other of the five Irish universities offering medical degrees.

Similarly, the points required to be a nurse are so high that of the thousands of young people perusing yesterday’s first round of CAO offers, many would find it easier to qualify for third-level degree courses for teaching than for a degree in nursing.