The case in summary Denise Aune Elvestad wanted to become a doctor, but had too poor grades from upper secondary school with an average of 3.6. She has spent three years improving her grades while juggling life as a mother of young children and a freelancer. Head of the Norwegian Medical Student Association, Aladdin Boukaddour, believes that it is not socially sustainable that young people have to spend a long time taking up subjects. Both he and Elvestad believe that an entrance exam would be a good alternative. Research and Higher Education Minister Oddmund Hoel believes it is high time to clean up the current admissions system. In a new bill, which is currently being considered in the Storting, the government will amend the Universities and Colleges Act. – I have always wanted to be a doctor for as long as I can remember. But my grades were too bad, so it seemed like an unattainable dream. Denise Aune Elvestad spent four years completing upper secondary school, graduating with an average of 3.6. – I didn’t struggle with the subjects, but I lacked motivation. I moved to Elverum when I was 15 and struggled to make friends. Not having a good time socially affected the grades, she says. Ten years later, Elvestad will apply to study medicine at NTNU. Reading while the children sleep Elvestad was 26 years old and heavily pregnant when she decided to focus on the medical profession. From the beginning, she had a patchwork of interrupted educational courses behind her. – I was left with the feeling that I was unable to complete anything. After a year of working in Australia, I came home and asked myself: “What do I really want to do?” Denise will be at least 35 before she possibly completes her education. She is not worried about the fact that it results in tighter finances and a smaller pension. Photo: Private The answer has required three years of juggling life as a private worker and parent of young children. Elvestad and his partner currently have two children aged three years and ten months. She believes an entrance exam would have saved her many years as a private practitioner. – I took the physics exam when I was three days past the term with number two, and a few weeks later I took two maths exams. Becoming a mother has made me very efficient, it became a pure routine to read when the children are asleep, she laughs. Repeated attempts The government has strengthened medical education with 185 annual study places each year. Nevertheless, the point limit for the ordinary quota at NTNU (study location Trondheim) was 69.2 in autumn 2023. Almost doubling the average has been time-consuming. Only on the third attempt did Elvestad manage to get a six in physics. – It has been extremely difficult. I have mostly sat at home alone and read for three years, and have missed out on a lot of social activities. But I think it’s worth it. Everyday life in Elverum often combines pugging and playing with the children. – Fortunately, I have a wonderfully supportive partner, so I don’t do this alone, says the mother of two. Photo: Privat She still has two exams left to take before Elvestad can apply for a study place in April. – At a high time, the Storting is currently considering a proposal to make changes to the Universities and Colleges Act. One of the proposals from the Ministry of Education is to split the study admissions into two: One for grades exclusively from upper secondary school, and one based on an entrance exam. Research and Higher Education Minister Oddmund Hoel believes that society is losing out if young people spend several years accumulating enough points. The current government has strengthened medical education with 185 additional study places annually, says Research and Higher Education Minister Oddmund Hoel. This is an increase of 30 per cent from 2019. Photo: William Jobling / news – This case shows that it is high time we cleaned up an unnecessarily complicated system, which over time has led to artificially high score limits on several educations, says Hoel to news. – Norway lacks people in a number of professional areas, and the need only grows bigger every year. We must make arrangements so that as many people as possible get started quickly with education and further into work. Positive for entrance exams Head of the Norwegian Medical Student Association, Aladdin Boukaddour, also believes that entrance exams are a good solution. – It is not economically sustainable for people to go around and wait for age points and other additional points to enter a course of study. It is time you could rather spend being productive in the field you want to study, he says to news. Aladdin Boukaddour says there is a large market for private individuals today. – Many players offer their own medicine packages, he says. Photo: NMF Elvestad says she would have preferred an entrance exam if she had had the opportunity. – It would have saved me many years. Arve Hjelseth, professor at the Department of Sociology and Political Science at NTNU, says that as long as the opportunity to improve grades in the battle for study places exists, there will always be many who are willing to try. – 20-year-olds are in a phase of life where some have a very strong drive linked to one specific dream they have. In such cases, second and third choices are never completely good choices, just poor substitutes for the original dream, he says. At the same time, many people change direction during their lives, emphasizes Hjelseth. – Adolescence is a little more complicated in reality than it looks on the bureaucratic drawing board. Tighter finances Elvestad’s professional dream will result in tighter finances in the coming years, and also less pension earnings. However, the 29-year-old is confident in his choice, regardless of the financial consequences. On TikTok, Denise shares her path towards medical school. Here she also gives other students tips and tricks. Photo: Screenshot, Instadenise/TikTok – I want to enter a profession with job security for life, and hopefully still have 35 good years in working life. At the same time, I consider myself very economical and good at saving. Elvestad says that there are many factors behind the choice. She is open about having suffered from an eating disorder for many years, from which she now says she has recovered. At the same time, she is concerned with training, nutrition and health, and wants to work with people. – I think the composition of the background I have with me means that I hope I can help others. Score limits for the medical study in 2023 UiO, Autumn First -time diploma: 61.2 Ordinary quota: 70.2 UiO, Our first -time diploma: 60.1 Ordinary quota: 69.2 NTNU, Trondheim First -time diploma: 62.2 Ordinary quota: 69.6 NTNU, Levanger First Tile: First-time certificate: 61.5 Ordinary quota: 68.5 UiT First-time certificate: 59.8 Ordinary quota: 68.2 UiB First-time certificate: 60.1 Ordinary quota: 68.6 Source: Samordna Uptak
ttn-69
– Have sat at home and read for three years – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
