Daily Xpress

A larger number of students have given up their place at medical schools this year, according to the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools.

The consortium has called for two batches of alternate applicants to fill the vacant places.

"Compared with the previous year, the number of students who gave up their place is higher," the consortium's secretary-general Dr Avudh Srisukree said yesterday. However, he said the consortium still had highly-qualified medical students.

Avudh believed more successful applicants chose to give up their place at medical schools because many submitted their applications solely to test their academic ability at the national level.  "Personally, I think it's okay for them to do this. Once they know how they fare at the national level, they can plan their future."

Dr Somkiart Wattanasiri-chaikul, dean of the Srinakha-rinwirot University's Faculty of Medicine, said some students applied to medical schools because their parents wanted them to. "But having  successfully secured a place in their favourite fields, they then go after their own dream."

He said students would be unhappy and not fully devoted if they were forced to study medicine against their will.

"We want to tell parents that good students don't just have to study medicine," he added.

Thanchanok Thiraratkul - the highest-scoring applicant at the Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Medicine - yesterday admitted that it was highly likely she would give up her place at this top medical school.

"I've just learnt I have won a scholarship from the Office of Telecommunications," she said, "With this I will be able to continue my education in the engineering field."

Thanchanok said she would make a final decision before the end of the month. "By then, I hope it's not too late for an another applicant to replace me".

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>> The Consortium of Thai Medical Schools announced that 1,350 students have passed the exam and are eligible for interviews, but 211 have relinquished their place.

>> The consortium announced that another 117 students were eligible for interviews, but 32 of them or 27.3 per cent also relinquished their place.

>> 1,218 students will study medicine at 12 universities nationwide.