Chris Hopley Jul 23, 2009:

nuance The system in some continental European countries is such that when you graduate from secondary school, you are automatically "entitled" to go to university. This leads to over-enrolment of certain study programmes, notably medicine. Hence the need to reduce numbers by lottery. In the Anglo-Saxon system, this is not the case as entry to third-level programmes is largely competitive (i.e. school-leaving diplomas do not give automatic entitlement to university studies).

Textpertise Jul 22, 2009:

Too many applicants for too few places at medical school need to be weeded out. Assuming they are all eligible, it is sometimes considered that the only fair way to do this is by lottery. Does that make sense in your context.