Selection of students for admission to a medical school in Sri Lanka

OBJECTIVES: To assess the extent to which selected entry point factors predicted success in a Sri Lankan medical school. METHODS: The study sample consisted of all students in two consecutive entry cohorts. Marks obtained at the national university entrance examination in physics, chemistry, botany and zoology; the aggregate marks of these four subjects (the only academic criterion used in selection); the district of entry (the other, non-academic criterion); and gender, were identified as entry point variables. Success in a medical school was measured in five ways, including whether a student had passed all examinations in the medical faculty at first attempt or not. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the extent to which the selected entry point factors could predict variability in outcome measures. RESULTS: Of 331 students, 6.6% were merit quota admissions, and 19.4% were from 'underprivileged' districts; 46.8% were women. Of the entry point factors, being female and obtaining an aggregate of > or =280 (of a possible 400) were the only independent predictors of success in all outcome measures. Obtaining at least grade B in zoology was also an independent predictor of passing all examinations at first attempt. The aggregate score alone accounted for only 2-5% of variance in a medical school performance. There was no association between admission from an underprivileged district and any of the outcome measures. CONCLUSIONS: The one and only measure of academic performance used for selection of students admitted to our medical schools, is a very weak predictor of success in a medical school.     

Longitudinal study of medical students selected for admission to medical school by actuarial and committee methods.

This study evaluates a "mid period" follow-up evaluation of the outcomes of selection of medical students by customary committee review procedures versus actuarial selection. One-third of a freshman class was selected solely on the basis of a predictor index which was a previously validated, optimally weighted combination of scores on the Medical College Aptitude Test and the premedical grade-point average. The remaining two-thirds were selected by committee decision based on review of the total application file which, in addition to the aptitude test scores and academic record, included basic demographic data, information on extracurricular activities, avocational interests, work experience, letters of recommendation, personality test profiles, and interview impressions. In a previous study, it was reported that the two groups of students were undifferentiated with respect to their academic standing at the close of their sophomore year. In the present study, the actuarially selected and committee selected students were compared on class rank at the end of the junior year, total and subtest scores on part II of the National Board Examinations administered toward the close of their senior year, and type and location of internship, and practice or training status one year after graduation. The two groups were not reliably differentiated on any of these variables. Implications of the findings are discussed with respect to reliability, efficiency, and economy in the selection process and the function of the admissions committees with respect to borderline cases and issues of school policy and philosophy.     

Audit of admission to medical school: II--Shortlisting and interviews

Analysis of shortlisting of applicants for interview at St Mary's Hospital Medical School showed that factor analysis could reduce the selection criteria to three independent scales--"academic ability," "interests," and "community service"--all of which contributed to the interview decision. Early applicants scored more highly on all three factors but were still at a greater advantage in selection for interview than would have been predicted. The dean's judgment of priority for interview from the UCCA form was found to predict a candidate's chance of acceptance at other medical schools besides St Mary's. Analysis of interviewing showed high correlations among interviewers in their assessments, although there was evidence of influence by the chairmen. Factor analysis showed three major factors--academic suitability, non-academic suitability, and health--of which non academic suitability was the major determinant of interview success. Non academic suitability was related to personality (high extraversion and low psychoticism) and to the choices made on the UCCA form. The system of admission interviews enabled greater emphasis to be put on broader interests and achievements than if selection had been on the basis of UCCA application form alone.     

Audit of admission to medical school: I--Acceptances and rejects

A prospective study of the process of application, selection, and admission to medical school was performed. St Mary's Hospital Medical School received 1478 UCCA applications for admission in October 1981: 94 (6.4%) applicants entered St Mary's in October 1981, 436 (29.5%) entered other medical schools, 176 (11.9%) read a subject other than medicine, and 772 (52.2%) did not enter university. The study included 12.6% of all applicants and 12.9% of all entrants to British medical schools in October 1981. Educational qualifications, demographic variables, type of schooling, family background, and the manner of application were examined in relation to overall selection. A level achievement was the major determinant of acceptance. O level achievement, early application, and medical parents had significant but smaller independent effects on the chance of acceptance. Social class, age, sex, and school type did not predict acceptance when corrected for academic and other factors. Few differences in personality, career preference, cultural interests or attitudes were found between those accepted and those rejected.     

Audit of admission to medical school: III--applicants' perceptions and proposals for change

Applicants to St Mary's Hospital Medical School were asked to comment freely on the process of selection. They were particularly concerned about the role of interviews, excessive emphasis on academic achievement, the problem of rank-ordering choices on the UCCA form, and possible biases in selection. These concerns and the results of our survey suggest that candidates should not be asked to rank their choices in order of preference, that UCCA applications for medicine should be subject to an early closing date, that as many applicants as possible should be interviewed, that applicants should be encouraged to apply after taking A levels, that educational opportunity should be taken into account in assessing A level grades, and that mature students should be encouraged, not least by providing mandatory awards for a second degree in medicine.     

Demographic characteristics of US medical school admission committees

CONTEXT: Although concerns continue to be raised about the diversity of the US physician workforce, there has never been a nationwide survey of both the sex and underrepresented minority (URM) composition of medical school admission committees. OBJECTIVE: To document US medical school admission committee membership in several demographic domains, including sex and URM (African American, Mexican American, mainland Puerto Rican, Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Native Alaskan) status. DESIGN: Mailed survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Deans or directors of admission at 85 US medical schools that were members of the Association of American Medical Colleges (response rate, 70%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of 1999-2000 school-year committee members in demographic categories, such as sex, URM status, physician or medical student status; compensation status. RESULTS: The overall ratio of men to women on admission committees was 1.77 to 1. On average, 16% of committee members were from URM groups. Physicians with URM status comprised 8% of committee membership; 51% of committees had 1 or 0 URM physicians. Seventy-four percent of committees had at least 1 medical student; medical students comprised 15% of total membership. Ninety-one percent of committees operated on a volunteer basis. CONCLUSION: Although representation of women and persons with URM status on medical school admission committees has improved since 1972, URM membership, in particular, remains low. JAMA. 2000;284:1111-1113     

A method for selecting data subsets from large medical data bases

Because of the exponential increase in health care expenditures, attention has been drawn to the cost and effectiveness of health care delivered. The use of electronic data bases as a means for assessing health care effectiveness has been advocated as powerful computer systems have become commonplace. The need to work efficiently with extremely large data bases presents difficult challenges to researchers who wish to focus on specific aspects of the data. This paper describes a computer program written to facilitate the analysis of large medical data sets by providing a straightforward way to specify and select data subsets from the aggregate data base.     

Polemic: five proposals for a medical school admission policy

Five proposals for admitting better applicants into medical school are discussed in this article: (1) An A level in a humanity or social science would be required, to supplement--not replace--the stringent science requirement. This would ensure that successful candidates would be better "primed" for the medical curriculum. (2) Extra points in the applicant's initial screening would be awarded for an A level in English literature. (3) There would be a minimum age of 23 for applicants, although a prior degree would not be required. This is to ensure that the applicants are mature enough to know themselves and the world better, to make a more informed and motivated choice of career, and to get more out of the humanities components of the curriculum. (4) A year's full-time experience in a healthcare or charity environment would be desirable. (5) Applicants would be given two lists of interview discussion topics to prepare: works of literature and topics in healthcare politics.     

A medical school fellowship program for minority high school students

The effectiveness of a research program for minority high school students was evaluated. The program, supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health, was begun in 1982; during the subsequent five years, there were 59 applicants and 38 participants in the program. Of the responding 20 participants, 12 were pursuing careers in science and medicine, and half of the 16 respondents with career plans reported that the program had influenced their career decisions. Overall and in each year, black male students were underrepresented in both the applicant pool and the participants as compared with the metropolitan high school population.     

医学生专业选择的调查与分析

本研究采用问卷调查方法,调查并分析了北京大学医学生选择医学专业的动因、入学后对专业的满意程度、学习兴趣以及毕业后的打算等。调查结果显示,医学生填报志愿时对有关专业不够了解,受老师、家长的影响较大,考虑因素较多;部分学生入学后对专业满意度较低,对所学课程兴趣不足,影响将来在本专业的发展。建议重视医学生专业兴趣的培养,采取有效措施改善不利的状况。     

医学院校英语专业医学英语词汇教学策略

针对医学院校英语专业医学英语词汇教学现状,提出提高医学英语词汇教学效果的策略,其中主要包括增加学生对医学背景知识的学习,调动学生学习兴趣,利用网络多媒体直观教学,精心安排教学内容,培养学生自主学习的能力。