The Role of Institutional Selectivity in the Prediction of Podiatric Medical School Performance

2010 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 479-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin M. Smith ◽  
Simon Geletta

Background: This pilot study explores the influence of preadmission data on podiatric medical school performance, specifically, the role of undergraduate institutional selectivity. This type of study has never been described in the podiatric medical education literature. We conducted a longitudinal analysis of preadmission data on 459 students from the graduating classes of 2000 to 2009 at the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery at Des Moines University. Methods: Multivariate linear regression was used to assess the relationship between performance during the first year of podiatric medical school and a set of independent variables that represent certain preadmission student characteristics. Student demographic characteristics, such as race/ethnicity and sex, were also included in the regression analysis as control variables. Results: The regression analysis revealed that ethnic origin, undergraduate grade point average, Medical College Admission Test biological science and verbal reasoning scores, and institutional selectivity together had a significant effect on the dependent variable (F = 18.3; P < .001). The variance for the independent variable/constant variables was 32%. Almost twice as many students were dismissed or withdrew in poor academic standing who attended undergraduate institutions in the lowest selectivity category. Conclusions: This analysis revealed that in the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, some preadmission variables, such as institutional selectivity, undergraduate grade point average, ethnic origin, and Medical College Admission Test verbal reasoning and biological science scores, are statistically significant in predicting first-year podiatric medical school grade point average. The selectivity of a student’s undergraduate institution should be considered when screening potential podiatric medical school applicants. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 100(6): 479–486, 2010)

2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 499-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham P. Shaw ◽  
Evelio Velis ◽  
David Molnar

Background: Most medical school admission committees use cognitive and noncognitive measures to inform their final admission decisions. We evaluated using admission data to predict academic success for podiatric medical students using first-semester grade point average (GPA) and cumulative GPA at graduation as outcome measures. Methods: In this study, we used linear multiple regression to examine the predictive power of an admission screen. A cross-validation technique was used to assess how the results of the regression model would generalize to an independent data set. Results: Undergraduate GPA and Medical College Admission Test score accounted for only 22% of the variance in cumulative GPA at graduation. Undergraduate GPA, Medical College Admission Test score, and a time trend variable accounted for only 24% of the variance in first-semester GPA. Conclusions: Seventy-five percent of the individual variation in cumulative GPA at graduation and first-semester GPA remains unaccounted for by admission screens that rely on only cognitive measures, such as undergraduate GPA and Medical College Admission Test score. A reevaluation of admission screens is warranted, and medical educators should consider broadening the criteria used to select the podiatric physicians of the future. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 499–504, 2012)


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 471-476
Author(s):  
Sanjay Sesodia ◽  
David Molnar

Background: This study examined the effect of instructional technology availability on the performance of students enrolled in a medical physiology course at a podiatric medical school. Methods: Multiple linear regression analysis was used to predict student overall test performance based on instructional technology, Medical College Admission Test score, undergraduate grade point average, and class absence. Results: The availability of instructional technology was associated with a small decline in mean test performance and a small increase in class absence. Class absence had a negative effect on test performance only when the technology was available. Total Medical College Admission Test score and grade point average were positively correlated with performance. Conclusions: Instructional technology did not enhance absentee student course performance and, indeed, hurt it. Its use as a means of providing access to additional lecture material needs to be reevaluated. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 471–476, 2012)


2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e47-e56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Banibrata Roy ◽  
Kyle Perry ◽  
Ira Ripstein ◽  
Barry Cohen

Background: To determine whether the pre-medical Grade Point Average (GPA), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Internal examinations (Block) and National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) scores are correlated with and predict the Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part I (MCCQE-1) scores.Methods: Data from 392 admitted students in the graduating classes of 2010-2013 at University of Manitoba (UofM), College of Medicine was considered. Pearson’s correlation to assess the strength of the relationship, multiple linear regression to estimate MCCQE-1 score and stepwise linear regression to investigate the amount of variance were employed.Results: Complete data from 367 (94%) students were studied. The MCCQE-1 had a moderate-to-large positive correlation with NBME scores and Block scores but a low correlation with GPA and MCAT scores. The multiple linear regression model gives a good estimate of the MCCQE-1 (R2 =0.604). Stepwise regression analysis demonstrated that 59.2% of the variation in the MCCQE-1 was accounted for by the NBME, but only 1.9% by the Block exams, and negligible variation came from the GPA and the MCAT.Conclusions: Amongst all the examinations used at UofM, the NBME is most closely correlated with MCCQE-1.


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 446-450
Author(s):  
Robert M. Yoho ◽  
Kosta Antonopoulos ◽  
Vassilios Vardaxis

Background: This study was performed to determine the relationship between undergraduate academic performance and total Medical College Admission Test score and academic performance in the podiatric medical program at Des Moines University. The allopathic and osteopathic medical professions have published educational research examining this relationship. To our knowledge, no such educational research has been published for podiatric medical education. Methods: The undergraduate cumulative and science grade point averages and total Medical College Admission Test scores of four podiatric medical classes (2007–2010, N = 169) were compared with their academic performance in the first 2 years of podiatric medical school using pairwise Pearson product moment correlations and multiple regression analysis. Results: Significant low to moderate positive correlations were identified between undergraduate cumulative and science grade point averages and student academic performance in years 1 and 2 of podiatric medical school for each of the four classes (except one) and the pooled data. There was no significant correlation between Medical College Admission Test score and academic performance in years 1 and 2 (except one) and the pooled data. Conclusions: These results identify undergraduate cumulative grade point average as the strongest cognitive admissions variable in predicting academic performance in the podiatric medicine program at Des Moines University, followed by undergraduate science grade point average. These results also suggest limitations of the total Medical College Admission Test score in predicting academic performance. Information from this study can be used in the admissions process and to monitor student progress. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 446–450, 2012)


2012 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-490
Author(s):  
David Molnar ◽  
Jeffrey Jensen ◽  
Larissa Rolim

Background: This study examined the success of an admission screen in identifying applicants who will fail Part I or Part II of the Podiatric Boards on the first attempt. Methods: A logistic regression model was used to predict failure on the Podiatric Boards. Results: The biology Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score predicted failure on Part I and Part II. Adding undergraduate grade point average and the other MCAT subscores did not significantly improve the prediction. Although a screen based on the biology MCAT score can identify nearly 90% of those who fail, there are six false-positives for every true-positive. Conclusions: First-time Board failure can be predicted, but Board failure must be primarily addressed by interventions after matriculation rather than by an admission screen. (J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 102(6): 485–490, 2012)


2020 ◽  
Vol 185 (11-12) ◽  
pp. e1999-e2003
Author(s):  
Ting Dong ◽  
Jeffrey Hutchinson ◽  
Dario Torre ◽  
Steven J Durning ◽  
Anthony R Artino ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Introduction Holistic review, in which medical schools seek to balance applicant attributes and experiences alongside traditional academic metrics in making admissions decisions, has been in place for over a decade. Medical school applicants and the admissions’ community are still trying to understand the impact of holistic review on the composition of those medical schools choose to interview and accept. Materials and Method The study cohort included all candidates who applied to Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) in 2014, 2015, and 2016 (N = 8,920). We conducted logistic regression analysis to examine the associations between the sociodemographic, academic, and military service variables of applicants applying to the School of Medicine and offers for interview. Results Medical College Admission Test scores and undergraduate grade point averages were important in predicting who would receive an interview. Having military experience, being a woman, and being self-reported African American race also predicted a higher likelihood of receiving an interview invitation. For example, controlling for all other variables in the model, if an applicant had previous military experience, the odds of being invited for interview was about 4 times that of an applicant who had no previous military experience. Leave this for the text and discussion. The resulting pool of interviewed and accepted students more increasingly represented the Military Health Service population served. Conclusions The use of holistic review generated a class with a composition different from that which would be predicted by Medical College Admission Test and grade point average alone. Further, holistic review produced an interview pool and class more representative of the wider Military Health Service beneficiary population. In the case of USU, holistic review allowed the school to better meet its mission to create a representative class able to “care for those in harm’s way.”


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shervin Assari ◽  
Cleopatra Howard Caldwell

Background: Gender may alter African Americans’ vulnerability to discrimination. The type of outcomes that follow exposure to discrimination may also be gender-specific. Although teacher discrimination is known to deteriorate school performance, it is yet unknown whether male and female African American youth differ in the effect of teacher discrimination on school performance. Objective: This cross-sectional study explored the moderating role of gender on the effect of teacher discrimination on school performance in a national sample of African American youth. Methods: The National Survey of American Life-Adolescent Supplement (NSAL-A) enrolled a nationally representative sample (n = 810) of 13–17-year-old African American youth. Demographic factors, socioeconomic status, teacher discrimination, and school performance (grade point average, GPA) were measured. Linear multivariable regression models were applied for data analysis. Results: Males and females reported similar levels of perceived teacher discrimination. In the pooled sample, higher teacher discrimination was associated with lower school performance among African American youth (b = −0.35; 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.49 to −0.22). Gender interacted with perceived teacher discrimination (b = 12; 95% CI = 0.24–2.02), suggesting a significant difference between males and females in the magnitude of the association between perceived teacher discrimination and GPA. In stratified models, perceived teacher discrimination was associated with worse school performance of females (b = −12; 95% CI = −0.03 to −2.78) but not males (b = 0.01; 95% CI = −0.07 to 0.08). Conclusion: In line with previous studies, gender was found to alter the vulnerability of African American youth to perceived discrimination. African American boys and girls may differ in their sensitivity to the effects of teacher discrimination on school performance.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phillippa Poole ◽  
Boaz Shulruf

INTRODUCTION: Medical school selection is a first step in developing a general practice workforce. AIM: To determine the relationship between medical school selection scores and intention to pursue a career in general practice. METHODS: A longitudinal cohort study of students selected in 2006 and 2007 for The University of Auckland medical programme, who completed an exit survey on career intentions. Students are ranked for selection into year 2 of a six-year programme by combining grade point average from prior university achievement (60%), interview (25%) and Undergraduate Medicine and Health Sciences Admission Test (UMAT) scores (15%). The main outcome measure was level of interest in general practice at exit. Logistic regression assessed whether any demographic variables or admission scores predicted a ‘strong’ interest in general practice. RESULTS: None of interview scores, grade point average, age, gender, or entry pathway predicted a ‘strong’ interest in general practice. Only UMAT scores differentiated between those with a ‘strong’ interest versus those with ‘some’ or ‘no’ interest, but in an inverse fashion. The best predictor of a ‘strong’ interest in general practice was a low UMAT score of between 45 and 55 on all three UMAT sections (OR 3.37, p=0.020). Yet, the academic scores at entry of students with these UMAT scores were not lower than those of their classmates. DISCUSSION: Setting inappropriately high cut-points for medical school selection may exclude applicants with a propensity for general practice. These findings support the use of a wider lens through which to view medical school selection tools. KEYWORDS: Cognitive tests; general practice; health workforce; medical student career choice; selection; UMAT


Author(s):  
Kelly H. Snyder ◽  
Virginia M. McClurg ◽  
Jiaju Wu ◽  
R. Steve McCallum

In this study, the success of 6,054 college students screened as twice-exceptional (2e; i.e., those with significantly discrepant math vs. reading scores on the ACT [formerly, American College Test] or SAT [formerly, Scholastic Aptitude Test]) was examined based on major selection and type of potential learning disability using a screening technique proposed by McCallum et al. There were no differences in high school grade point average, college grade point average, or first-year retention rates between students screened as 2e who had a major in line with their academic strength versus those who did not ( p >  .05). However, students screened as 2e based on an exceptionally high math score but a lower reading score yielded statistically significantly higher rates of retention ( p <  .05) than students screened as 2e with the reverse pattern of scores (i.e., gifted in reading with a potential learning disability in math). Implications for screening 2e students are discussed.


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