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Non-traditional entry to medical school may increase dropout rate

BMJ 2004; 328 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/sbmj.0406226a (Published 01 June 2004) Cite this as: BMJ 2004;328:0406226a
  1. Roger Dobson1
  1. 1Abergavenny

Medical students who have a parent who is a doctor, who live on rather than off campus, or who did well in science subjects at A level were less likely to drop out during their first year at university, a new study shows.

The study's authors, from the University of Warwick, looked at data on 51 810 first year students at 21 medical schools between 1980 and 1992 (Medical Education 2004;38:492-503).

Students who scored high grades in biology, chemistry, or physics were less likely to drop out of medical school than other students, while those who scored well in other subjects were more likely to transfer out of medicine.

Men were more likely to quit than women, with men 8% more likely to drop out than women, but social class and school background had little effect on the dropout rate. The authors also found significant differences between medical schools in the probability of dropping out in the first year.

ULRIKE PREUSS

Science students do it better

Across …

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