Some social characteristics and background of first-year dental students, University of Sydney, 1976-85

This paper presents some information, derived by questionnaire, on the social characteristics and background of 1148 first-year dental students at the University of Sydney for the years 1976-1985. Student entry age was 19.4 years; 27 per cent were female; 36 per cent of fathers and 24 per cent of mothers were professionals and 37 per cent of fathers and 11 per cent of mothers had attended university; parents of female students had higher educational levels than parents of male students; 55 per cent had medicine as the course of first preference. Eighty-five per cent of students entered dentistry from high school with 78 per cent from Sydney. Characteristics of students showed little change over the period 1976-1985. Some changes noted were an increase in the number of female students with fewer living in their parents' home; increase in number of students from government schools; decrease in foreign students but an increase in students (Australian citizens, or residents) born overseas, and of different ethnic backgrounds.