Predicting professional school performance with a unique lens: are there other cognitive predictors?

Area of Science:

• Oral Health Sciences
• Medical Education
• Admissions Research

Background:

• The Oral Health Sciences (OHS) Master of Science program at Boston University serves as a pre-dental pipeline.
• The program has shown success in recruiting students from underrepresented groups.
• Investigated associations between admissions criteria and OHS program performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate academic variables influencing graduate GPA and first-year dental school course performance.
• To identify predictors of success within the pre-dental OHS curriculum.
• To inform admissions decisions and improve recruitment for aspiring dental professionals.

Main Methods:

• Collected demographic data, undergraduate academic records, and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores from 2012-2016.
• Assessed undergraduate institution competitiveness using Barron's Profiles of American Colleges.
• Utilized ANOVA, Chi-square, and Fisher's Exact tests to analyze performance data.

Main Results:

• Undergraduate major, age, and science course credits did not impact OHS performance.
• Students completing an undergraduate Physiology course showed better performance (p=0.034).
• Higher DAT scores (Academic: >20, Science: >18, Reading: >22) correlated with better performance in dental school courses.

Conclusions:

• Strong DAT scores, attendance at rigorous undergraduate institutions, and completion of Physiology are positive predictors of success.
• Findings can guide admissions decisions and enhance recruitment for graduate programs.
• Identifying alternative predictors may reduce bias and improve diversity in the dental profession.