Attrition in Graduate School Versus Other Health Professional Programs: Etiologies and Solutions

Data suggests significantly higher attrition rates of graduate students compared to other health professional programs. Several key differences exist between the training paradigm of Ph.D. programs and other health professional fields, such as the dynamics of group training, differences and frequency of mentor and mentee feedback, and awareness of mental health resources. Many reasons contribute to graduate school attrition, including inadequate mentorship, a paucity of mental health resources, and increasing expenses to attend graduate school. Conversely, failing to adequately train graduate students is a failure to trainees, universities, and the broader public in terms of finances, invested time, and intellectual commitments. Diverse approaches to ensure mentor accountability, supporting emotional health, and increasing financial resources may help raise the graduate rates among graduate students.