Performing Under Pressure: Varsity Athletes Excel in Medical School

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Sports Medicine
• Student Performance Metrics

Background:

• Medical school admissions utilize objective and subjective measures.
• Research on the impact of specific student accomplishments on medical school performance is limited.
• Undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and MCAT scores are commonly studied predictors of success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the hypothesis that participation in varsity collegiate sports correlates with enhanced performance in medical school.
• To examine the relationship between athletic involvement and medical school outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of four medical school classes at a single institution.
• Identification of students with at least one year of varsity-level collegiate sports participation.
• Analysis of multiple medical school performance metrics for athletes versus non-athletes.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) scores between athletes and non-athletes.
• Athletes significantly outperformed non-athletes in Step 1, Step 2 CK, NBME shelf exams, and third-year cumulative performance.
• A higher proportion of athletes achieved membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) honor society.

Conclusions:

• Collegiate varsity athletes demonstrate superior performance in medical school.
• Attributes developed through high-stakes athletic training and competition, such as time management, resilience, and performing under pressure, may contribute to this success.
• Further research is needed to identify specific attributes that enhance medical school performance for all students.