Associations Between Prerequisite Course Completion and Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and First-Generation Status in a...

Area of Science:

• Health professions education
• Medical school admissions
• Diversity in healthcare

Background:

• Academic programs aim to increase diversity.
• Prerequisite course requirements may disproportionately affect diverse applicants.
• Understanding these impacts is crucial for equitable admissions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine if prerequisite course requirements disproportionately burden individuals from diverse backgrounds in a physician assistant program.
• To analyze applicant data for potential demographic disparities in prerequisite completion.

Main Methods:

• Reviewed applicant data from one physician assistant program.
• Analyzed data over four consecutive admissions cycles.
• Compared prerequisite completion rates across demographic groups.

Main Results:

• Black students were less likely to have completed prerequisites compared to White students.
• Male applicants were less likely to have completed prerequisites compared to female applicants.
• Applicants who did not report gender also showed lower completion rates.

Conclusions:

• Prerequisite course requirements may present a barrier for underrepresented minority and male applicants.
• Findings suggest a need for further investigation into prerequisite policies' impact on diversity.
• Results may inform other programs' analyses of admissions practices and demographics.