Rethinking Dental School Admission Criteria: Correlation Between Pre‐Admission Variables and First‐Year Performance for Six Classes at One Dental School

Abstract

Admissions committees in dental schools are charged with the responsibility of selecting candidates who will succeed in school and become successful members of the profession. Identifying students who will have academic difficulty is challenging. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive value of pre-admission variables for the first-year performance of six classes at one U.S. dental school. The authors hypothesized that the variables undergraduate grade point average (GPA), undergraduate science GPA (biology, chemistry, and physics), and Dental Admission Test (DAT) scores would predict the level of performance achieved in the first year of dental school, measured by year-end GPA. Data were collected in 2015 from school records for all 297 students in the six cohorts who completed the first year (Classes of 2007 through 2013). In the results, statistically significant correlations existed between all pre-admission variables and first-year GPA, but the associations were only weak to moderate. Lower performing students at the end of the first year (lowest 10% of GPA) had, on average, lower pre-admission variables than the other students, but the differences were small (≤10.8% in all categories). When all the pre-admission variables were considered together in a multiple regression analysis, a significant association was found between pre-admission variables and first-year GPA, but the association was weak (adjusted R=0.238). This weak association suggests that these students' first-year dental school GPAs were mostly determined by factors other than the pre-admission variables studied and has resulted in the school's placing greater emphasis on other factors for admission decisions.

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

“…Since the major selected and the number of sciences courses did not correlate with success in OHS, we conclude that school rigor may be more important than UGPA in admissions decisions. With this being said, however the MCATs and DATs are still an important piece of the admissions [6,7,20].…”

“…Other factors, such as science GPA and test section sub-scores, they reported, were important in assessing performance although they also noted that factors such as emotional intelligence were relevant as well [7]. They note that this correlation is not a significant determining factor because there were students that outperformed the prediction and students who significantly underperformed the projected dental school GPA based on this admission criteria [7]. This data is consistent with a study done at University of California, Davis School of Medicine that showed students who were admitted with a Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) score and UGPA below the minimum requirement outperformed many of the individuals who were admitted who met the standard minimum requirements [8].…”

“…Rowland & Rieken evaluated six classes from 2007 to 2013 at Southern Illinois School of Dental Medicine and noted that while there was a strong correlation between overall UGPA and performance in dental school, they noted this only accounted for 40% of the variance in GPA among the first year of dental school. Other factors, such as science GPA and test section sub-scores, they reported, were important in assessing performance although they also noted that factors such as emotional intelligence were relevant as well [7]. They note that this correlation is not a significant determining factor because there were students that outperformed the prediction and students who significantly underperformed the projected dental school GPA based on this admission criteria [7].…”

Characterization of school of dentistry prerequisite courses and recommendations for admission

“…A significant challenge for dental school admission committees is outlining optimal prerequisite requirements, especially if these requirements help identify learners with the best program fit 1,2 . With ≈12,000 applicants annually, 3 schools are tasked with identifying the relevant coursework that appropriately filters for learners best positioned to accomplish the school's mission and goals.…”

A literature review of the predictive validity of European dental school selection methods

“…A scoping exercise indicated that within Europe prior academic attainment, used either in isolation or in combination with a personal statement, references and interviews, remains the main method of admission to dental school . This is in contrast to countries such as the USA, Canada and Australia who typically use a dental admissions test. More contemporary approaches still depend on prior academic attainment (usually performance on school examinations) as the first hurdle in the admissions process, but this may be followed by an admissions test, an interview and/or a manual dexterity test .…”