Difference in demographics and motivation to study medicine with respect to medical students’ channel of admission: A national study

Abstract

Introduction

Medical schools employ various tools to select suitable medical students (MS). This study investigated whether MS who were admitted through multiple mini-interviews (MMI) and MS who were admitted through Taiwan’s Joint College Entrance Written Test (JCEWT) differed in their characteristics.

Methods and subjects

First-year MS from seven medical schools completed a semi-structured questionnaire that inquired into their channel of admission (MMI or JCEWT), gender, location (metropolitan or rural), high school type (public or private), parents’ socioeconomic status (SES), and motivations to study medicine.

Results

In total, 513 MS participated, 493 (96%) returned valid questionnaires, and 397 were enrolled in the study, (MMI group: 205 MS; JCEWT group: 192 MS). Irrespective of channel of admission, most MS came from metropolitan areas (80%–86%), belonged to high-SES families (73%–76%), and had mixed motivations (51%–96%). Female applicants, private school leavers, and those who were less motivated by the physician’s SES were more likely to be selected through the MMI channel than the JCEWT channel.

Conclusion

Irrespective of the channels of entry, MS had similar demographics and motivations for studying medicine. MS selected through MMI had different characteristics than those selected through a JCEWT.

Keywords:

• Medical student
• selection
• demographics
• MMI
• motivation

Acknowledgement

The authors are grateful for the assistance of the medical students and the staff of the seven medical schools (NCKU; KMU; CSMU; CMU; FJU; MMU; ZCU) participating in this study.

Disclosure statement

This research was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 105-2511-S-006-013), Executive Yuan, Taiwan, ROC. This article was edited by Wallace Academic Editing. The authors report no potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article.

Glossary

Joint College Entrance Written Test (JCEWT): Is a computerised standardized written test for college entrance. It assesses applicants’ cognitive abilities, such as knowledge of the social and natural sciences, and English proficiency. The candidates who apply to medical schools through the JCEWT channel are evaluated by their performance scores and ranking. Medical students are enrolled into medical schools on the basis of their ranking and prioritised personal choices.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chyi-Her Lin

Chyi-Her Lin, MD, is a senior consultant physician of E-Da Hospital, Kaohsiung and is a Professor Emeritus National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.

Mei-Hua Chen

Mei-Hua Chen, MPH, is the coordinator of the Medical Students’ Admission Project, Department of Pediatrics, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC.

Tsuen-Chiuan Tsai

Tsuen-Chiuan Tsai, MD, PhD, is a professor of Department of Humanities and Education, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.

Williams J. Huang

Williams J. Huang, MD, PhD, is a professor of Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.