Girgulis Katherine, Rideout Andrea, Rashid Mohsin
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Can Med Educ J. 2021 Dec 29;12(6):35-42. doi: 10.36834/cmej.72121. eCollection 2021 Dec.
Diversity in medical schools has lagged behind Canada's growing multicultural population. Dalhousie medical school allows Black and Indigenous applicants to self-identify. We examined how these applicants performed and progressed through the admissions process compared to Other group (applicants who did not self-identify).
Retrospective analysis of four application cycles (2015-2019) was conducted, comparing demographic data, scores for application components (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer), MCAT, GPA, supplemental, discretionary, Multiple Mini Interview (MMI)), and final application status between the three groups.
Of 1322 applicants, 104 identified as Black, 64 Indigenous, and 1154 Other. GPA was higher in the Other compared to the Indigenous group ( < 0.001). CASPer score was higher in the Other compared to the Black group ( = 0.047). There was no difference between groups for all other application components. A large proportion of Black and Indigenous applicants had incomplete applications. Acceptance rates were similar between all groups. Black applicants declined an admission offer substantially more than expected (31%; < 0.001).
Black and Indigenous applicants who completed their application progressed well through the admissions process. The pool of diverse applicants needs to be increased and support provided for completion of applications. Further study is warranted to understand why qualified applicants decline acceptance.
医学院校的多样性落后于加拿大不断增长的多元文化人口。达尔豪斯医学院允许黑人和原住民申请者进行自我身份认定。我们研究了与其他群体（未进行自我身份认定的申请者）相比，这些申请者在录取过程中的表现和进展情况。
对四个申请周期（2015 - 2019年）进行回顾性分析，比较三组之间的人口统计学数据、申请组成部分的分数（基于计算机的个人特征抽样评估（CASPer）、医学院入学考试（MCAT）、平均绩点（GPA）、补充材料、酌情材料、多重迷你面试（MMI））以及最终申请状态。
在1322名申请者中，104人认定为黑人，64人认定为原住民，1154人属于其他群体。其他群体的GPA高于原住民群体（<0.001）。其他群体的CASPer分数高于黑人群体（=0.047）。所有其他申请组成部分在各群体之间没有差异。很大一部分黑人和原住民申请者的申请不完整。所有群体的录取率相似。黑人申请者拒绝录取通知的比例大幅高于预期（31%；<0.001）。
完成申请流程的黑人和原住民申请者在录取过程中进展顺利。需要增加多样化申请者的数量，并为完成申请提供支持。有必要进一步研究以了解合格申请者拒绝录取的原因。
