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A qualitative study of factors contributing to the successful enrollment, retention and graduation of Blacks in medical school
Abstract
The major purpose of this study was to investigate the question: Do the usual and traditional criteria for judging admissions to medical school, principally traditional academic criteria, in fact, provide the best predictors of success for Blacks or are there other factors, characteristics or variables, non-traditional in nature which are better predictors of Blacks' successful completion from medical school? Specifically this study attempted to determine the impact of the following factors on the successful completion of medical school for Blacks: (1) Demographic factors such as race, religion, cost or medical school indebtedness. (2) Family income. (3) Factors influencing the decision to pursue a medical education. (4) Barriers obstructing their pursuit of a medical degree. (5) Factors contributing to the successful completion of medical school for Blacks. The findings of this study suggests the following factors, characteristics and variables do contribute to the successful completion of medical school for Blacks. (1) Exposure to the field of medicine. (2) Personal characteristics, i.e., having a high degree of self-confidence and self-esteem, motivation, having an unyielding sense of determination, perseverance and endurance, being able to delay one's rewards or gratification, discipline and being able to withstand racism. (3) Support systems: (a) parental and family support; (b) peer support; (c) minority affairs office; (d) mentorship program; (e) church support. (4) Financial resources. (5) Specially designed medical school programs. (6) Non-traditional approaches used by medical school admission committees.
Subject Area
Black studies|Health education
Recommended Citation
Bennett, Mary Ellen, "A qualitative study of factors contributing to the successful enrollment, retention and graduation of Blacks in medical school" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9132819.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9132819