A comparison of models of medical school student selection

The interview was related to neither Empathy as a personal suitability nor excessive Orderliness as a psychological maladjustment, suggesting selection may be solely dependent on the interview, which may evaluate intellectual capacity redundantly, instead of evaluatingpersonal suitability.

Abstract

It has been argued that medical school admission should be based on intellectual capacity and personal suitability (Model 1). In reality, however, selection may be solely dependent on the interview, which may evaluate intellectual capacity redundantly, instead of evaluating personal suitability (Model 2). Structural equation modeling was used to compare Models 1 and 2 using Medical College Admissions Tests, grade point averages, an Interview score, and three personality scores (Empathy, Orderliness, and Extraversion) collected for 413 UCLA medical school applicants of the 1989 class. The data supported the second model. The interview was related to neither Empathy as a personal suitability nor excessive Orderliness as a psychological maladjustment. Recommendations are made to improve the current interview process.