Introduction

Post-baccalaureate programs incorporate students from a variety of different backgrounds. Within these programs, there is significant variation in success between students. We hypothesize that demographic factors could at least partially explain this gap. Although the association of demographics and student performance has been previously studied, the evidence supporting their impact on medical student performance is irregular and variable. Furthermore, there are a limited number of studies that are focused on students completing a post-baccalaureate pre-medical program, such as the Graduate Certificate in Molecular and Biomedical Sciences (GCP), a rigorous post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Florida International University (FIU) Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM).
 

Methods

Using a multinomial logistic regression statistical method, various sociodemographic factors were analyzed to determine their relationship to success in GCP, where success was defined as either a 3.0 GPA or 3.7 GPA. These factors included age, gender, race, ethnicity, travel time to class, highest degree obtained, undergraduate major, time since previous graduation, first-generation student status, and in-state vs out-of-state residency status. A statistically significant relationship was determined if the sociodemographic factor had a p-value of <0.05. Research participants included the 1st seven cohorts of students who successfully matriculated into GCP and completed both semesters (n=254). Students who did not submit the survey of sociodemographic variables and/or did not complete the first block exams were excluded from the study.
 

Results

One factor that was found to be a statistically significant positive predictor of success in GCP was undergraduate GPA, but only for the 3.0 GPA success condition (p=0.042). It was found that having a high undergraduate GPA was a good predictor of having a GCP GPA above 3.0. Another significant predictor was the condition students who previously received a Pell Grant. This condition was found to be a significant predictor of achieving a lower than 3.7 GCP GPA (p=0.018), however, not getting a Pell Grant was not a predictor of getting above a 3.7 GPA. All other factors were found not to be significant predictors of either success condition (p>0.05). 
 

Conclusions

Overall, these findings imply that GCP, as a bridge program for students aiming for a pathway to medical school and similar post-secondary degrees, was able to adequately control for most sociodemographic factors. The significance of the undergraduate GPA predictor implies that the 3.7 GPA success condition is not as dependent on undergraduate GPA as getting a 3.0 GPA is. This may be because getting a 3.7 GPA in GCP demands more polished study habits than what may be normally required to get a high GPA in undergraduate coursework. The significance of the Pell Grant Recipient condition implies that having a background of low socioeconomic status can lower the likelihood of getting a 3.7 GPA, likely due to the stressors and difficulties associated with disadvantaged financial status, as some students may have needed to have a job at the same time as they attended the program.