Pre-admission Profile of the Medical Students of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine: Class 1990 to Class 2013 Lateral Entrants

Abstract

Background: The admission process at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM) is very competitive. The criteria for admission are the general weighted average grade (GWAG), National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) scores, and the Interview Scores. Accepted through these criteria are claimed to be the best and most qualified.

Objectives: This descriptive study that covered a 24-year period aimed to provide a demographic and academic profile of the UPCM lateral entry students admitted through the said admission criteria.

Methods: The pre-admission records of accepted lateral entrants from Class 1990 to Class 2013 were retrieved, reviewed, and analyzed. These included the demographic data (age, sex, civil status, and income-bracket) and academic information of the students (pre-med course, school, GWAG, NMAT and Interview Scores, Admission Category). Demographic and academic profiles and trends were described.

Results: For the past 24 years, there was an equal number of male and female students accepted at UPCM, almost all were single with an average age of 21 years old, majority were accepted under the academic category, most from UP and were graduates of natural science courses. The pre-med average GWAG trend showed biphasic pattern and steadily getting better through the years, while the trend for the average NMAT scores through the same period was generally on upward direction, however, a transient downward dip was observed. The average Interview Scores, likewise, showed an upward trend. Female, graduates from non-UP schools, and with BS Psychology degree yielded a higher average %PMGWAG, while male UP graduates, with natural sciences degrees (BS Molecular Biology) had higher average NMAT scores. Those accepted under the academic category had the highest average %PMGWAG, NMAT, and Interview Scores. Similarly the trend for the average Entry Scores was biphasic, but generally on upward direction.

Conclusion: The impressive academic profile and the upward trends of all the pre-admission parameters of lateral entrants of UPCM for the past 24 years proved the highly competitive nature of its selection process. It also reflected the strict compliance with the admissions policy.