title: The characteristics of medical students and their views of the first year.
abstract: The results of a national longitudinal study of the educational choices of a large sample of students are summarized with emphasis on the results for medical students. Surveyed as college seniors, students were followed up a year later. The senior results indicated that the future medical students were usually bright, academically successful, male, and frequently from relatively affluent families. Their self-conceptions and work values were consistent with the career of medicine. As medical students, they reported that they worked hard. They did not describe their professors as particularly good teachers, but they felt they had good relations with them. Similarly, although they felt the first year offered limited opportunities for individualization, they were generally quite satisfied with their schools.
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004500:Education, Graduate; D004501:Education, Medical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical; D014481:United States