title: Some social characteristics and background of first-year dental students, University of Sydney, 1976-85.
abstract: This paper presents some information, derived by questionnaire, on the social characteristics and background of 1148 first-year dental students at the University of Sydney for the years 1976-1985. Student entry age was 19.4 years; 27 per cent were female; 36 per cent of fathers and 24 per cent of mothers were professionals and 37 per cent of fathers and 11 per cent of mothers had attended university; parents of female students had higher educational levels than parents of male students; 55 per cent had medicine as the course of first preference. Eighty-five per cent of students entered dentistry from high school with 78 per cent from Sydney. Characteristics of students showed little change over the period 1976-1985. Some changes noted were an increase in the number of female students with fewer living in their parents' home; increase in number of students from government schools; decrease in foreign students but an increase in students (Australian citizens, or residents) born overseas, and of different ethnic backgrounds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Dentistry, University of Sydney.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivaneswaran
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Barnard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002321:Career Choice; D004493:Education; D004522:Educational Status; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D009790:Occupations; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education; D012737:Sex Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013335:Students, Dental / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*