Relationship between conditional early acceptance into medical school and medical school leadership and academic performance: the Conley Scholar experience at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
The Conley Scholars Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia was created in 1987 to guarantee top flight students entrance to medical school without the frantic competition well known in undergraduate pre-med programs. The program provides greater freedom as undergraduates than most combined baccalaureate-MD programs. It is not known how this freedom and avoidance of the "pre-med syndrome" affects medical school performance and relative leadership qualities compared to traditional medical students. The goals of this study are to: a) compare relative composition and performance of Conley medical students to traditional medical students; b) assess the role of Conleys in leadership positions within medical school organizations.


METHODS
Using the medical school computer data files and AMCAS application files, composition, academic, and leadership data were collected regarding all medical school classes containing Conleys. Statistical analysis was performed on all data.


RESULTS
The results suggest that: a) Conley Scholars averaged significantly higher undergraduate GPAs than other medical students; b) Conley Scholars averaged higher GPAs throughout medical school; c) Conley Scholars are more likely to hold medical school leadership roles than traditional medical students.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirm the value of the Conley Scholar Program. Benefits extend beyond academic achievement to encompass the development of leadership skills recognized by faculty and peers.
Stratman
E
E
Groshong
T
T
Whitcomb
M
M
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008923:Missouri; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical