title: A comparison of students from main and alternate admission lists at one school: the potential impact on student performance of increasing enrollment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  If medical schools increase enrollment to meet anticipated physician shortages, more students from alternate lists will likely be accepted. This study compared the performance of alternate- and main-list students during and one year after medical school.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors assessed admission and performance measures for 1,188 students matriculating from 1997-2003 at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Measures included Medical College Admission Test scores, basic and clinical science grade point averages, United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1 and Step 2 scores, residency match information, and residency director ratings. Chi-square analyses, proportional analyses, and independent t-tests were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results indicated that both the admission measures and performance of alternate-list students were generally lower than main-list students, but the differences were small and probably not meaningful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As long as the applicant pool does not substantially change from its current makeup, increasing enrollment by accepting more students from alternate lists may not adversely affect overall student performance.
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas School of Medicine, 3901 Rainbow Blvd., Kansas City, KS 66160, USA. apaolo@kumc.edu
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Paolo
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stites
authors.forename: Giulia A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Bonaminio
authors.forename: Glendon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zeiger
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McCurdy
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006280:Health Workforce / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007615:Kansas; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010820:Physicians / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000592:standards*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data