Factors influencing pharmacy students' choice of major and its relationship to anticipatory socialization.
OBJECTIVE
To determine factors that influenced students' choice of pharmacy as a major and assess relationships between these factors and anticipatory socialization.


METHODS
Two hundred fifteen freshman and sophomore students enrolled in a 0-6 doctor of pharmacy program completed a survey instrument on which they rated 6 motivational factors in their decision to major in pharmacy and answered questions related to anticipatory socialization. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to answer the research questions posed.


RESULTS
Female students ranked desire to help others as a stronger motivating factor in their decision to pursue a career in pharmacy than did male students. Caucasian students rated providing more career opportunities and providing an entry-level doctorate as stronger motivating factors for pursuing pharmacy than did Asian students. Asian students had lower levels of anticipatory socialization than other students. Students with higher levels of motivation had higher levels of anticipatory socialization.


CONCLUSIONS
Results of this study provide further insight into effective recruiting strategies and recommendations for improved pharmacy education.
Keshishian
Flora
F
St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY 11439, USA. keshishf@stjohns.edu
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002321:Career Choice; D004512:Education, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004514:Education, Pharmacy, Graduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012737:Sex Factors; D012951:Socialization; D013339:Students, Pharmacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult