title: Student's perspective of success in a postbaccalaureate program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify contributors to the success of students in medical school that graduate from a 1-year postbaccalaureate bridge program.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2010, using rigorous qualitative methodology, the principal investigator interviewed a random sample of 15 (23%) of current and past graduates of The Florida State University College of Medicine Bridge program. The investigators recorded and transcribed the interviews, utilized consensual qualitative research methodology to analyze the data, and identified an overarching theoretical construct.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Content analysis of all 15 interviews yielded 73 themes, which were grouped into 6 broad categories/domains: The Florida State University College of Medicine Bridge Program attributes, personal attributes, proof of competence, support systems, exposure to medical programs, and faith/religion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Postbaccalaureate programs prepare students for success in medical school. The Florida State University College of Medicine Bridge Program has been particularly successful in identifying and educating students who demonstrated promise upon application, despite noncompetitive grades and Medical College Admission Test scores. The authors identify the characteristics and individual experiences of the students and program that relate to success.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA. eron.manusov@sr-ahec.org
authors.forename: Eron Grant
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Manusov
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Thesla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berne-Anderson
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alston
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Myra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hurt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004516:Education, Premedical / Q000458:organization & administration; D004521:Educational Measurement; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000193:education*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical