title: Paradise lost or paradise regained? Changes in admission system affect academic performance and drop-out rates of medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Austrian State medical universities had to change their admission system in 2005. Until this year admission to medical studies was unrestricted. Innsbruck Medical University chose the Eignungstest für das Medizinstudium in der Schweiz (EMS) aptitude test for admission testing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Did the implementation of a selection process affect the academic performance and drop-out rates of students according to gender?
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups of students were compared: 'open admission' (2002-2004), and 'selected' (2006-2009). Academic performance was tested according to results in the final exams after year 1 (SIP 1; SIP, summative integrierte Prüfung) and after year 3 (SIP 3). Drop-out rates were recorded using the registration system of the university.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both, male and female 'selected' students had a higher passing rate regarding SIP 1 and they passed SIP 1 in shorter time and using fewer attempts than the open admission group. The percentage in passing SIP 3 did not change due to change in admission. The drop-out rates were significantly reduced for male and female students. 'Unselected' female students had a significantly higher drop-out ratio than 'unselected' male counterparts. After EMS testing, the drop-out ratios of female and male students were not significantly different.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selected applicants were more able and better motivated to study medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Genetics, Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. hans-georg.kraft@i-med.ac.at
authors.forename: Hans Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lamina
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kluckner
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Wolfgang M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Prodinger
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012570:School Admission Criteria / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*