title: USSTRIDE program is associated with competitive Black and Latino student applicants to medical school.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared MCAT scores, grade point averages (GPAs), and medical school acceptance rates of Black and Latino students in an outreach program called Undergraduate Science Students Together Reaching Instructional Diversity and Excellence (USSTRIDE) to non-USSTRIDE students. We hypothesized that Black and Latino participants in USSTRIDE had higher acceptance rates to medical school, higher MCAT scores, and college GPAs when compared to other Black and Latino medical school applicants from our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  The academic performance (GPAs and MCAT scores) and acceptance and matriculation rate data on all Black and Latino Florida State University applicants to any medical school from 2008 to 2012 were collected from the AIS/AMCAS database and separated into two comparison groups (USSTRIDE vs. Non-USSTRIDE). Independent sample T-tests and chi-square analysis, Cohen's D test, and odds ratios were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Average science GPA was 3.47 for USSTRIDE students (n=55) and 3.45 for non-USSTRIDE students (n=137, p=0.68, d=0.0652). Average cumulative GPA was 3.57 for USSTRIDE students and 3.54 for non-USSTRIDE students (p=0.45, d=0.121). Average MCAT score was 23 for USSTRIDE students and 25 for non-USSTRIDE students (p=0.02, d=0.378). Twenty-three percent of accepted USSTRIDE students and 29% of accepted non-USSTRIDE students had multiple acceptances (p=0.483, OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.52-3.88). Forty-nine percent of non-USSTRIDE students and 75% of USSTRIDE students matriculated in medical school (p=0.001, OR 3.13 95% CI 1.51-6.74). About 78.6% of USSTRIDE students matriculated at FSU's medical school compared to 36.2% of non-USSTRIDE students (p<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  USSTRIDE and non-USSTRIDE students had similar science and cumulative GPAs. USSTRIDE students' MCAT scores were lower but acceptance rates to medical school were higher. Participation in USSTRIDE is associated with increased acceptance rates for Black and Latino students to our medical school. This finding is true for other medical schools as USSTRIDE students are as likely as non-USSTRIDE students to have multiple acceptances.
authors.affiliation: Center for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA; kendall.campbell@med.fsu.edu.
authors.forename: Kendall M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: College and Pre-College Outreach, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Thesla
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Berne-Anderson
authors.affiliation: College and Pre-College Outreach, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Aihua
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College and Pre-College Outreach, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dormeus
authors.affiliation: Center for Underrepresented Minorities in Academic Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA.
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003099:College Admission Test; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012577:Schools, Medical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: healthcare workforce; medical education; medical school admission; minorities in medicine; minority health; pipeline