title: Differences in Factors Affecting Medical Specialty Choices between Medical College Students and Graduate Medical School Students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to compare the specialty preference and factors that affect choices of medical specialties between medical college students and graduate medical school students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was conducted in 563 medical students, and 482 (graduates: 199, undergraduates: 283) responded (response rate, 85.61%). The students completed a brief survey, which included 39 items that sampled their demographic data, career choice, and factors that influenced their choice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most students in medical college and graduate medical school preferred clinical medicine. Graduate medical school students preferred internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine. In contrast, medical college students preferred neurology, family medicine, and psychiatry. Important factors that affected the selection of specialties were seniors' advice, advice of other students, clerkship experiences, and specialty experiences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This result shows that there are differences in the factors that affect the selection of medical specialties between medical college students and graduate medical school students. But, the opportunity to explore future careers and to consult their choice of specialty, in accordance with the needs and characteristics of individual students, must be provided for all medical students.
authors: Pusan National University School of Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Ji Hye
authors: JH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Radiology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Gun Il
authors: GI
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Medical Education Unit, Gachon University of Medicine & Science, Incheon, Korea.
authors: Kwi Hwa
authors: KH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Center for Teaching and Learning, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
authors: So-Joung
authors: SJ
authors: Yune
keywords: Graduate medical school students; Medical college students; Medical specialty preference