title: Personal profile of medical students selected through a knowledge-based exam only: are we missing suitable students?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A consistent body of literature highlights the importance of a broader approach to select medical school candidates both assessing cognitive capacity and individual characteristics. However, selection in a great number of medical schools worldwide is still based on knowledge exams, a procedure that might neglect students with needed personal characteristics for future medical practice. We investigated whether the personal profile of students selected through a knowledge-based exam differed from those not selected.
  
  
  METHODS
  Students applying for medical school (N=311) completed questionnaires assessing motivations for becoming a doctor, learning approaches, personality traits, empathy, and coping styles. Selection was based on the results of MCQ tests. Principal component analysis was used to draw a profile of the students. Differences between selected and non-selected students were examined by Multivariate ANOVAs, and their impact on selection by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students demonstrating a profile of diligence with higher conscientiousness, deep learning approach, and task-focused coping were more frequently selected (p=0.01). Other personal characteristics such as motivation, sociability, and empathy did not significantly differ, comparing selected and non-selected students.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Selection through a knowledge-based exam privileged diligent students. It did neither advantage nor preclude candidates with a more humane profile.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abbiati
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baroffio
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Unit of Development and Research in Medical Education, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; margaret.gerbase@unige.ch.
authors.forename: Margaret W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Gerbase
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003099:College Admission Test; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010551:Personality; D012570:School Admission Criteria; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: assessment; medical students; personal characteristics; profile; selection; undergraduate