Applicant characteristics and their influence on success: results from an analysis of applicants to the University of Adelaide Medical School, 2004-2007.

OBJECTIVE To determine the applicant characteristics that influence success at each application stage for entry to the University of Adelaide Medical School. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective analysis of characteristics associated with a successful outcome to an undergraduate-entry medical school for 6699 applicants from four cohorts (2004-2007). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Offer of an interview, offer of a place, and acceptance of a place in the medical school. RESULTS Female applicants were less likely to gain an interview (odds ratio [OR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78-0.99) but more likely to receive an offer of a place (OR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.07-1.66). Older applicants were less likely than younger applicants (OR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.71-0.86) and non-school leavers (applying after leaving school) were more likely than school leavers (applying while at school) (OR, 9.54; 95% CI, 6.16-14.78) to receive an offer of an interview. Applicants from areas of high socioeconomic status were more likely to gain an interview (quartile 1 v 4: OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.45-0.68). The more interviews an applicant had, the more likely he or she was to be offered a place (OR, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.34-1.66). CONCLUSION This study indicates that some applicant characteristics have a significant influence on the success of an application at particular stages, but overall there does not appear to be a large or inherent systematic bias in the selection process at the University of Adelaide Medical School.