Uniform admissions system for a medical laboratory sciences program.

Abstract

A system for selection of medical technology students has been developed that features numerical ranking of applicants according to a uniform point system. Each applicant is quantitatively evaluated on achievement of academic and non-academic criteria identified as predictors of success in the student program and in clinical practice. This admissions system has been statistically evaluated by comparing admissions data for 59 graduates with subsequent measures of success during the program and in their first professional employment. The academic and non-academic predictors used in this system describe separate sets of applicant characteristics and appear to be effective as predictors of success. Academic and non-academic predictors are found to function independently of each other as predictors of success in the academic aspects of the program and in the clinical, non-cognitive aspects of both the student program and subsequent professional practice, respectively.