A study of the performance of Brown University medical students admitted with and without an interview, based on course performance, standardized test scores, and residency evaluations, provides evidence that the selection interview does not contribute to the predictive capacity of the admission process. (Author/MSE)

A model for resident selection used scaled scores reflective of the applicant's characteristics to rank applicants at the Medical College of Milwaukee (Wisconsin). Data from three years indicate that as few as three faculty were needed to interview reliably, permitting a more cost-effective approach to selection. (Author/MSE)

Using a national sample of recent medical school graduates (n=12,213), a study of predictive validity of the National Board of Medical Examiners test parts I and II found strong correlations between performance on those parts and part III, supporting the test's use, at least in part, for selection of residency applicants. (MSE)

A study supported use of the objective structured clinical examination for screening foreign medical graduates (n=67) wishing to enter a preinternship program in at the University of Toronto. However, it also showed that appropriate training for the candidates was the internship, not preinternship, program. (MSE)

Six personal statements of interest in a residency, each from a different type of fictitious candidate, were randomly selected for mailing to 2,478 board-certified Ohio physicians practicing in 6 specialties in which women are underrepresented and 3,586 physicians in specialties in which women are overrepresented. Physicians consistently rated…

A study of over 8,000 admissions of Cornell University (New York) graduates to 19 highly selective medical schools, 1982-89, found that grade point average (GPA) was extremely influential especially at 9 schools. It was concluded that applicants often receive encouragement to continue the application process despite little chance of acceptance.…

A study developed and evaluated five class ranking models for graduating medical students (n=1,283) in which performance data from both basic and clinical sciences could be used to study the models' predictive validity. Two models yielded higher validity; one is recommended for balance of clinical and basic science measures. (MSE)

Medical school admission interview ratings for four entering classes (n=356 students) were compared with preadmission academic variables (admission test scores, undergraduate grades), student characteristics (age, gender, residence), and interviewer characteristics (gender, professional background, admission committee membership). Recommendations…

An Association of American Medical Colleges working group on student professional ethics suggests improving (1) admission criteria; (2) the medical school learning climate, including consideration of cultural diversity; and (3) communication of expectations to students. An AAMC initiative for instruction, instructional material development, and…

A study found that the admission interview scores for 62 Dartmouth Medical School (New Hampshire) applicants correlated positively with dean's letter ratings given 4 years later and that interview scores were better predictors of ratings than were total Medical College Admission Test scores or science grade point averages. (Author/MSE)

A 1990 survey of 102 directors of internal medical residencies with the largest numbers of foreign-born foreign medical graduates revealed the most important performance predictors were performance on the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination or National Board of Medical Examiners test, interviews, and U.S. postgraduate clinical experience.…