Bachelor completion and dropout rates of selected, rejected and lottery-admitted medical students in the Netherlands

BackgroundEvidence for the effectiveness of the selection of medical students is weak. This study aimed to examine the added value of a two-step selection procedure (first step non-academic, second step academic tests) to a pre-university GPA-based lottery procedure. Because previous research has suggested that participation in selection (regardless of the outcome) is a predictor of study success, this study is the first to include students who initially applied for selection, then refrained from (actively) participating in selection and were eventually admitted through lottery.MethodsBachelor completion and dropout rates of selected (n=416) and lottery-admitted students from four cohorts (2006-2009) were compared using logistic regression analysis. Four groups of lottery-admitted students were distinguished: students who were rejected after step 2 (n=57), were rejected after step 1 (n=169), withdrew during selection step 1 (n=42) and students who only applied for lottery (n=366). Covariates included gender, age, pre-university GPA and cohort.ResultsThere was a significant association between admission group and obtaining a bachelor degree in three years. Selected students were more likely to obtain a bachelor degree within three years (64.2% versus 51.6%; OR=1.7) or four years (81.5% versus 74.3%; OR=1.6) than students who only applied to a lottery (p