Predictors of Academic Success and Failure in a Pharmacy Professional Program

Every year schools and colleges of pharmacy face the difficult task of determining which students to admit to their professional programs. The task has become even more difficult in the past few years with the increase in applicants. The number of applications to pharmacy programs increased by 9.1%, 24.6%, and 41.7% in 2001, 2002, and 2003 applicant cycles, respectively.1-3 Similarly at South Dakota State University (SDSU) College of Pharmacy there was a 79% increase in the number of applicants from 2002-2004. With the increased number of applicants for each available position, there are more students with records of high academic performance. Academic performance measures provide useful information for reducing the large pool of applicants to a smaller group. Other characteristics such as communication skills, leadership potential, and motivation to become part of the profession can then be considered as part of the final selection criteria. The process of selecting students for the professional program is even more critical when the current shortage of pharmacists is considered. This shortage has caused some pharmacy schools to stretch their resources to increase the number of students in their program. These factors make it increasingly important for pharmacy schools to select students who will complete the program and graduate. Each student who leaves the pharmacy program without completing it contributes to the shortage. Students typically leave pharmacy programs because of a change in career preference, an unexpected personal development, or poor academic performance. Many studies have investigated the ability of admissions criteria such as Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT) scores, cumulative grade point average (GPA), science GPA, and possession of a prior degree to predict success in the professional program.4-23 One major intent of each of these studies was to identify criteria that had a positive correlation and to use those criteria as part of the selection process. However, results have varied among studies. For example, some have reported that the composite score or selected subscores of the PCAT are predictors of success in the professional program, whereas other studies have shown the lack of predictive ability of some or all aspects of the PCAT scores on professional program success.57,10,14,15,17,18,20-23 Results regarding cumulative prepharmacy GPA also have conflicting conclusions.10,12,14,15,17,18,20,21,23 Chisholm has reported the benefit of a prior 4-year college degree as a predictor of success, but the results of Thomas did not concur.16,17,19,22 On the other hand, more consistent conclusions have been reported concerning the significance of prepharmacy math and science GPAs in achieving success in the professional program.8,14,17,22 American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education 2005; 69 (3) Article 43.