Selection Process For Biomedical Sciences Increases Student Retention, But Affects Diversity
by Isabelle de Haan & Natascha Wolf
A few years ago, the Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences changed their admission method to increase student retention. However, this switch in selection may also have brought on some negative influences regarding the diversity of the study population. Dr. John Meeuwsen is currently researching the effect of the selection method on the overall diversity of the study population of the bachelor Biomedical Sciences. His aim: to make sure that students from diverse backgrounds all have an equal chance to be admitted into the program of their choosing.
In 2016, the selection procedure switched from weighted lottery based on high school grades, to admission based on high school GPA, knowledge of biomedical subjects, motivation and personality. While the primary aim of this switch was to increase student retention, John and colleagues found that it also led to differences in diversity. Less male students are applying for Biomedical Sciences with the new selection process. In addition, of those male students that do apply, less are admitted into the program.
John explains that there can be multiple reasons for this. ‘‘For example, female students often precede male students when it comes to cognitive development. In general, they obtain higher grades and show more responsibility when it comes to performing school work. This could be the reason they have a higher chance to be admitted into the Biomedical Sciences program in comparison to male students.’’
Moreover, he speculates that male students of the application age, about seventeen years old, might be more easily deterred by the intense selection procedure than female students of this age. The procedure can be stressful for some students, as it takes good multitasking skills to be admitted into the program and to finish your high school exams. This might explain the lower numbers of both applications and admissions for male students.
Female students often precede male students when it comes to cognitive development. This could be the reason they have a higher chance to be admitted into the Biomedical Sciences program in comparison to male students.
Although other diversity groups, including students with a different ethnical background or first generation students, are still topic of current research, it seems that the new selection procedure affects diversity within the Biomedical Sciences program. A diverse study population can help students in gaining a broader world perspective, which can be beneficial for their personal development. Furthermore, it has been shown that inclusive diverse research teams obtain better results. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that all students have equal chances in the selection to get a more diverse study population.
The study regarding the diversity is still ongoing, as the impact of the new selection method on the results from second- and third-year students has yet to be examined to evaluate effects on long term study performance. Even so, John is already looking at how some of the tests can be improved, so they do not accidentally exclude students of certain backgrounds from admission into the program. This will enable all students to get an equal chance of being admitted into the Biomedical Sciences program.