IADR Abstract Archives
Do Post-Bac Programs Make a Difference in Dental Students' Education?
Objectives: The objectives of the study are to collect evaluations from alumni of these programs concerning: educational experiences in post-bacs, the value of their experiences during the application process, their current experiences as dental students / dentists, how this educational experience supported their efforts in dental school and beyond and the degree to which their experiences affect their decisions to give back to underserved communities. Dental students in all four academic years will be asked to evaluate their experiences with / perceptions of students who have participated in post-bac programs.
Methods: Data were collected from current and past participants of dental post-bac programs, as well as dental students who took the traditional route to dental school; all 469 participants were dental students at the University of Michigan. Data was collected with anonymous Qualtrics surveys.
Results: 31.1% had taken time off after graduating from college, before entering dental school. 31.2% had taken additional courses during this time; 48.1% had worked in a dental office and 67.6% had volunteered in dental settings. Forty students (9.7%) had participated in a post bac program. 5.8% reported that their programs had consisted of classroom-based education, 2.8% that they had participated in clinical activities and 2.3% that they had engaged in research activities. 38.8% reported that having participated in their post-bac program had helped them in the application process, in the admission process (36.9%) and with doing well in didactics (41.6%). When students with vs. without post bac experiences responded to questions concerning the benefits of these programs in general, post bac alumni agreed more strongly than non-alumni that the programs prepare students for the admission process (5-point scale with 5=strongly agree: 3.85 vs. 3.37; p=0.012), for dental school class work (4.20 vs. 3.75; p=0.012), that they recommend the programs to others (3.75 vs. 2.95; p<0.001) and that the programs give students an edge in dental school (4.00 vs. 3.35; p=0.002).
Conclusions: Dental students with post bac experiences perceive the value of these programs in preparing students for the dental school application, admission process and the dental school work more positively than students without such experiences.
Methods: Data were collected from current and past participants of dental post-bac programs, as well as dental students who took the traditional route to dental school; all 469 participants were dental students at the University of Michigan. Data was collected with anonymous Qualtrics surveys.
Results: 31.1% had taken time off after graduating from college, before entering dental school. 31.2% had taken additional courses during this time; 48.1% had worked in a dental office and 67.6% had volunteered in dental settings. Forty students (9.7%) had participated in a post bac program. 5.8% reported that their programs had consisted of classroom-based education, 2.8% that they had participated in clinical activities and 2.3% that they had engaged in research activities. 38.8% reported that having participated in their post-bac program had helped them in the application process, in the admission process (36.9%) and with doing well in didactics (41.6%). When students with vs. without post bac experiences responded to questions concerning the benefits of these programs in general, post bac alumni agreed more strongly than non-alumni that the programs prepare students for the admission process (5-point scale with 5=strongly agree: 3.85 vs. 3.37; p=0.012), for dental school class work (4.20 vs. 3.75; p=0.012), that they recommend the programs to others (3.75 vs. 2.95; p<0.001) and that the programs give students an edge in dental school (4.00 vs. 3.35; p=0.002).
Conclusions: Dental students with post bac experiences perceive the value of these programs in preparing students for the dental school application, admission process and the dental school work more positively than students without such experiences.