Abstract
The Texas A&M University Health Science Center College of Medicine recently implemented a pre-matriculation program (MedCamp) for a targeted group of first-year students. This pilot study was conducted to correlate the MedCamp experience with academic performance in the first-year biomedical science disciplines in gross anatomy, histology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics. The academic performance of students who participated in MedCamp was compared with that of students who did not participate in MedCamp. The components of this 4-week MedCamp included activities geared toward preparing students for the rigor of the medical curriculum, social and professional expectations as medical students, and insight into areas for improvement. Twenty-four students participated in MedCamp. Students ranged in age from 21 to 51, with 10 females and 14 males that represented many ethnic groups, and had an average MCAT score of 29.17 and overall BCPM (biology, chemistry, physics, and math) GPA of 3.61. Quantitative analyses of overall performance in the first three basic science foundation blocks indicated that the MedCamp participants did not show a significant difference in performance when compared with their peers (two tailed t tests, α = 0.05). Qualitative results were positive from the participants, highlighting expectations, acculturation, mentorship, and professionalism.
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