Predictors of poor student performance at a single, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education–accredited school of pharmacy

Abstract

Objectives This study assesses the extent to which various student demographics and admission criteria predict poor student performance in a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program. Methods Retrospective case-control evaluation of PharmD students enrolled at one public, Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education–accredited school from 2001 to 2003 for which complete sets of data were available. Poor performers were defined as students who: (1) failed to graduate on time, (2) earned a first through third professional year cumulative grade point average (GPA) <2.7, or (3) received <2.7 on any fourth professional year experiential rotation. Results Birth in the United States, each 100-point increase in SAT verbal score, and each 1-point increase in cumulative GPA were found to be associated with decreased odds of student poor performance. Male gender was the only characteristic identified as a positive predictor of poor performance. Conclusion This study corroborates previously published studies demonstrating that traditional predictors of academic performance also predict PharmD program performance. The study also identified unique predictors such as birthplace, gender, and verbal SAT scores.