Admission predictors of academic dismissal for provisional and traditionally admitted students

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to identify admission variables associated with dismissal for academic reasons.MethodsA retrospective review of students accepted from 2000–2009 was conducted (n = 1,019). The students included traditional students (1–5, n = 817) and provisional students (admitted directly from high school, 0–6, n = 202).ResultsFor traditional students, Pharmacy College Admission Test, interview, pre-pharmacy grade point average (GPA), and pre-pharmacy science/math hours were associated with failure to complete the program for academic reasons. For provisional students, overall GPA, science/math GPA, English American College Testing (ACT), and reading ACT predicted failure to complete the program for academic reasons. However, composite ACT score did not predict academic dismissal for provisional students.ConclusionPredictors of academic dismissal may vary for professional degree programs depending upon students' entry point into the program (e.g. immediately post-high school, 1–2 years of college). However, GPA for prior coursework, college or high school, may be a consistent predictor across entry points into the program.