English Abstract
ABSTRACT:
The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the
admission criteria employed by the College of Health Sciences in
Bahrain from 1978 to 1980, in predicting future academic achievement.
The preadmission data of 454 students were analyzed for their pre-
dictive abilities of the cumulative grades at the end of the common
core for all programs offered in the College and the cumulative grades
at the end of the second-year for the Nursing, Medical Laboratory
and Pharmacy Programs. The stepwise regression analysis from the
Statistical Analysis System was used to study prediction.
Findings indicated that the College English Entrance Examination
was significant (p < .05) in predicting first-year grades in Nursing
ad Medical Laboratory only. This examination was also significant
in predicting the first-year grades for all programs when combined.
It was significant (p < .05) in predicting second-year grades in
Nursing only.
The College Science Entrance Examination was found to be more
significant in predicting second-year grades than those of the first-
year grades especially in Nursing and Pharmacy.
The Tawjehie was the best predictor of first-year grades in
Pharmacy only. It was not significant in predicting second-year
grades in any of the Programs.
The College Aptitude Test was found to be the strongest predictor
of the second-year cumulative grades in Medical Laboratory and Pharmacy.
It was not significant in predicting first-year cumulative grades.
However, when all Programs were combined in 1978, it was found to
be a weak predictor.
Based on these findings, it was suggested that an Entrance Exami-
nation in English and Science, high school GPA and a new examination
measuring the attitudes of the students, be the basis of the selection
procedure in the College of Health Sciences. Furthermore, it was
recommended that comprehensive orientation program about the students'
future roles in various health professions, should be .implemented.
This step may help alleviate the problem of high dropouts when com-
bined with the new admission procedures.
