Specific aims
Primary aim
To examine the various obstacles faced by underrepresented minority students who are interested in being a health care professionals and determining the systemic causes of minorities’ underrepresentation in healthcare programs.
Secondary aim
Analyze the relationship between obstacles encountered, entrance exam performance such as the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), and explore results of health professional school applications and matriculation that follow.
Research Questions
1. What specific financial obstacles do underrepresented minority (URM) students face on their path to health professional school matriculation, and how do these barriers affect their application and academic outcomes?
2. What effects do non-financial obstacles like racial biases, exposure to healthcare, standardized test training, and academic preparation have on the matriculation rates of underrepresented minority students in healthcare programs? What are some effective ways to address and mitigate such barriers?
