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Administrative Services

(364) Impact of Pre-Matriculation Course Withdrawals on First Year Pharmacy School Success

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Trainee Category: Student Pharmacist

    Primary Author(s)

  • JD

    Jacy Dagenhart, MS

    PharmD Candidate
    Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, United States

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Sean P. Kane, PharmD, BCPS (he/him/his)

    Associate Professor, Assistant Dean for Assessment
    Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
    North Chicago, Illinois, United States

  • Danielle M. Candelario, PharmD, BCPS

    Associate Professor, Associate Director of Pharmacy Skills Education
    Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
    North Chicago, Illinois, United States

  • KP

    Khyati Patel, PharmD, BCACP

    Associate Professor, Ambulatory Care Pharmacist
    Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, United States

  • CB

    Christie Bertram, PharmD, BCIDP

    Adjunct Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases Clinical Pharmacist
    Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Northwesterm Memorial Hospital, United States

  • TG

    Ted Gavlin, MA

    Academic Scheduling and Assessment Coordinator
    Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, United States

    • Trainee Competition Judge(s)

  • Sara N. Trovinger, PharmD, MSEd

    Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice
    Manchester University
    Ft Wayne, United States

  • Curtis G. Jefferson, EdD (he/him/his)

    Director of Assessment & Accreditation
    University of Washington
    Seattle, Washington, United States

  • SS

    Sue Skledar

    Director of Experiential Learning, and Professor
    University of Pittsburgh

Objective : The objective of this study was to determine the impact of pre-matriculation course withdrawals on first year pharmacy school (P1) success, defined as on-time progression to the second year of pharmacy school without remediation due to course failure. We hypothesized that more frequent course withdrawals would be negatively correlated with P1 success.

Methods: A retrospective review of students matriculating to the college of pharmacy from 2018 to 2021 was conducted. Potential predictors of P1 year success including age, sex, highest degree achieved, pre-matriculation GPA, and course withdrawals were collected.

Results: Out of 220 students analyzed, 40.9% (n=90) were unsuccessful in the first year. Of those 90 students, 52% did not progress to the P2 year and 48% progressed but required course remediation. Bivariate analysis indicated that age, cumulative GPA, science GPA, and pre-matriculation course withdrawals were significantly different between students who were successful versus unsuccessful in the first year of pharmacy school. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that independent predictors of P1 success included cumulative GPA and having less than two pre-matriculation course withdrawals. In addition, the number of pre-matriculation course withdrawals, cumulative GPA, and having at least a bachelor’s degree or higher were independent predictors of P1 GPA.

Conclusions: Students with less than two pre-matriculation course withdrawals were more likely to be successful during the first year of pharmacy school. College of pharmacy admission committees may consider pre-matriculation course withdrawal frequency when making admission decisions or to identify students that may need additional academic support during the first year of pharmacy school.