Characteristics of gateway entry medical students and their academic performance in France

Abstract Background Gateway access to a medical school currently represents 10% of medical students in France. It should increase to 40% in the coming years, starting with the 2020–2021 academic year, due to the implementation of a national reform designed to diversify the selection process and ease access to medical education. The objective of this study was to describe and analyze characteristics of gateway students and their academic performance in France. Methods A retrospective multicentric study on gateway students (Passerelle) enrolled between 2011 and 2019 at three medical schools was conducted. Student characteristics, academic performance (examination results from second to sixth year) and rankings at the national residency exam, Epreuves Classantes Nationale (ECN), were described. A multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) described those with an ECN ranking between 1 to 4000. Results In total, there were 243 gateway entry students, with females representing 57.6% (n = 140). The mean age of students was 26.2 ± 3.6 years. Those with a degree in sciences accounted for 89.3% of the total. Gateway students that dropped out accounted for 6.6%, and mostly at the end of second year (n = 10). 110 gateway entry students completed the ECN with a mean ranking position of 5,624 ± 2,108. ECN rankings between 1 to 4000 were significantly associated with (i) males, (ii) having a mention (score ≥ 12/20) on the French baccalaureate, (iii) never having enrolled in the first year of medical school, and iv) having a low number of uncompleted modules. With the MCA, a mention of ‘very good’ on the French baccalaureate exam (score ≥ 16/20) was associated with an ECN ranking between 1 to 4000. Conclusions This study was the first to describe the characteristics of gateway medical students in France. Most students came from a sciences academic background and had a low rate of dropping out. Future studies on academic performance should be conducted.