Preadmission predictors of academic performance in a pharmacy program: A longitudinal, multi-cohort study.

Introduction: This study examined the extent to which a preadmission health science program and demographic variables predicted academic performance throughout an undergraduate pharmacy degree (BPharm) program.

Methods: A longitudinal, multi-cohort study was undertaken of 557 students admitted to the University of Otago School of Pharmacy BPharm program between 2008 and 2012, from a preceding health science year (HSFY). Preadmission baseline data including health science grade point average (GPA), sex, age, ethnicity, residency status, and high school qualifications were matched against outputs of GPA performances in all three years of the BPharm program using regression analyses.