Comparing of Students' Academic Achievement of Service Commitment Quota with other Quotas in Kashan University of Medical Sciences in the Academic Year 2021

Regarding the relationship between students' academic progress and their performance after graduation and considering the important role of entrance quota to the university in the academic progress of students, this study was designed to compare the academic progress of students of the service commitment quota with other quotas in Kashan University of Medical Sciences.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the academic year 2021 on 337 incoming medical students of Kashan University of Medical Sciences by census method. Demographic variables and information related to students' academic performance were extracted from the Hamava system and through the university education department. The collected data were analyzed through  ANOVA, chi-square, LSD and Mann-Whitney tests.

As to comparing the academic performance of students based on the method of admission, the students of the service commitment quota had the lowest average of the basic science (14.77±1.61) and the total average until the end of physiopathology (14.75±1.54) and their diploma grade (P=0.046, F=3.80), entrance exam score (p<0.001, F=26.44), basic science grade point (P=0.001, F=5.46), physiopathology course grade point (P=0.003, F=11.62), and the total grade point until the end of the physiopathology course (P=0.001, F=7.46) were significantly lower than day students. However, there was no significant difference compared to students of self-governing campus (p>0.05).

The results revealed that, in general, the academic status of students of the service commitment quota were lower than that of daily students and similar to students of self-governing campuses. It is recommended that the educational officials should take measures to improve the academic performance of students of the service commitment quota.