The Health Careers Opportunity Program: Deterrents faced by minority students in a post-baccalaureate medical education program

Scope and Method of Study: Research indicates that the effort to increase the number of minorities underrepresented in medical schools across the United States has wavered for more than 40 years and has never reached population parity. Using the conceptual framework of barriers to adult learning, this case study was designed, through triangulation of data sources and methodology, to explore the perceptions of 13 minority and disadvantaged students enrolled in a post-baccalaureate medical education program in an effort to understand why they graduated with a bachelor's degree yet were not admitted to medical school.;Findings and Conclusions: This research revealed that minority and disadvantaged students received poor academic preparation and advisement and faced adverse conditions; for minority students, support from others and life experiences develop resiliency and self-efficacy that is essential to their ability to cope with adversity. Recommendations are offered to pre-health advisers and higher education and medical school administrators and for further research.