The Impact of a Pre-Health Living Learning Community on Retention in Introductory Biology

• In Event: 51.081 - Sheraton Roundtable Session Nine - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 51.081-3 - Multiple Strategies for Academic Success in College

Abstract

Pre-medical study is a popular career path for undergraduate students interested in the life sciences. However, students often experience introductory science courses as a barrier to persisting on the pre-med track. In particular, increased emphasis placed on pre-med science courses in college may heighten stereotype threat for students historically underrepresented in science and medicine. In this paper, we examine the impact of a residential learning community on N=280 undergraduate students’ continued enrollment in introductory pre-med science courses, and test whether these effects are different for underrepresented students. Further, we test to see if students participating in the residential learning community are more likely to experience higher science identity in later courses along the pre-med track.

Authors

• Eben B Witherspoon, University of Pittsburgh

• Susie Chen