Table 1
Pre-Medical student characteristics from 2022–2024 for the University of California, Los Angeles Pre-Medical Enrichment Program (UCLA PREP) (n = 94).
| UCLA PREP CHARACTERISTICS | FREQUENCY(%) |
|---|---|
| Race/Ethnicity | |
| African American/Black | 14 (14.9%) |
| American/Alaskan Native | 3 (3.2%) |
| Asian | 8 (8.5%) |
| Caucasian/White | 6 (6.4%) |
| Middle Eastern | 8 (8.5%) |
| Latinx/Hispanic | 40 (42.6%) |
| Mixed | 15 (16.0%) |
| Age Range | |
| 23 or lower | 72 (76.6%) |
| 24 to 30 | 20 (21.3%) |
| 31 or higher | 2 (2.1%) |
| Gender | |
| Female | 61 (64.9%) |
| Male | 30 (31.9%) |
| Non-Binary | 3 (3.2%) |
| Academic Institution | |
| Community College | 6 (6.4%) |
| Transfer | 34 (36.2%) |
| California State University | 15 (16.0%) |
| University of California | 16 (17.0%) |
| Private University | 11 (11.7%) |
| Out of State 4-year Institution | 12 (12.8%) |
Table 2
Description of UCLA PREP Sessions (2022–2024).
| UCLA PREP WORKSHOPS | WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| MCAT Preparation Course | Students review all MCAT topics* through Princeton Review. Students are also required to take two practice MCAT exams. One practice exam at the beginning and one at the end of the program. |
| Health Disparities Project | Students form groups and research a health disparities topic of their choice. Students are given designated hours to work on their projects. During the final week, the groups present their research findings to faculty, staff, and other student groups. |
| Mental Health is your Wealth | Students are guided through techniques to help empower them to succeed and reframe their self-image more positively, by a board-certified licensed psychologist. |
| Problem-Based Learning Sessions | Students practice their problem-based learning skills by working on 3 cases during 6 different 2-hour sessions. |
| Mock Multiple Mini Interviews | Students practice their interviewing skills by participating in multiple mock interviews with staff and medical student peers. |
| Medical Simulations | Students gain experience by observing and participating in medical simulations run by medical students at the Center for Advanced Surgical and Interventional Technology (CASIT). |
| Medical Lectures | Students are exposed to lectures they can expect to experience in their future medical education. |
[i] *MCAT topics include Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology, and Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills.
Table 3
Differences in scale scores after completion of UCLA PREP (2022–2024).
| SCALE | PRE-SURVEY SCORE AVERAGE (SD) | POST-SURVEY SCORE AVERAGE (SD) | COHEN’S D EFFECT SIZE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clance Imposter Phenomenon Scale* | 3.56 (1.08) | 3.34 (0.98) | .291 |
| Ethnic Identity | 4.19 (0.95) | 4.29 (0.89) | .168 |
| Gender Identity | 3.42 (1.01) | 3.53 (1.09) | .146 |
| Ethnic Stigma Consciousness | 3.25 (0.77) | 3.28 (0.73) | .045 |
| Stereotype Threat Negative Affect* | 3.02 (0.86) | 2.77 (0.96) | .360 |
| Math Identification | 3.57 (0.62) | 3.63 (0.69) | .139 |
| General Self-Efficacy* | 3.22 (0.47) | 3.39 (0.44) | .492 |
| Academic General Self-Efficacy* | 4.08 (0.77) | 4.44 (0.52) | .630 |
[i] Note: All means were standardized by dividing the true score by the number of questions in each scale.
All averages are out of a 1 to 5 Likert scale.
General and Academic Self-Efficacy have an N of 33.
*Indicates a significant difference with p < 0.01.
Table 4
Common Themes During PREP Focus Groups (2022–2024).
| THEMES (# OF MENTIONS) | SELECTED QUOTATIONS |
|---|---|
| Increased Confidence & Clarity (33) |
|
| Community & Networking (18) |
|
| Exposure to Medicine & Admissions (20) |
|
| Motivation & Guidance (22) |
|
| Challenges of the Program (17) |
|
| Desire for More Hands-On Learning (6) |
|
| Representation & Returning to Community (8) |
|
| Resources & MCAT Prep (11) |
|
| Cohort Bonding (5) |
|
| Positive Overall Experience (6) |
|