COMPARATIVE OF ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT OF DENTAL STUDENTS BY TYPE OF ADMISSION AT FACULTY OF DENTISTRY, PRINCE OF SONGKLA UNIVERSITY

Abstract

This study aimed to 1) examine the basic characteristics and academic status of dental students according to admission types, 2) compare academic achievement at the upper secondary level, academic performance at the tertiary level, and academic achievement across general education and professional course categories among students admitted through different admission systems, and 3) investigate the relationship between upper secondary school achievement and academic performance at the university level. This quantitative study employed a retrospective research design. The sample consisted of 136 dental students who successfully completed the Doctor of Dental Surgery program. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that 1) most students were admitted through the centralized admission system of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools (CPIRD), and students across all admission types demonstrated relatively high academic achievement at both the upper secondary and tertiary levels; 2) students admitted through different admission systems exhibited statistically significant differences in upper secondary school achievement and academic performance in certain academic years at the tertiary level, while differences in academic achievement across some course categories were observed only during specific periods of study; and 3) upper secondary school achievement was positively correlated with academic performance at the university level, with statistical significance (r = 0.261, p < 0.01). This study fills an existing knowledge gap regarding the relationship between admission systems and academic achievement of dental students within the context of a regional higher education institution and provides empirical evidence to support the development and improvement of student admission policies aimed at enhancing educational outcomes in the future.