Parental Preferences for Selecting a Medical College For Admissions In MBBS – A Deep Dive Into Key Perspectives And Priorities.

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore and analyze parental preferences, perspectives, and priorities in selecting
a medical college for their children’s admission into the MBBS program.
Methodology: This interview-based, qualitative study conducted from Nov 2023 to March 2025 at different medical colleges
of Lahore city. A semi-structured interview done to explore the perspectives and preferences of parents regarding
prospective medical students. The sample size was calculated taking a confidence interval of 95% and a margin of error
of 5%, which was calculated to be 294. A purposive sampling strategy was used to include parents reporting in the admission
sections of three medical colleges for seeking their child’s admission in MBBS undergraduate course.
Results: Altogether, 392 parents were interviewed individually in last 2 years, and interviewed. Among these, 299 parents
(76.2%) responded well, and provided their perceptions regarding the choice of a medical college, whereas, 93
(23.8%) were reluctant to discuss. The most highly ranked factor which parents preferred in selecting a medical college
for their child’s admission was market reputation & overall ranking.
Conclusion: It is evident that the choice of a medical college is a multi-faceted decision, influenced by a diverse range of
priorities extending beyond just ranking.

Key Words: Parental perspectives, Faculty expertise, Reputation, Medical colleges, Ranking order.