Abstract:
This qualitative study examines Black men's graduate school choice process enrolled in a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree program at a historically Black college or university (HBCU) medical school. While there is foundational literature regarding graduate school decision-making (Olson & King, 1985), the literature on graduate school choice is limited. Recent work of English and Umbach's (2016) four-layer graduate school choice conceptual model, adapted from Perna's (2006) college choice model, serves as a theoretical framework and a basis throughout the literature landscape of graduate school choice. Furthermore, when exploring the medical school choice, there is little current literature that examines the choice process for Black men in attending HBCU medical schools. The decreasing presence of Black men in medical school commands attention to graduate school choice for these students. Through this study, a critical gap in medical education scholarly work will be filled. The purpose of this research is to ascertain the school choice process for Black men enrolled in an MD program at an HBCU medical school, using in-depth individual interviews with these students. Extracting from English and Umbach's (2016) four-layer graduate school choice conceptual model and McDonough et al. (1997) Black college choice model, this study expects for Black men's medical school choice to be determined by habitus, the context of school and community, the context of higher education, and context of social, economic, and policy. This research provides an essential perspective into Black male students' medical school choice process by investigating these influences. This study advances the knowledge of a budding body of research associated with graduate school choice and assists HBCU medical schools in identifying the factors attributed to Black male enrollment in HBCU medical schools. Having this knowledge empowers HBCU medical schools to better prepare for Black male medical students' recruitment and retention.
