Assessing the Link Between Admission Criteria and College Major Choice in a Saudi Health Science University

This paper explores the relationship between admission criteria and college major selection among 1,595 undergraduate students at King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAUHS) in Saudi Arabia. The study examines how the admission criteria—high school GPA, General Aptitude Test (GAT), Scholastic Achievement Admission Test (SAAT), and corrected percentage—differ across various health science colleges, including the College of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, College of Dentistry, and College of Applied Medical Sciences. The results reveal significant differences in admission criteria across the different colleges, and these criteria were shown to be related to the college major that students ultimately chose. The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of a well-designed and comprehensive student admission process in higher education and calls for further research in this area.