Pathways to Success: The Role of Self-Efficacy and Social Capital in Diversifying the Healthcare Workforce.

The underrepresentation of first-generation and minority students in graduate-level healthcare programs remains a major barrier to diversifying the U.S. healthcare workforce. This study examined whether participation in the University of the Pacific’s Summer High School Institute (SHSI), a two-week immersive program featuring faculty networking, financial aid literacy, and hands-on medical device training, enhances students’ self-efficacy in applying to healthcare graduate programs. Using a retrospective, cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 95 participants and analyzed with descriptive statistics and independent samples t-tests to assess perceived changes in self-efficacy. Results showed that students generally reported increased confidence after completing the program, although no statistically significant difference emerged between first-generation and non-first-generation students. Still, the trend toward higher mean self-efficacy scores among first-generation students suggests possible benefits that merit further study. These findings highlight the importance of early exposure, mentorship, and targeted resources in strengthening self-belief and career readiness among historically underserved students. Although the study was limited by selection bias and the absence of pre-post measures, it adds to the growing literature on social capital and self-efficacy in educational attainment. Future research should incorporate longitudinal and qualitative methods to better understand sustained impact and contextual influences on student outcomes.