Inherited privilege? First vs. continuing-generation medical students in Egypt, academic performance, extracurricular training and expectations: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Background The transition to college life is a highly demanding period for all students, especially when enrolling into an academically-challenging field as that of medicine. First-generation medical students represent an overlooked demographic and are thought to be more vulnerable to the stressors of college. This study’s aim is to explore the differences between first and continuing-generation medical students in Egypt regarding their academic performance, extracurricular training opportunities and future expectations. Methods Two identical 24-item online questionnaires, in English and Arabic were distributed with five main themes: general demographics, academic performance, extracurricular training opportunities (outpatient clinics, hospitals and operating rooms), future expectations and if participants have relatives in the medical field. Results Responses from 1652 eligible respondents from all 36 medical universities in Egypt were received. Continuing-generation medical students achieved a higher cumulative grade, with 46.1% getting an “Excellent” grade compared to only 38.4% in the first-generation. The gap between the two groups was best noted in Year 1 (p-value