Naoko Motohama
September, 2016
Abstract
It is widely known that the Japanese college admission process puts much importance on the fairness and objectivity of admission, but these days more and more universities in Japan have begun to evaluate the applicants’ personality in their admission. This research examines the reason as to why some Japanese elite colleges have introduced personality-based admissions despite it is often criticized as being subjective and unfair. Using the data from articles in the academic journal Igaku Kyoiku (Medical Education) from 1970s to 1990s, this research conducted a historical analysis to find the factors which enabled medical colleges to introduce this admission process. Two important findings were obtained. First, the professors believe that personality-based admission has an “educational effect,” that assists the students’ transition from secondary school to higher education more smoothly. Specifically, the applicants are encouraged to learn the basic attitudes and behaviors that are viewed as necessary for medical training through the experience of personality-based admissions. Second, through personality-based admission, medical colleges demand the applicants to voluntarily learn the competencies which are outside the boundaries of high school education. Two implications are offered from these findings: First, personality-based admission is believed to be useful as an educational device, as well as a selection device; the professors believe that through personality-based admission students obtain the competencies that the professors view cannot be developed through the process of higher education. Second, it is necessary to guarantee students to learn the attitude and behavior in formal schooling before evaluating those skills in college admission.
