the establishment and academic development of the faculty of medicine at kasetsart university: advancing medical education and healthcare in thailand

Background: the faculty of medicine at kasetsart university, as a new medical school, faces the challenge of attracting high-caliber students. this study examines the motivations of rural high school students to pursue medical education at this institution.objectives: to explore the key factors influencing rural high school students' decisions to study at the new medical school.methods: a descriptive study was conducted with 120 high school students from sakon nakhon province and surrounding areas in thailand. participants completed a structured questionnaire during the open house event. the questionnaire assessed motivations related to academic interests, career goals, and perceptions of the medical school. descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data.results: participants were primarily aged 17 (32.5%) and 18 (40.0%), with a near-equal gender distribution (47.5% male, 52.5% female). the most important motivations for choosing this new medical school in the top three rankings were passing the medical professional licensing examination (23.33%), followed by the quality of teaching facilities (40%) and educational support technology (35%). scholarships, welfare services, and employment opportunities were also significant motivators. other factors, such as curriculum content, counseling processes, and research opportunities, ranked lower in importance. while there were no significant differences in the proportions of males and females ranking specific motivations as their top choice.conclusion: the findings suggest that rural high school students prioritize academic success, modern learning facilities, and support systems when selecting this new medical school.