Criteria for admission to Yemen universities- Reality and aspirations(An applied statistical study on Medical Colleges in the Republic of Yemen)

University student selection, particularly in medical disciplines, represents a strategic challenge and a central topic in academic research at both national and international levels due to its profound implications for students' future aspirations and for the quality and effectiveness of higher education outcomes. Accordingly, this study primarily aimed to establish a scientific foundation for developing an evidence-based standardized admission model for medical school applicants in Yemeni universities. The proposed model is grounded in objective quantitative evidence through examining and analyzing the statistical relationship between admission criteria—namely high school grade point average (GPA) and the university entrance examination—and admission decisions. Furthermore, the study provides a broader perspective for future research by proposing the development of this model to link admission criteria with students' subsequent academic performance. Although the present investigation focused on faculties of medicine as its empirical application, the statistical modeling framework and scientific evidence generated constitute a methodological roadmap and a robust knowledge base that can be generalized to other university disciplines, provided that the same methodological approach is adopted. The study utilized data from applicants who sat for the university entrance examination for medical schools at four Yemeni universities during the 2025/2026 academic year. Binary logistic regression, cross-tabulation analysis, and alternative admission weighting scenarios for the admission criteria were employed. The findings demonstrated that the most effective admission criterion is a balanced model that integrates both the high school GPA and the university entrance examination score. This integrated criterion serves as a rigorous selection tool that identifies academically qualified candidates while ensuring educational quality and long-term academic stability.