Mann-Whitney U mean rankings of UR trainees: PWIs (N = 23) and HBCUs (N = 14).

Given the lack of normality in the distributions of GRE Scores and undergraduate GPA, a Mann-Whitney U test was used to examine differences between the two groups. Fig 1 presents the mean rakings across program admission variables for the 37 IMSD students. Mean rankings of the Mann-Whitney U test were interpreted because histograms confirmed differences in the distribution shape of the trainees from HBCUs and trainees from PWIs [20]. Therefore, there are differences in first-semester Ph.D. GPA between UR trainees with undergraduate training at HBCUs and UR trainees with undergraduate training at PWIs.