ODONT 2007 Diciembre.indd Introduccion: la desercion estudiantil es el abandono definitivo de las aulas de clase por diferentes razones y la no continuidad en el programa academico. Existen diferentes factores que la determinan, tanto intrinsecos propios del estudiante como extrinsecos cuando estos no dependen del estudiante. Metodos: investigacion educacional descriptiva retrospectiva, con analisis cualicuantitativo para determinar los factores causales de la desercion estudiantil en la Facultad de Odontologia de la Universidad de Antioquia. De los 71 estudiantes desertores en el periodo comprendido entre 1997-1 y 2004-1, solo 50 respondieron a la encuesta, 16 de reingreso y 34 desertores, los cuales se consideraron los dos grupos de estudio. Se realizo una encuesta diferente para cada grupo, para conocer los factores intrinsecos y extrinsecos, variables socioculturales y demograficas que pudieron influir en la desercion. Los resultados de estas encuestas se profundizaron para su analisis con grupos focales. Resultados: la desercion estudiantil en la Facultad es un fenomeno que paulatinamente ha aumentado en los ultimos diez anos, con el pico mas alto en 2001 (18,1% para los desertores y 35,7% para reingreso). La mayor desercion se presento en el cuarto semestre (29,4% para desertores y 31,3% para reingreso), puede atribuirse segun el analisis llevado a cabo en el grupo focal, al inicio de la Clinica, donde confrontan sus temores y sienten mayores problemas de manejo y de responsabilidad frente al paciente. Conclusiones: entre de los factores extrinsecos de la desercion, en orden segun su relevancia aparece el factor economico, por motivos laborales, carga academica, mala metodologia y por acoso sexual. Entre los intrinsecos se destaca el cambio de programa por falta de motivacion al no llenar sus expectativas y por falta de tiempo. Se sugiere que las instituciones de educacion superior ofrezcan mayor flexibilidad curricular especialmente en sus horarios para disminuir la desercion estudiantil. ABSTRACT. Introduction: student desertion is the definitive abandonment of the classroom by different reasons and the non continuance of the academic program. There are different determining factors. These could be intrinsic, that is, belonging to the student, or extrinsic when they don’t depend on the student. Methods: this is retrospective, descriptive educational study with a qualitative - quantitative analysis that allows the determination of causal factors of student desertion in the School of Dentistry of the University of Antioquia. Of the 71 deserting in the period 1997-1 through 2004-1, only 50 answered the survey, 16 who reentered the program and 34 that deserted these were the two groups analyzed. A different survey was presented to each group in order to find the intrinsic and extrinsic factors, the social-cultural and demographic variables that might have influenced the desertion. The results of this survey were complemented for analyses with focus groups. Results: student desertion in the school is a phenomenon that has been slowly increasing during the past 10 years, with the highest peak in year 2001 (18.1% deserters, and 35.7% for reentering students). The highest desertion appeared in the fourth semester, (29.4% for deserters, and 31.3% for reentering students), this can be attributed according to the analysis with focal groups, to the initiation of clinical practice, where they confront their fears and have greater management and responsibility problems with patients. Conclusions: among the extrinsic factors in desertion in order according to relevance are: financial factors, work, academic load, poor methodology and sexual harassment. Among the intrinsic factors is noticeable the change of academic programs due to lack of motivation, and lack of time. It is suggested that Institutions of Higher Education offer a more flexible curricula specially in the scheduling in order to decrease student desertion.