Newswise — U.S. medical schools continue to expand their enrollment to meet the country's increasing demand for physicians, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). First-year enrollment at the nation's medical schools this year increased nearly 2 percent over 2007, to more than 18,000 students—the highest enrollment in history.
"In a time of great economic uncertainty, interest in the healing profession of medicine remains stable," said AAMC President and CEO Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. "As medical schools expand to meet the nation's demand for more doctors, there will be even more opportunities for the most qualified and well-rounded aspiring doctors to pursue rewarding careers in medicine."
In a boon to the medical education community's efforts to increase diversity in medicine, the number of Latino first-year enrollees rose by more than 10 percent this year; Latinos represent 7.9 percent of the 2008-09 entering medical school class. The number of Native American first-year enrollees increased by more than 5 percent, and the number of African American first-year students remained nearly the same as in 2007. Native Americans and African Americans represent 1.0 and 7.2 percent, respectively, of this year's entering medical school class. Overall, the percentage of women first-year enrollees held steady again this year at about 48 percent.
After a five-year increase in applicants to medical schools, the number of applicants leveled-off this year at more than 42,200. While the overall applicant pool is one of the largest in more than a decade, the number of first-time applicants decreased by 3 percent. On average, there were more than 2 applicants for every available opening at a medical school.
Latinos also boosted their presence in this year's applicant pool, with a 3 percent increase over 2007. There was a decrease this year, however, in the number of applicants from other minority groups underrepresented in medicine, particularly African Americans (a 4 percent decrease) and Native Americans (a 3 percent decrease). Women comprised more than 48 percent of the applicants to medical school this year, down slightly from 49 percent in 2007.
Many medical schools are beginning to take a holistic approach to reviewing applicants, evaluating them on the basis of their academic and personal achievements and within the context of the opportunities and challenges each has encountered. The applicants to medical school this year were among the most academically qualified in history; AAMC data show an increase in the average undergraduate grade point average (to 3.50) and average MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) scores (to 28.1). Importantly, there was also an increase in the number of applicants who had community service experience (both clinical and non-clinical) and medical research experience on their premedical resumes.
"As the nation debates comprehensive reform of our health care system, it's imperative that we continue to educate and train a new generation of qualified doctors prepared to execute those changes, and lead the way on innovative health care," noted Dr. Kirch.
The three medical schools that have just established—or are planning to establish—branch campuses were responsible for most of the enrollment increase (Mercer University School of Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and University of Arizona College of Medicine). These data do not reflect the anticipated enrollment at new schools expected to open within the next few years.
For more information on medical student diversity and efforts to encourage minority undergraduate students to pursue careers in medicine, go to www.AspiringDocs.org.
For more information on the "holistic review" approach to medical school admissions, go to http://www.aamc.org/opi/holisticreview/start.htm.
For the AAMC's position on the physician workforce shortage, go to http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/presskits/workforce.htm.
The Association of American Medical Colleges is a not-for-profit association representing all 130 accredited U.S. and 17 accredited Canadian medical schools; nearly 400 major teaching hospitals and health systems, including 68 Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers; and 94 academic and scientific societies. Through these institutions and organizations, the AAMC represents 109,000 faculty members, 67,000 medical students, and 104,000 resident physicians. Additional information about the AAMC and U.S. medical schools and teaching hospitals is available at www.aamc.org/newsroom.
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