Applying to Medical School - Page 1

4 Applying to Medical School

General considerations

Selection factors

The application process

Recommendations

The interview

The selection process

Acceptance

Ranking of medical schools

Rejection

Special educational programs

Canadian medical schools

The admission process: timetable

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS ______________________________________

There are two basic factors that determine admission to medical school independent of

the personal qualifications of each candidate. These factors are the total number of first-

year places available and the total number of applicants for admission. Presently, fewer

than half of those that apply are accepted to American medical schools; about half of

those that are rejected are considered qualified to attend medical school.

Starting in 1930, in the decade between the Great Depression and World War II, the

number of medical schools remained substantially unchanged and the number of first-

year students actually decreased slightly. In the next two decades (1940–60), nine new

schools were established and, as a result, first-year enrollment increased by about 50%.

In the 15-year period 1960–75, 27 new schools came into being, bringing with them

nearly another 65% increase in enrollment. Over the next decade (1976–86), only seven

new schools became operational. Since the mid 1980s one new school has been estab-

lished. All of this points to the end of the era of medical school expansion, at least for

the foreseeable future, even if a few new schools open in the coming years.

During the long period of expansion (1940–86), the total number of freshman places

changed as a result of the opening of new institutions or the enlarging of class size at

existing schools. The data indicates that two-thirds of the increase in enrollment was

due to the latter and one-third to the former. This is understandable because new schools

usually start with small enrollments and then expand.

Prospects for the Future

As noted, the era of major medical school expansion has ended. The long-term goal of

the 15,000 first-year enrollments, set by medical educators to meet national health care

needs, has not only been met but even surpassed. For many years, approximately 16,000

freshman medical students have enrolled each year. All indications are that the available

number of freshman places has peaked, since no new schools are likely to open and sig-

nificant expansion of first-year class size will not take place.

During the mid-1980s there was a continuous and marked decline in the number of

medical school applicants, which reached an all-time low in 1988, with a 1.6:1 appli-

cant/acceptee ratio. Since then, the decline has not only bottomed out, but the applicant

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