2007 U.S. Medical School Entering Class is Largest Ever
Enrollment Increases, More Black and Hispanic Males Apply
For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C., October 16, 2007 - The 2007 entering class to U.S. medical schools is the largest in the nation's history, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The number of first-year enrollees totals almost 17,800 students, a 2.3 percent increase over 2006. More than 42,300 individuals applied to enter medical school in 2007, an increase of 8.2 percent over 2006. Nearly 32,000 were first-time applicants, the highest number on AAMC record.
The 2007 medical school applicant pool also included more individuals from racial and ethnic minorities. The number of black male applicants and Hispanic male applicants both increased this year by 9.2 percent (higher than the growth rate of the total applicant pool). The number of black males who ultimately were accepted and enrolled in medical school this fall increased by 5.3 percent, a rate nearly double that of the first-year entrant increase overall. Hispanic male first-year enrollees remained at the same level as 2006.
"With our nation expected to face a serious shortage of physicians in the future, we are pleased to see interest in medicine as a career continuing to increase," said AAMC President Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. "We are especially encouraged by the growing interest among students from groups historically underrepresented in medicine."
As of 2006, 28.8 percent of the U.S. population was black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, or Native American, yet these groups accounted for only 14.6 percent of medical school graduates. Nationwide, only 6 percent of practicing physicians are members of these groups. The AAMC has identified increasing diversity in medicine as one of its key strategic priorities.
-And it's not 'cause standards are being lowered...
Overall, the academic credentials of applicants to medical school this year were stronger than ever before, with the highest MCAT® (Medical College Admission Test) scores and cumulative grade point averages on record. In addition, over the past five years there has been an increase in applicants' average amount of experience in premedical activities, including time spent in medical research and community service in clinical and nonclinical settings.
In addition to increases in the size of the applicant pool, 11 of the 126 U.S. medical schools boosted their entering class size by more than 10 percent this year. First-year enrollment at the nation's medical schools has increased more than 7 percent since 2003, when the AAMC first began to investigate the possibility of a physician workforce shortage.
For more information on medical student diversity and efforts to encourage minority undergraduate students to pursue careers in medicine, go to www.AspiringDocs.org.
Link to press release: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2007/071016.htm
Enrollment Increases, More Black and Hispanic Males Apply
For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C., October 16, 2007 - The 2007 entering class to U.S. medical schools is the largest in the nation's history, according to new data released today by the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The number of first-year enrollees totals almost 17,800 students, a 2.3 percent increase over 2006. More than 42,300 individuals applied to enter medical school in 2007, an increase of 8.2 percent over 2006. Nearly 32,000 were first-time applicants, the highest number on AAMC record.
The 2007 medical school applicant pool also included more individuals from racial and ethnic minorities. The number of black male applicants and Hispanic male applicants both increased this year by 9.2 percent (higher than the growth rate of the total applicant pool). The number of black males who ultimately were accepted and enrolled in medical school this fall increased by 5.3 percent, a rate nearly double that of the first-year entrant increase overall. Hispanic male first-year enrollees remained at the same level as 2006.
"With our nation expected to face a serious shortage of physicians in the future, we are pleased to see interest in medicine as a career continuing to increase," said AAMC President Darrell G. Kirch, M.D. "We are especially encouraged by the growing interest among students from groups historically underrepresented in medicine."
As of 2006, 28.8 percent of the U.S. population was black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, or Native American, yet these groups accounted for only 14.6 percent of medical school graduates. Nationwide, only 6 percent of practicing physicians are members of these groups. The AAMC has identified increasing diversity in medicine as one of its key strategic priorities.
-And it's not 'cause standards are being lowered...
Overall, the academic credentials of applicants to medical school this year were stronger than ever before, with the highest MCAT® (Medical College Admission Test) scores and cumulative grade point averages on record. In addition, over the past five years there has been an increase in applicants' average amount of experience in premedical activities, including time spent in medical research and community service in clinical and nonclinical settings.
In addition to increases in the size of the applicant pool, 11 of the 126 U.S. medical schools boosted their entering class size by more than 10 percent this year. First-year enrollment at the nation's medical schools has increased more than 7 percent since 2003, when the AAMC first began to investigate the possibility of a physician workforce shortage.
For more information on medical student diversity and efforts to encourage minority undergraduate students to pursue careers in medicine, go to www.AspiringDocs.org.
Link to press release: http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2007/071016.htm
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