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Applications to U.S. Medical Schools Continue to Decline

Data presented in JAMA's annual issue on medical education demonstrate continuing -- and perhaps accelerating -- decline in the number of applicants to U.S. medical schools (see JW Oct 1 1999, p. 156, accession number 990907006, and JAMA 1999; 282:840).

The number of applicants rose from a trough of 26,915 in 1989-1990 to a peak of 46,968 for the 1996-1997 academic year. During the succeeding years, however, applications have declined -- to 43,020, then to 41,004, and, finally, to 38,529 for the 1999-2000 academic year. The number of accepted applicants has actually risen slightly (from 17,385 to 17,445) during this 4-year period. Thus, the ratio of applicants to acceptances has declined from 2.7 to 2.2. More detailed analyses showed that the percentage of women in entering classes continued its steady rise: The entering class of 1999-2000 is 45.8 percent female. This class is 19 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 8 percent black, 3 percent Mexican American, 2 percent Puerto Rican, 2 percent other Hispanic, and 1 percent Native American.

Comment: These data suggest that medicine, although still an attractive career, is losing some of its allure, particularly among white males.

— TH Lee

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine September 15, 2000

Citation(s):

Barzansky B et al. Educational programs in US Medical Schools, 1999-2000. JAMA 2000 Sep 6 284 1114-1120.

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