are medical school applications on the decline..

[redstorm]

just wondering.. I graduated in 1998 applied in 94 when there were about 46000 people applying.. Just wanted to know because they should be in that it is such a bureacratic ridden profession.. all they want is your money.. everybody...

so does anybody know?

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[futuremsfdoc]

pretty sure applications declined from the mid-90s until about 2003 or so, then increased last year and should continue to increase for several years.

 

[Bones2008]

pretty sure applications declined from the mid-90s until about 2003 or so, then increased last year and should continue to increase for several years.

yup.

 

[GBFKicks]

pretty sure applications declined from the mid-90s until about 2003 or so, then increased last year and should continue to increase for several years.

Increased solely based on the economy, though-- I bet other professional schools saw a much greater increase than medicine.

 

[JohnHolmes]

Medicine isn't what it used to be.

 

[devildoc2]

Law schools saw like a 40% increase in applications... med schools its only like 5% or so. I cant remember the numbers so can somebody post them for the previous couple of years?

From 96 to 2004 apps are still down by at least 20%. They will have to increase for a long time to get back to the 96 level and I dont think they will ever get that high again.

 

[size_tens]

Despite lowers numbers of applicants, overall competitiveness is arguably higher than it's ever been. GPA's and MCAT scores of matriculants are very strong compared to years past.

 

[MacGyver]

Here is the data:

1992: 37,402
1993: 42,806
1994: 45,360
1995: 46,586
1996: 46,965
1997: 43,016
1998: 40,996
1999: 38,443
2000: 37,089
2001: 34,860
2002: 33,625
2003: 34,786

With the number of new schools opening up, our applicant accept rate is going to jump in the next few years. Its going to jump over the infamous 50% threshold pretty soon. We're coming to an age when more people get ACCEPTED to med school than rejected. My my, how far we have fallen.

 

[mosoriire]

You have no idea how happy that would make me if it were true. But truth be told, it isnt going to happen...The economy is going to go into another recession, IMHO, because of the isolationist policies of the current administration, which is going to stay another four years AND handover to another Republican administration, whether you like it or not.

Also, as more students get accepted, more pre-med students will be encouraged to apply, so acceptance rates will not increase substantially...I am just saying...I dont think things are ever going to be as they were in the 1980s

 

[Garuda]

Here is the data:

1992: 37,402
1993: 42,806
1994: 45,360
1995: 46,586
1996: 46,965
1997: 43,016
1998: 40,996
1999: 38,443
2000: 37,089
2001: 34,860
2002: 33,625
2003: 34,786

With the number of new schools opening up, our applicant accept rate is going to jump in the next few years. Its going to jump over the infamous 50% threshold pretty soon. We're coming to an age when more people get ACCEPTED to med school than rejected. My my, how far we have fallen.

Why is that so bad? I think it's so miserable how many of these people waste years of their lives trying to get into medical school, something which they're just not cut out for.

From what I've heard, it's harder than ever to get into med school now (based on qualifications). But applicants are more realistic. People are more likely to self select and remove themselves from the process if they feel they're not competitive. And that's a good thing, for everyone.

isolationist policies of the current administration

That's the first time I've ever heard that word used to describe the "current administration". Are we talking about the same "current administration" here?

 

[superdevil]

With the number of new schools opening up, our applicant accept rate is going to jump in the next few years. Its going to jump over the infamous 50% threshold pretty soon. We're coming to an age when more people get ACCEPTED to med school than rejected. My my, how far we have fallen.

yea, it seems like a new DO school opens every year (maybe it's just me, though).

The economy is going to go into another recession, IMHO, because of the isolationist policies of the current administration, which is going to stay another four years AND handover to another Republican administration, whether you like it or not.

um...ok, when the sky falls, i suggest you bring an umbrella. "IMHO"? doesn't that stand for "in my humble opinion"? your opinion doesn't sound very humble at all "...whether you like it or not..."??? i'm glad there are so many economists/foreign policy experts on SDN. i'd never know what to think, otherwise!

 

[bearpaw]

i think the average gpa and mcat have gone up all those years though...its still gonna be competitive no matter what.

well, unless we get socialist healthcare...