Number of Applicants this Year

[ArcherM2]

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Is it me or is it everywhere I turn I'm hearing that there was an astronomical amount applications to med school this year? What makes this year different from any other year. I've heard from both UNECOM and UMDNJ that they have received nearly double the amount of applications this year. I feel like the 15% increase in seats available at MD schools next year, will be too late for those of us who truly want to be Osteopathic physicians this year.

 

[jkhamlin]

Is it me or is it everywhere I turn I'm hearing that there was an astronomical amount applications to med school this year? What makes this year different from any other year. I've heard from both UNECOM and UMDNJ that they have received nearly double the amount of applications this year. I feel like the 15% increase in seats available at MD schools next year, will be too late for those of us who truly want to be Osteopathic physicians this year.

KCUMB told me the same thing.

 

[bth7]

Anybody know is there is any national data available for this year on number of applicants?

 

[docbill]

Anybody know is there is any national data available for this year on number of applicants?

Prob had something to do with SDN.
Getting more applicants from originally allo pool.

 

[Robz]

I was told as well that our applicants and numbers were higher.
More competition is a good thing 🙂

 

[annh31]

Is it me or is it everywhere I turn I'm hearing that there was an astronomical amount applications to med school this year? What makes this year different from any other year. I've heard from both UNECOM and UMDNJ that they have received nearly double the amount of applications this year. I feel like the 15% increase in seats available at MD schools next year, will be too late for those of us who truly want to be Osteopathic physicians this year.

what 15% increase in allo school seats next year???

 

[jkhamlin]

what 15% increase in allo school seats next year???

http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/03/14/prl10314.htm

 

[dr.z]

what 15% increase in allo school seats next year???

This is true.

 

[1hotaartichoke]

i think it says 15% over the next DECADE not yr...

 

[annh31]

i think it says 15% over the next DECADE not yr...

yeah, it does. decade is a lot different than year. i think this will affect med schools across the board, not just allopathic or just osteopathic. so, what was the OP referring to here?

 

[jkhamlin]

yeah, it does. decade is a lot different than year. i think this will affect med schools across the board, not just allopathic or just osteopathic. so, what was the OP referring to here?

It appears that the OP either misspoke or misunderstood that news item. It does appear that he doesn't understand the dynamic in the process whereby the increase in MD seats will draw more away from DO acceptances, leaving more seats available to those of us who truly want the DO training. If it comes to that, I can wait another year or two.

 

[docbill]

It appears that the OP either misspoke or misunderstood that news item. It does appear that he doesn't understand the dynamic in the process whereby the increase in MD seats will draw more away from DO acceptances, leaving more seats available to those of us who truly want the DO training. If it comes to that, I can wait another year or two.

I don't mean to offend you, but I don't agree with you.

As I previously said. DO and MD are both means of becoming a Physician. Some will agree more with one phil than other, whereas others won't mind which phil they choose. They are internchangeble most of the time. Accept when OMT comes into play. But only 5-10% of DO actually use OMT.

As the population increases there will be as many applicants as before. At least I hope so. Otherwise the stats for incoming DO students might slip and worsen the critisism from the non-believers.

 

[ArcherM2]

It appears that the OP either misspoke or misunderstood that news item. It does appear that he doesn't understand the dynamic in the process whereby the increase in MD seats will draw more away from DO acceptances, leaving more seats available to those of us who truly want the DO training. If it comes to that, I can wait another year or two.

My OP was in regards to the fact that an increase in enrollment to Allopathic programs in the future does not help current pre-DO's that truly want to be Do's. As it is right now, many pre-DO's that want to be DO's lose spots to pre-meds that would rather be MDs. So my post was getting to the point that the increase does not aid pre-DO's at this time, but will in the future (as you stated above).

 

[jkhamlin]

I don't mean to offend you, but I don't agree with you.

As I previously said. DO and MD are both means of becoming a Physician. Some will agree more with one phil than other, whereas others won't mind which phil they choose. They are internchangeble most of the time. Accept when OMT comes into play. But only 5-10% of DO actually use OMT.

As the population increases there will be as many applicants as before. At least I hope so. Otherwise the stats for incoming DO students might slip and worsen the critisism from the non-believers.

I'm not offended, but I'm not sure what your point is. My point was that if there are more seats open in MD schools, there will be more people who apply to both opting for acceptances in the MD schools because they are more concerned about what people will think of their medical degree. The article points out that there are currently 16,000 graduates of allopathic colleges. 15% of that would be 2400. The article points out that there are 2600 graduates of Osteopathic college. As you can see, even a modest percentage of people opting for allopathic schools would have a great effect on the competition for seats in Osteopathic schools. This is not even considering the fact that Osteopathic schools might also increase their seats to help meet this problem as well.

 

[jkhamlin]

My OP was in regards to the fact that an increase in enrollment to Allopathic programs in the future does not help current pre-DO's that truly want to be Do's. As it is right now, many pre-DO's that want to be DO's lose spots to pre-meds that would rather be MDs. So my post was getting to the point that the increase does not aid pre-DO's at this time, but will in the future (as you stated above).

Ok, I guess I just didn't understand what you meant. It looks like we agree.

 

[Elmer]

I'm not offended, but I'm not sure what your point is. My point was that if there are more seats open in MD schools, there will be more people who apply to both opting for acceptances in the MD schools because they are more concerned about what people will think of their medical degree. The article points out that there are currently 16,000 graduates of allopathic colleges. 15% of that would be 2400. The article points out that there are 2600 graduates of Osteopathic college. As you can see, even a modest percentage of people opting for allopathic schools would have a great effect on the competition for seats in Osteopathic schools. This is not even considering the fact that Osteopathic schools might also increase their seats to help meet this problem as well.

I think docbill's point is that less competition for seats is a bad thing because it will lead to lower standards. It is also going to make it more difficult to obtain a quality residency if there are not more AOA offerings created.

 

[docbill]

I think docbill's point is that less competition for seats is a bad thing because it will lead to lower standards. It is also going to make it more difficult to obtain a quality residency if there are not more AOA offerings created.

That is correct. I am concerned with the mostly private DO schools (continouly expanding the number of students), trying to fill their seats and therefore may lower the requirements. This will lead lead to great differences between the GPA/MCAT scores. (Side note: I would not be surprised if AOA decided to start an OMCAT exam for DO schools).

With more Allo grad and same or more FMG, there may be less ACGME places available for DOs.

 

[Old_Mil]

Is it me or is it everywhere I turn I'm hearing that there was an astronomical amount applications to med school this year? What makes this year different from any other year.

Typically, when the economy is good the number of medical school applications drops as people realize that they can do equally well financially by taking a less rigorous course of study like law, computer science, etc. When the economy turns south and perks and high salaries begin to disappear from the corporate world, the number of medical school applications goes up.

The "jobless" recovery we've been having may have something to do with it.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Typically, when the economy is good the number of medical school applications drops as people realize that they can do equally well financially by taking a less rigorous course of study like law, computer science, etc. When the economy turns south and perks and high salaries begin to disappear from the corporate world, the number of medical school applications goes up.

The "jobless" recovery we've been having may have something to do with it.

That's pretty sad that so many go to medical school because of money issues. I wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a little kid---before I understood what money was.

 

[dr.z]

That's pretty sad that so many go to medical school because of money issues. I wanted to be a doctor ever since I was a little kid---before I understood what money was.

Same here, but I guess everyone has their own dreams and goals.

 

[jkhamlin]

Typically, when the economy is good the number of medical school applications drops as people realize that they can do equally well financially by taking a less rigorous course of study like law, computer science, etc. When the economy turns south and perks and high salaries begin to disappear from the corporate world, the number of medical school applications goes up.

The "jobless" recovery we've been having may have something to do with it.

I don't buy this. Can you provide a reliable source?

 

[Elmer]

I don't buy this. Can you provide a reliable source?

"It's accepted knowledge among school administrators that a bad economy means an increase in graduate and professional school applications. "
http://www.princetonreview.com/medical/research/articles/criteria/medadmissions.asp

 

[stoleyerscrubz]

And if you keep reading it states that medical schools are an exception to this rule.

"It's accepted knowledge among school administrators that a bad economy means an increase in graduate and professional school applications. "
http://www.princetonreview.com/medical/research/articles/criteria/medadmissions.asp

 

[jkhamlin]

"It's accepted knowledge among school administrators that a bad economy means an increase in graduate and professional school applications. "
http://www.princetonreview.com/medical/research/articles/criteria/medadmissions.asp

Hmmm... interesting.
"Medical schools, however, prove to be exceptions to the rule; for them, a bad economy is unlikely to jump-start an increase in applications."

 

[Old_Mil]

Hmmm... interesting.
"Medical schools, however, prove to be exceptions to the rule; for them, a bad economy is unlikely to jump-start an increase in applications."

I read the article, but pretty much dismissed the entire thing. After they state this they go on to say that there is "overwhelming" support for race based admissions policies. Granted there is a bit more of a delay involved in this than in such trends developing for MBA and law programs, but the effect is there.