Report: U.S. medical schools admit record numbers
A record number of students entered U.S. medical schools in 2007. The number of first-year enrollees totals almost 17,800 students within 126 medical schools, a 2.3 percent increase over 2006, according to new data released by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).
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. More individuals from racial and ethnic minorities were included in the applicant pool.
The study found that the number of black male applicants and Hispanic male applicants increased this year by 9.2 percent. The number of black males who were accepted and enrolled this fall increased by 5.3 percent while the number of Hispanic male enrollees remained the same as last year.
“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 Darrell Kirch, MD, AAMC president. “We are especially encouraged by the growing interest among students from groups historically underrepresented in medicine.”
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. More individuals from racial and ethnic minorities were included in the applicant pool.
The study found that the number of black male applicants and Hispanic male applicants increased this year by 9.2 percent. The number of black males who were accepted and enrolled this fall increased by 5.3 percent while the number of Hispanic male enrollees remained the same as last year.
“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 Darrell Kirch, MD, AAMC president. “We are especially encouraged by the growing interest among students from groups historically underrepresented in medicine.”