Increase in Medical School Applications Results in Highly Competitive Applicant Pool, Making Incoming Students as Qualified as Ever!

By: MedSchoolCoach!

“Our admissions approach is fully mission-driven, so the committee did not view MCAT scores or other metrics any differently than they would have before the pandemic. Increased application volume will not impact how our committee views applicants.” Catherine Dayton, Director of Admissions,University of Houston College of Medicine

Amid a global pandemic, medical school applications increased as much as 50% in parts of the country. Prospective students wondered how the pandemic and the massive increase in applicants would reshape the applicant pool. It was speculated that medical schools could not possibly handle the increase in applications, shift to virtual interviews, and fairly evaluate students who were facing unprecedented challenges during lockdown.

But admissions teams already had a plan in place.

While in-person interviews had to quickly move on-screen, most schools were able to effortlessly scale and continue using their holistic, mission-driven approach to evaluating applicants. During an already highly-competitive process, schools embraced the larger applicant pool to select the most qualified students to fill their seats.

To better understand how schools handled the increase in applications during COVID-19, the editorial team at ProspectiveDoctor.com interviewed more than a dozen medical schools. Members of the admissions team were invited to honestly comment on the ups and downs of their admissions process, and what future applicants can expect.

The Fauci Effect Continues to Drive Tremendous Interest in Medical Careers

As a result of the phenomenon coined the “Fauci Effect,” more students than ever before have felt driven to explore a career in medicine. The AAMC cited that medical schools nationwide reported an 18% increase in applications over last year, which is noteworthy compared to the typical 3% average increase in previous years.

At Tulane University School of Medicine, the increase was even higher. “We saw a 35% increase from 12,758 to 17,228 total applications. The committee expected an increase in applications, but not that much of an increase,” said Mike Woodson, Director of Admissions.

While unexpected, medical schools embraced the surge in applications, especially in a year when the AAMC speculated that there would be a shortage of 54,100 to 139,000 physicians by 2033.

The increase in applications was thought to be closely tied to the unforeseeable conditions experienced during the pandemic lockdown. With visible healthcare disparities negatively impacting patient outcomes, many students felt compelled to be a part of corrective action.

Other applicants merely felt a high degree of fascination regarding COVID-19 medical news and research. The level of intense medical news was unprecedented, and it seemed to fuel a fire for those desiring a career in clinical spaces.

“Naturally, as applications to medical school have increased, we’ve seen an uptick in students looking for MCAT tutoring and admissions advising services,” said Sahil Mehta MD, Founder of MedSchoolCoach. “Students today have better grades, better MCAT scores and better extracurriculars than at any time in the past.”

Medical Schools Maintain Holistic, Mission-Driven Approach to Fairly Evaluate Applicants

Applicants struggled when so many elements of the traditional medical school application process became uncertain. Perhaps the biggest concern among prospective students was whether they would be granted a fair opportunity considering both the increase in applicants and the hardships presented during the global pandemic.

It turns out that the medical schools interviewed showed a great deal of compassion for students and their personal experiences as they managed the flood of applications with ease and integrity.

When asked how their applicant assessment changed during the pandemic, Woodson said that, “It has not changed too much. We still review all applications that are submitted and review them holistically. The main thing is educating the committee about the updated types of experiences applicants will have because of the pandemic.”

Representatives from the University of Houston College of Medicine, Howard University College of Medicine, Tulane University School Of Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, and Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine all had similar comments about their “holistic” admissions process, and how it enabled them to scale up and continue screening applicants fairly as in past years.

Michelle Schmude, EdD, MBA, the Associate Dean for Admissions, Enrollment Management and Financial Aid at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine noted that, “Because we subscribe to a holistic admission process, we were able to adjust to the increase in applicants applying to the GCSOM.”

Dr. Mark Henderson, UC Davis School of Medicine Admissions Dean concluded the interview by saying that, “The essence of our admissions criteria continues to be reflected in our mission statement: to matriculate a class of individuals who will, as future physicians, meet the diverse healthcare needs of California.”

The Applicant Pool Is Still Highly Competitive and Expected Metrics Should be Met with Enthusiasm

Though circumstances forced certain changes to the admissions process, the medical school landscape remains very competitive.

Medical schools spoke openly in the interviews about the fact that they recognize the challenges students faced during the pandemic. They also reassured students that their admissions committees were sensitive to these difficulties.

When asked if anything changed about their admissions criteria, David A. Rose, MD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Admissions at Howard University College of Medicine noted that there were, “No changes, but recognizing that the pandemic affected shadowing/research opportunities for applicants, the committee was more flexible in these areas.”

Many schools also spoke about the continued importance of excellence in all areas of assessment, including education metrics, personal attributes, and work and research experiences.

As Catherine Dayton, Director of Admissions at the University of Houston College of Medicine said, “Our admissions approach is fully mission-driven, so the committee did not view MCAT scores or other metrics any differently than they would have before the pandemic.”

Knowing that they will be granted a fair evaluation, prospective students shouldn’t be discouraged or delay applying to medical school. In fact, medical schools share an excitement about interviewing more prospects. They want to continue to admit the most accomplished and driven students to their school, and a larger pool of applicants keeps things competitive.

“In talking with admissions committees, what I’m hearing is that it’s never been more competitive and it is becoming hard to separate students from the pack,” said Renee Marinelli, MD, Director of Advising at MedSchoolCoach. “We’re encouraging our MCAT tutoring and admissions advising students to start the process early, take it seriously, and don’t be afraid to shine. Now more than ever, it’s critical to have a strong and cohesive application, essay, and interview to stand apart from your peers.”

Medical Schools Are Committed to Maintaining High Standards While Also Extending Compassion to Students

Medical schools are very aware of the collective toll the coronavirus pandemic has taken on the student body. They are meeting the situation with a steadfast grace that has helped ease tensions and encouraged students to continue reaching for their dreams.

Medical schools are, and have always been, invested in creating a space for students to showcase their unique attributes and personal stories. Their holistic admissions processes are in place to make it possible to see the “whole student.” When combined with other metrics, it allows schools to fairly evaluate students and select the finest future physicians.

As medical schools welcome the brightest minds to their institutions, they also remain actively committed to continuing the same level of educational excellence and standards. As such, prospective students should continue to get their applications in on time and be prepared to present their best self throughout the medical school application process.

This post is sponsored by MedSchoolCoach. Learn more about what they can do for you below!

MedSchoolCoach:

MedSchoolCoach was founded in 2007 with a simple premise: physicians should help future physicians. Since that time, we’ve helped more than 12,000 students get into and through medical school.

Our advisors are actual physicians with admissions committee experience. Our tutors go through the most rigorous selection process in the industry. Our company is focused just on one thing: build future physicians.