Report: More women than men apply for med school
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- More people are applying to medical schools in the United States, and women outnumber men for the first time, according to a new report.
Nearly 35,000 people applied to attend medical school in the 2003-2004 school year, a 3.4 percent increase over last year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.
"The main reason for the increase was the number of women applicants -- 17,672 -- an almost seven percent rise over last year's total," the AAMC said in a statement.
The number of applicants to medical school peaked in 1996 at 47,000 and then steadily fell until last year, the AAMC, which represents 126 medical schools, said.
"While the total number of black applicants (2,736) rose almost five percent due to a ten percent increase in black women applicants (1,904), the number of blacks who were accepted and then went on to attend medical school (1,056) declined by six percent," it added.
"The total number of Hispanic applicants (2,483) increased by less than two percent since last year, while Hispanic attendees declined by almost four percent (to 1,089)."
AAMC President Dr. Jordan Cohen said the report showed schools need to work harder to attract minority students.
"At the same time, the increase in total and first-time applicants is a reaffirming sign that the current generation of young people recognizes the attractiveness of medicine as a profession," he said.
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