Pre-Health

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Pre-Health FAQs

 

Decisions about the admission of applicants to medical school are based upon multiple criteria that are developed by the faculty of each medical school and are consistent with the school’s specific mission and goals. In general, all schools admit applicants who, on the basis of materials presented during the application process, have documented that they possess the personal characteristics desired in future physicians, the ability to successfully complete the academically rigorous curriculum, and the potential to fulfill the institution's mission and goals (MSAR, 2007, p. 39).

The following is an overview of admission statistics for applicants to Allopathic medical schools for selected years and represent a fraction of the criteria involved in the admission decision-making process:

Medical School Applicants in 2007: 42,315

YEAR 2005 2006 2007
USC Applicants 225 254 318
USC Acceptances 123 146 156
USC Matriculants 110 138 143
Acceptance Rate 54.6% 57.5% 50

55% Male
45% Female
Median age: 23.6
Source: AAMC (2008)
Science (BCPM) GPA

 

YEAR 2005 2006 2007
Science BCPM USC Nat. USC Nat. USC Nat.
Applicants 3.32 3.38 3.32 3.38 3.31 3.39
Matriculants 3.53 3.57 3.53 3.57 3.48 3.59

Source: AAMC (2008)
Cumulative GPA

 

YEAR 2005 2006 2007
Cumulative USC Nat. USC Nat. USC Nat.
Applicants 3.42 3.48 3.45 3.48 3.44 3.49
Matriculants 3.58 3.64 3.61 3.64 3.57 3.65

Source: AAMC (2008)

 

MCAT Averages
YEAR 2005 2006 2007
MCAT USC Nat. USC Nat. USC Nat.
Applicants 29.4P 27.3O 27.5P 25.7O 27.4P 25.9O
Matriculants 31.2P 30.2P 30.5P 28.7O 29.9P 29.1O
MCAT prep course (of 11,000 matriculants surveyed) n/a 71.3% n/a 72.2% n/a n/a

Source: AAMC (2008)
Experiences prior to Medical School

 

YEAR 2005 2006 2007
Community work 86.6% 87.5%  
Volunteer work: Hospital, clinics, labs 83.9% 84.3%

Research 52.9% 54.1%
 

Source: Matriculating AAMC Student Questionnaire (MSQ), 2006, of 11,000 respondents
Areas covered during interview

 

YEAR 2005 2006 2007
Interest in medicine 86.3% 86.9%  
Communication Skills 79.2% 79.1%

Social interests/ Compassion 78.3% 78.9%   
Potential as medical student 76.4% 75.6%
 
Maturity 73.4% 73.7%

Source: Matriculating AAMC Student Questionnaire (MSQ), 2006, of 11,000 respondents