Medical School Admission Monday: AAMC Has Released Applicant and Admission Data for the 2023-2024 Academic Year

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has released detailed data on applicants and matriculants for the 2023-2024 academic year, revealing several notable trends in medical school admissions:

Decline in Applicants: There was a noticeable 4.7% decline in the number of applicants compared to the previous year. This decrease might be attributed to a return to pre-pandemic norms, as the number of applicants had reached an all-time high during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Increase in Enrollment: Despite the decline in applicants, there was a 1.2% increase in the number of first-year enrollees (matriculants) and a 1.6% overall increase in total enrollment. This rise could be partly due to the addition of new medical schools, such as the University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine and the College of Medicine at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science.

Diversity Trends: The data showed mixed results regarding diversity. There was an increase in matriculants from two historically underrepresented groups in medicine – Hispanic, Latino, or of Spanish Origin, and American Indian or Alaska Native. However, there was a decline in Black applicants, and the number of Black matriculants remained flat. The AAMC emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to increase the diversity of applicants and matriculants.

Female Representation: Women continued to comprise the majority of applicants, matriculants/first-time enrollees, and total enrollees, maintaining their majority status established in 2019.

Additional data can be accessed here: https://www.aamc.org/data-reports/students-residents/data/2023-facts-applicants-and-matriculants-data