AAMC reports decrease in first-time med school applicants

Enrollment figures at the nation's medical schools are the highest in history, but the number of first-time applicants declined slightly this year. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, first-year enrollment at U.S. medical schools in 2008 increased nearly 2 percent from last year's numbers to more than 18,000 students.

Not only are the newest medical students numerous, they are increasingly diverse. The number of Latino and Native American first-year enrollees increased by more than 10 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

According to the report, more than 42,200 people applied to medical schools in 2008. While this is one of the largest applicant pools in more than a decade, the number is still down 3 percent from last year.

For more:
- read the ModernHealthcare.com article [1]

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