Kaplan Releases Findings from Annual Medical School Admissions Officers Survey, Revealing Key Insights on Application Trends
04 Décembre 2024 - 2:55PM
Business Wire
Global educational services provider Kaplan has released its
annual medical school admissions officers survey, a nearly two
decades old initiative, revealing what most impresses them when
deciding who gets in and discussing some controversial topics in
the application process and medical education*:
- MCAT® Score: At 39%, survey respondents named a low MCAT
score as “the biggest application deal breaker” in the primary part
of the application—a near constant in Kaplan’s findings over the
years. A low undergraduate GPA placed second at 24%, followed by
lack of clinical experience at 20%, and poor letters of
recommendation at 10%.
- Artificial Intelligence: Only 3% of medical school
admissions officers say their school has an official policy
allowing applicants to use Generative AI programs such as ChatGPT
to write their admissions essays; 36% say they officially prohibit
the practice; and 61% say they have no official policy. One
admissions officer shared, “Applicants should not use AI to draft
essays or personal statements. This is both unethical,
disingenuous, and not accurate. Plus, we can tell.”
- Social Media: Nearly a third (31%) of medical school
admissions officers say they have visited an applicant’s social
media profile to learn more about them, up 2 points from 2017, the
last time this topic was explored in Kaplan’s med school survey.
But a much larger 81% believe the practice is “fair game,” as
opposed to 19% who say it’s “an invasion of privacy.”
- The Rankings: More than six in 10 (63%) admissions
officers say the medical school rankings have “lost some of their
prestige over the past couple of years,” compared to 53% who said
this in Kaplan’s 2023 survey. This comes at a time when a number of
top medical schools have decided to no longer participate in the
rankings because of the way the rankings are calculated.
- Taking a Stand: Admissions officers are largely split on
medical schools issuing statements about important political topics
and current events, with 41% saying they should, 47% saying they
shouldn’t, and 13% unsure. On a related note, only 30% of
admissions officers polled approve of the way medical schools
addressed political issues and current events this past academic
year.
Dr. Alvin Bisarya, vice president of college and STEM programs,
Kaplan, said:
“For nearly 20 years, Kaplan’s annual survey of medical schools
has provided invaluable insights into what admissions officers
prioritize when deciding who gets in. With admissions remaining
fiercely competitive, understanding key trends—like the impact of
MCAT scores, the cautious embrace of AI tools, and the role of
social media—can give pre-med students a significant edge. We’d
also stress that this survey is much more than data; it’s a guide
for aspiring doctors navigating a high-stakes process, offering a
window into the evolving viewpoints of admissions officers and
helping applicants better position themselves for success in their
medical career journey.”
Reporters can contact Russell Schaffer at
russell.schaffer@kaplan.com for more information.
*Admissions officers from 59 accredited medical schools across
the U.S. and Canada were polled by e-mail between July and
September 2024. Findings were rounded to the nearest whole
number.
MCAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the Association
of American Medical Colleges, which is not affiliated with
Kaplan.
About Kaplan
Kaplan, Inc. is a global educational services company that helps
individuals and institutions advance their goals in an
ever-changing world. Our broad portfolio of solutions help students
and professionals further their education and careers, universities
and educational institutions attract and support students, and
businesses maximize employee recruitment, retainment, and
development. Stanley Kaplan founded our company in 1938 with a
mission to expand educational opportunities for students of all
backgrounds. Today, our thousands of employees working in 27
countries/regions continue Stanley’s mission as they serve about
1.2 million students and professionals, 15,000 corporate clients,
and 3,300 schools, school districts, colleges, and universities
worldwide. Kaplan is a subsidiary of the Graham Holdings Company
(NYSE: GHC). Learn more at kaplan.com.
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Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com
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