83 percent of med school applicants from MSU accepted

Eighty-three percent of medical school applicants from Montana State University’s Bozeman campus were admitted in 2004 compared to 47 percent nationally.

The statistics from the Association of American Medical Colleges are even better for MSU students who are also Montana residents. They were accepted to medical school 89 percent of the time.

Those facts "make me incredibly proud of our students and staff," says Linda Hyman, vice provost of MSU’s Division of Health Sciences. "By any way of looking at the data, 83 percent is very good and much better than the national average."

All Montana college students are eligible for special admission consideration through the WWAMI Medical Education Program at the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle. Just under one-third of MSU grads attending medical school attend UW. Other students have accepted places in medical schools from Kansas to Massachusetts, with western schools claiming the majority.

Jane Cary, who took over as health professions advisor in the fall of 2004, said the statistics look similar to statistics from previous years, though no in-depth analysis has been done to compare the years. Cary was quick to point out that the previous advisor, William Dorgan, should be acknowledged for helping MSU applicants. The statistics were for students starting medical school in 2004.

Cary also termed the statistics as "very honest," pointing out that any student who applies to medical school is included in the count.

MSU also has statistics about the success rate of students applying to other health professions schools. Applicants to osteopathic schools had an 83 percent acceptance rate. Those applying to dental schools had a 74 percent acceptance rate. Both were "well above the national average," said Cary.

Cary and the MSU Pre-Professional Advising Committee help MSU Health Sciences students with their application process. Students typically have practice interviews to prepare them for that part of the admissions process and receive help in meeting application requirements. MSU also has a premedical honor society called Alpha Epsilon Delta, which hosts speakers and workshops on topics as various as ethical issues and how to prepare for the Medical College Admissions Test.

Throughout the college years, "the motivation and hard work of our MSU students is critical for their eventual success in admission to these highly competitive programs," added Cary.

All Montana applicants fared somewhat better than the national average, with those from all state universities and colleges averaging 53 percent acceptance, six percent above the national average.

http://www.montana.edu/commserv/csnews/nwview.php?article=2119

Contact: Jane Cary (406) 994-4411, Linda Hyman (406) 994-4411