Press Contact: Russell Schaffer, russell.schaffer@kaplan.com, 212.453.7538
Kaplan Survey: Medical School Applicants Least Likely to Decline Admissions Because of Financial Reasons and Least Likely to Send Facebook Friend Requests to Admissions Officers
Also in Survey: Nearly Half of Medical Schools Maintained Level of Financial Aid; Nearly a Quarter Increased It
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW: KAPLAN MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS EXPERT
New York, NY (November 18, 2009)—According to a new Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions survey*, despite a tough economic climate and average tuition costs for first year students at many schools over $40,000, 20 percent of medical school admissions officers report that more applicants declined admissions for financial reasons in 2009 than in 2008. In a challenging economy, this figure is the lowest among post graduate programs—28 percent of business school admissions officers report this concern among applicants to MBA programs**, while 39 percent of law school admissions officers report seeing more applicants declining admission to law school this year***.
"We know that aspiring doctors are extremely committed to what has been for most a goal since childhood. Knowing long in advance the costs associated with medical school, many have saved for years in anticipation, and not deterred when the tuition bill comes. That said, those who are considering declining admissions because of financial hardship should know that nearly a quarter of medical schools have actually increased financial aid," said Amjed Saffarini, executive director, pre-health programs, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions. "The aid is out there and with a strong application, prospective students can increase their likelihood of getting some."
The results of the survey also indicate that medical school applicants may be the most reserved group online—or perhaps just the most prudent. Only 30 percent of medical school admissions officers or a colleague of theirs had received a friend request on Facebook or MySpace. This compared with 48 percent of law school admissions officers, 50 percent of business school admissions officers—and 71 percent of college admissions officers.
Other key results of Kaplan's survey of medical school admissions officers:
- 35% say the MCAT needs to be changed to better evaluate prospective
students.
- 13% of admissions officers have visited a student's social networking site to
help evaluate that applicant.
- Of the 15% of medical schools surveyed that do have rules in place regarding
social networking sites, all prohibit admissions officers from visiting students'
pages.
For more information or to arrange an interview with a Kaplan medical school admissions expert, please contact Russell Schaffer at: 212.453.7538 or russell.schaffer@kaplan.com. You can also visit www.facebook.com/russellatkaplan.
* 131 Association of American Medical Colleges-approved US medical schools were surveyed by telephone between July and August 2009; 82 schools responded.
** 260 admissions officers from the nation's top business schools—as compiled from U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Graduate Schools 2010 edition—were surveyed by telephone in July and August 2009.
*** 200 American Bar Association-approved law schools were surveyed by telephone between July and August 2009; 152 schools responded.
Note to editors: Kaplan is a subsidiary of The Washington Post Company (NYSE: WPO)
