The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) says the number of women who enrolled in medical school this year rose by 6.2 percent to 10,474, the largest increase since 2006.
The number of students applying to U.S. medical schools reached a record high of 53,042 in 2016, with first-time applicants topping previous years’ numbers at 38,782. The AAMC says first-time applicants number is an important indicator that demonstrates interest in careers in medicine.
The total number of enrollees in U.S. medical schools hit 21,030, a 27.5 percent increase since 2002.
AAMC president and CEO Darrell G. Kirch says the increases provide good news for a growing, aging population, particularly given the nationwide doctor shortage.
Read the AAMC’s full news release here.
