Science / Medicine : Medical Schools’ Lure Fades

Medical school appears to be losing its cachet for U.S. students as applications and enrollments declined in the 1987-88 academic year, the American Medical Assn. said. Applications to medical schools fell about 10%, from 31,323 in 1986-87 to 28,123 in 1987-88, with about 61% of applicants winning acceptance, Anne Crowley, an AMA analyst, reported in the association’s journal.

First-time enrollment in U.S. medical schools was down for the fifth straight year, and total enrollment hit 65,742, a six-year low.

Most of the decline in numbers of medical students is due to declining enrollments of white males. While their numbers have dropped more than 13% over the last four years, the number of black females starting medical school rose about 32%. Numbers of white females and black males have been steady, the AMA said.

One reason medical school may be losing its appeal is cost. A study by Paul Jolly of the Assn. of American Medical Colleges, also published in this week’s issue of JAMA, showed 82% of 1987 medical students were in debt when they graduated, owing, on average, $35,621--6% more than the year before and an all-time high.