In the past decade, the number of applicants to U.S. medical schools increased by approximately 30 percent, while acceptance rates have simultaneously declined, according to admissions data from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Here are five things to know about the AAMC data and stats from U.S. News & World Report.
1. In 2016, 53,042 people applied to medical school. In 2006 only 39,108 applied.
2. The average number of applicants to the top 10 primary care programs more than doubled between 2006 and 2016 rising from 3,273 applicants to 7,175. While the average acceptance rate at these programs fell from 8.8 percent in 2006 to 4.6 percent in 2016.
3. Excluding the top 10 primary care programs, the acceptance rate for medical school applicants fell from 10.5 percent in 2006 to 6.6 percent in 2016.
4. The average number of applicants to research programs across the nation, excluding the top 10, increased from 3,573 in 2006 to 5,869 in 2016.
5. Experts attribute the declines in acceptance rates to the increasing number of applicants who apply to more than 12 medical schools.