Medical school application essays and specialty choice
Schneider, F.D.; Hosokawa, M.C.; Campbell, J.D.
Family Medicine 26(8): 509-512
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0742-3225 PMID: 7988809 Document Number: 434707
To identify factors that could be used to predict physician specialty selection at the level of admissions to medical school. Content analysis was performed on 161 personal statements from the American Medical College Admission Service application form. Randomly selected graduates analyzed were from the classes of 1985-1987 from a Midwestern public medical school. Fifty percent of those who stated that they had contact with a medical specialty entered either that specialty or a closely related specialty. Of the 11 applicants who stated a goal of entering family practice, one entered family practice. Contact with a specialty prior to entering medical school may be a significant predictor of the prospective student's eventual specialty selection. However, goals mentioned in the statements are not predictors of specialty choice.