Entering Class of 2021 Profile Marks Several Important Incoming Class Trends

Another incoming fall means the end of an admissions cycle and the welcoming of another great entering class. With White Coat Ceremonies taking place across the nation, medical schools are now joined by a fresh batch of driven students. 

Here at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, we welcomed first-year medical students at the White Coat and Matriculation Ceremony in August. More than 11,000 people applied to the medical school last year, a college-record and 48 percent increase since 2009.

The college, in its first year hosting a virtual interview process, met with over 500 excellent applicants, ultimately admitting 190 new students. 

 

Over 60 percent of the incoming class identified as coming from disadvantaged backgrounds, with nearly a quarter each identifying as underrepresented in medicine or from rural backgrounds, respectively. Those coming from low-income backgrounds and first-generation students often find strong resonance with the college's mission of serving the medically underserved. 

The college continues to follow national trends of admitting higher percentages of women and women-identifying persons. Just under 60 percent of the class are women and one student identified as gender non-conforming. Six of the college's last seven entering classes have been a majority women/women-identifying.

See the last 5 entering class profiles

As a publicly-funded institution, the college does give preference to Michigan residents and the percentage of students from the state of Michigan rose to 85 percent. Still, out of state students are an important piece of the college's student body, offering a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives that serve to enhance each class. 

Give or take, out of state students make up about 15-25 percent of matriculants from year-to-year. Aside from Michigan, students from California and Illinois round out the top three areas for which the college receives the most applications. 

Approximately two-thirds of any entering class will have earned traditional science degrees, and this class bared similar results. To go along with 150 BS degrees, 38 matriculants took the BA route with some 23 earning graduate-level degrees. 

MSU College of Human Medicine 2021 Matriculation and White Coat Ceremony. from MSU MD on Vimeo.

The college does not prefer one major over another, so the class is also well represented with non-science majors that include: Art & Design, Anthropology (including Evolutionary and Social), Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Economics, English, Education, Environmental Health, Ethnic Studies, History, International Studies, Latin American and Caribbean Studies, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Studies, Psychology, Public Health, Public Policy, Sociology, Spanish, and Women’s Studies among others.

The year 2020 was a rough year for many. The medical school admissions process is a challenge and the pandemic presented many additional challenges across the globe. We commend the entering class of 2021 on meeting the many obstacles they faced and hurdled on their way to achieving the dream of entering medical school. Yet, we are also confident that these steadfast students, these phenomenal physicians-in-the-making are ready and capable of becoming the next generation of physicians the world needs. 

Best of luck to the Class of 2025.

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