First-time medical school applicants reach new high

From the Association of American Medical Colleges: The number of first-time applicants to medical school reached an all-time high in 2011. The 32,654 applicants represent a 2.6 percent increase over 2010 numbers. This is the largest first-time applicant pool since the association began tracking such information in 1989. The total number of applicants grew this year to 43,919, a 2.8 percent increase from the 42,741 in 2010. Medical school first-year enrollment increased by 3 percent over 2010 data; 19,230 students entered in 2011.