by Cydney Foote
Top Strategies for Underrepresented Groups in Medical School Admissions
Each year, I talk to at least one applicant who says they don’t want their ethnic or racial identity to be part of their medical school application. Their hesitation usually stems from a desire to be judged purely upon their merits. This is a noble principle that I respect. However, from the general perspective of the medical profession, it’s important to look at why having underrepresented groups in medicine is desirable. And from an admissions perspective, it’s essential that applicants from these groups consider how to best present themselves in their medical school applications.
Why do medical schools care about groups that are underrepresented in medicine?
A 2020 study of medical and other healthcare education highlighted the issue of diversity and inclusion in enhancing patient care: “It is important to have a healthcare workforce which represents the tapestry of our communities as it relates to race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, physical disability status, and socioeconomic level to render the best possible care to our diverse patient populations.”
The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) observes that “a diverse and inclusive biomedical research workforce with individuals from historically excluded and underrepresented groups in biomedical research is critical to gathering the range of perspectives needed to identify and solve the complex scientific problems of today and tomorrow.” When we think about the default white male research subject that guided medical research for so long, it’s easy to see why diversity is highly valued by medical schools.
As part of its effort to increase diversity in medical education – and thereby promote greater diversity in the overall medical profession – the AAMC has committed itself to ensuring access to medical education and medicine-related careers for individuals from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups. The definition of underrepresented groups is dynamic, acknowledging the changing demographics of both society and the medical profession. Historically, this group has included the following populations: American Indians and Alaska Natives; Blacks and African Americans; Hispanics, Latinos, and individuals of Spanish origin; and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
While the entering medical school Class of 2023 saw some notable increases in diversity – including greater numbers of American Indian and Alaska Native matriculants (14.7% increase) and of Hispanic, Latino, and Spanish origin matriculants (4.5% increase) – this progress did not carry through to the Class of 2024. According to the AAMC, “Matriculants from all groups that are historically underrepresented in medicine declined compared to 2023 data, most by a percent change in the double digits.” In response, David J. Skorton, MD, AAMC president and CEO, reaffirmed that medical schools are “continuing our efforts to increase the supply of physicians and to increase the range of backgrounds and experiences in the applicant and matriculant pools that are critical to the future physician workforce. Evidence shows that a more varied workforce can improve access to health care and the health of our communities.”
Despite this evidence, diversity initiatives are increasingly being attacked in the political arena, and the 2023 U.S. Supreme Court decision ending funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs has forced medical school admissions teams to adopt new strategies to identify and admit qualified candidates from underrepresented groups. “In order to continue to recruit and matriculate strong classes, it is critical that schools support pathways programs and use effective race-neutral admissions practices and tools, such as holistic review,” says David A. Acosta, MD, AAMC chief diversity and inclusion officer. “The AAMC and our member medical schools remain committed to increasing the number of students from historically underrepresented groups.”
How can you best present this information in your application?
1. Disclose your ethnicity in the biography section.
Whether you are applying through the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS), or the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS), you have the opportunity to voluntarily identify your racial or ethnic origin. This information is used for several purposes:
- For federal and/or state reporting requirements
- To collect aggregate applicant and matriculant data (e.g., the AAMC’s FACTS data) to confirm progress toward greater diversity
- To connect applicants with relevant organizations or interest groups during interviews
And, of course, this information might also come up as a talking point in your interviews. You could decline to answer this question, but as an underrepresented minority, you would only help your application by providing this information.
Self-identifying is the easiest way to let admissions committees know that you are part of an underrepresented ethnic or racial group, but it’s not the only way.
2. Share how your background has influenced your career goals.
In your personal statement and secondaries, discuss how your background and identity have influenced your decision to enter medicine. For many underrepresented minority applicants, this might be a story of absence, such as never seeing themselves in the faces of their care providers. For others, it might include a mentor who helped them view medicine as an option. Your story will be your own, but fit your desire to pursue medicine into the context of increasing diversity among physicians in the United States.
3. Volunteer in medically underserved communities.
It will be easier to demonstrate what you hope to accomplish in your career if you’re already involved in serving your community. If you speak another language or want to improve the health of others, you might want to volunteer in medically underserved communities. It’s often one of the best experiences that students have in learning to put others first. Many students describe such work as pivotal in their decision to pursue medicine, helping them focus and see how much they can positively affect others.
4. Explore and celebrate diversity on your campus or at your workplace.
Active engagement with your identity as a member of an underrepresented group and with the identity of others is highly desired by medical schools. This might mean taking history or sociology classes, joining your university’s Black Pre-Med Society, or starting a group for Latinx researchers in your lab. These kinds of experiences can help you better understand the sociopolitical and historical factors that relate to our understanding of ethnicity and diversity today. You can take responsibility by becoming an educated citizen, demonstrating confidence and pride in your background, and celebrating the personal heritage of those around you.
Do you need help identifying and highlighting your diversity appeal? Work one-on-one with an Accepted expert to draw out your unique experiences and history in order to develop an application that matches your target school’s mission for diversity. Schedule a free consultation with an Accepted admissions consultant today to discuss this and other elements of your med school application.
Since 2001, Cydney Foote has advised hundreds of successful applicants for medical and dental education, residency and fellowship training, and other health-related degrees. Admissions consulting combines her many years of creating marketing content with five years on fellowship and research selection committees at the University of Washington School of Medicine. She’s also shared her strategy for impressing interviewers in a popular webinar and written three books and numerous articles on the admissions process.
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