Medical school application essays and specialty choice.

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors that could be used to predict physician specialty selection at the level of admissions to medical school.

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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.

CONCLUSIONS

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.