Auburn’s pre-health program sends record numbers to medical school

AUBURN, Ala. — Graduates from Auburn University’s College of Sciences and Mathematics are some of the most successful students in the country when it comes to getting accepted to medical school.

Auburn students are consistently accepted to medical school at a rate that is 30 percent higher than then national average. And it’s not just medical school where Auburn students succeed; the acceptance rate of Auburn students to optometry and dental schools normally ranges from 85-100%. Auburn has cultivated a pre-med program that helps students find the best way to succeed and further their careers.

Faculty and students in the College of Sciences and Mathematics point to Beverly Childress, the pre-health professions director, as the reason for Auburn’s success in molding future medical professionals. Childress takes personal interest in every student and guides him or her through orientation, academic advising, mock interviews, the application process, and more. Her dedication has propelled Auburn students to some of the best medical schools in the country.

Childress and Auburn’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by medical school faculty, either. One Auburn graduate recalled one of her advisors for UAB’s medical school praising Auburn’s pre-admissions program in front of her whole class.

Medical schools are notoriously difficult to get into, and record numbers of students apply every year. In fact, many medical schools are increasing the number of students they accept to meet the growing demand. In 2013, over 48,000 students applied to medical school, but only 41% were accepted. Some of the most prestigious schools in the country have incredibly small acceptance rates. For example, Florida State University’s med school accepts 2.4% of applicants.

The University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Medical School is also highly selective. UAB has made a name for itself as one of the best medical schools in the country, and students are taking notice. The U.S. News & World Report ranked UAB as the 35th best medical school for research and the 21st best for primary care. The number of students who apply to UAB has grown every year. In 2015, 3,720 students applied to UAB, and the school only accepted 265, a 7% acceptance rate. Of those accepted, only 186 enrolled in the fall.

The University of South Alabama has a comparable acceptance rate to UAB, but it has a much smaller pool of applicants and a smaller class size.

Although applying to medical school may feel like trying to fit a camel through the eye of a needle, Auburn students breathe a little easier thanks to the preparation they receive from the faculty of the College of Sciences and Mathematics.