For Release: February 11, 2014
Contact: Derik Hertel (603) 650-1211 Derik.Hertel@Dartmouth.EDU
Applications Surge to Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine
Increase more than triple the national average; benefits selectivity and diversity
Hanover, NH—Applications to the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth for the 2014 MD entering class have risen 22 percent compared to the previous year. The medical school experienced an increase of 946 secondary (completed) applications, pushing that total to 5,275 applications from prospective students vying for fewer than 90 seats this year (source: AMCAS).
AYO OLUFADEJI
From an early age, Ayobami Olufadeji knew he wanted to become a physician. Growing up in Nigeria, the Geisel School of Medicine student learned firsthand what it means to live in a community without enough doctors—and he
wants to change that.
Learn more about Ayo’s journey to Geisel.
APRIL VENN
In this video, first-year Dartmouth medical student April Venn discusses how compassionate care practiced by the doctors who took care of an ailing family member motivated her to pursue a career in medicine.
AMERICAN INDIAN HEALTH
The Geisel School of Medicine has a long history of partnering with the Indian Health Service(IHS) and with tribal health leaders to provide opportunities for medical students to improve lives in our nation's underserved communities.
Experience this special partnership.
The increased applicant pool—projected to be 3-5 times the national average—provides the opportunity for even greater selectivity and diversity in the make-up of the 2014 entering class, according to Aileen Panitz, assistant director of admissions at Geisel.
"The larger applicant pool presents a very talented and diverse range of applicants to Geisel, making our job in admissions even more challenging. It certainly will make the process even more selective and competitive this year," says Panitz.
"It is hard to pinpoint exactly why we saw such an increase this year, especially since we are still actively reviewing files, but certainly Geisel's profile has been becoming much more prominent," says Panitz. "As the work of our students, graduates, faculty and researchers has increasingly been featured in the news, and via our social media, website, 32 Hours (digital storytelling site), Dartmouth Medicine magazine and other outreach, more prospective students and applicants are exposed to the work that is taking place here and are excited about the prospect of studying here and joining this very vibrant community.
"It is clear from talking to the applicants that interview here, that hearing and reading the stories about our faculty and students allows them to connect with Dartmouth before setting foot on this campus. They begin to envision what they might be able to participate in if they come to Geisel," says Panitz.
Applicants cite several reasons why they have Geisel among their top choices nationally, according to Panitz.
"Prospective students seem to appreciate the very collaborative working environment and real sense of community that exists here at Geisel," says Panitz. "They appreciate that Geisel is constantly seeking to improve and they have often reviewed the school's 2020 strategic plan for education and research, and read about the curriculum redesign. Students will comment on, write about and clearly connect with Dean Souba's vision for the school and his views on leadership."
Christopher Navas, a second-year medical student, says: "It is no surprise to me that there has been a strong increase in applications to Geisel. Never before have I been surrounded by such a diverse and accomplished group of individuals. The small student body at Geisel allows for an intimate and singular learning experience. Faculty members are passionate about sharing their knowledge and they really care about the students. Also, our education at Geisel extends beyond the classroom, into the community with a lot of opportunities to grow, learn and participate."
Geisel has experienced a steady rise in the academic quality of its entering classes over the past decade, as well as greater diversity among its entering students over the past three years.
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice (TDI) within the Geisel School of Medicine also experienced an increase in applications to its MPH and MS degree programs this year. The Institute attributes the growth to greater outreach efforts, working with a larger prospective student database, and "an increase in research and recognition of TDI professors."
ABOUT THE GEISEL SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT DARTMOUTH: Founded in 1797, the Geisel School of Medicine strives to improve the lives of the communities it serves through excellence in learning, discovery, and healing. The nation's fourth-oldest medical school, the Geisel School of Medicine has been home to many firsts in medical education, research and practice, including the discovery of the mechanism for how light resets biological clocks, creating the first multispecialty intensive care unit, the first comprehensive examination of U.S. health care variations (The Dartmouth Atlas), and helping establish the first Center for Health Care Delivery Science, which launched in 2010. As one of America's leading medical schools, Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine is committed to training new generations of diverse health care leaders who will help solve our most vexing challenges in health care.
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