A Comparison of Australian and American Medical School Admission Experiences

Abstract

Attaining admission into medical school has been described as a very competitive process by successful matriculants. The processes that medical schools use to stratify applicants can greatly differ between institutions. These systemic differences flow over onto the applicant level, such that individuals from different geographic regions can have varied and diverse application experiences depending on local medical school admissions protocols. This piece compares the medical school admission processes of Australia and the United States of America, in the form of a narrative recount of a successful medical school matriculant in each country, with the individual experiences of matriculants from alternative pathways blended into the piece. The authors discovered significant differences in admissions protocols between the two countries, with the greatest differences revolving around admissions exams, applicant profile (high school students versus college students), degree types and alternative entrance pathways.

The IJMS World Conference of Medical Student Research and an Overview of the IJMS Volume 10 Issue 2

“…Matriculates from different medical schools in Australia and the United States share their joint experiences on this topic and provide a comparative overview. 13 This study reports the biggest differences in admission exam criteria and applicants' profiles (e.g., high school vs. college students). Aside from different educational system models, it is also important for medical students to stay up to date with administrative changes in the healthcare system.…”