Impact of COVID-19 on medical school admissions at The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unforeseen obstacles to prospective medical students such as Medical College of Admission Test (MCAT) scheduling postponements and technical challenges during virtual interviews. Students were also faced with difficult decisions post-submission such as having to choose a program without ever visiting a school in-person. Objective: The primary objective of the present study was to assess the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical school admission preferences and application-related costs. This may also provide feedback to medical school administrators for future improvements to the application process. Methods: A retrospective survey of the class of 2024 (Co24; non-COVID-19 cohort) and class of 2025 (Co25; COVID-19 cohort) was conducted in the Fall of 2021 via the Qualtrics online survey software. Statistical analysis incorporated the chi-square test on the Likert scale. Results: There were 195 survey respondents: 77 students from the Co2024 and 89 students from the Co25. More students in the Co25 had to reschedule their MCAT compared to the Co24 (56.1% versus 14.3%; p <0.001). The in-person Co24 had higher travel-related expenses (>$500) compared to the Co25 who interviewed virtually (65.1% versus 2.4%; p <0.001). More students from the Co24 preferred the in-person interview format compared to the Co25 (85.7% versus 22.5%; p <0.001). Lastly, 87% of the Co24 and 24.7% of the Co25 felt they were able to gather a clear impression of the atmosphere and culture of a school from the interview trail alone (p <0.001). Conclusion: Matriculated medical students at an allopathic medical school who applied during the COVID-19 pandemic had more pre-application hurdles when compared to prior cohorts. Students in the COVID-19 cohort, who primarily had virtual interviews, had less travel-related costs but felt more limited in their experience of a school’s culture. Despite this, however, the COVID-19 cohort still expressed a preference for virtual interviews.