Page 76 - JSOM Spring 2025

More Than a Score

Evaluating Military Veterans’ Success When Applying to Medical School

4
2
5
Peter M. Campbell *; James Brooks ; Tirone Young ; Katrina Nietsch, MS ; Jamie Frost, MS ;
3
1
8
Matthew Tonkinson ; Jacquelyn Chudow, MA ; Jacob M. Appel, MD, JD, MPH ; Valerie Parkas, MD 9
7
6
ABSTRACT
Due to the inherent nature of service in both military and even more difficult for veterans. Compared to younger appli-
5,6
medical careers, some veterans are drawn to medicine after cants, veterans may already have families to support. Ad-
completing military service. However, there are significant ditionally, the opportunity cost of foregone earnings during
financial and academic barriers for veterans applying into medical school and residency, typically 7–11 years in total,
medical fields. Average grade point average (GPA) and Med- poses a significant financial obstacle, especially for those
ical College Admission Test (MCAT) score are two heavily from lower socioeconomic brackets. Data from the American
weighted metrics in the medical school application process. Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows that from
Veterans often have less rigorous academic backgrounds 2017 to 2019, 50.5% of medical students reported parental
and more limited preparation for the MCAT in comparison income from the top quintile (households with an average
7,8
to traditional medical school applicants. As a result, veterans income of $229,000 or greater for 2017). Conversely, the
may be less competitive than traditional applicants through median household income for veterans is less than $62,000.
9
direct comparisons of GPAs and MCAT scor s. The authors’ While veterans applying to medical school likely have higher
analysis focuses on whether this limitation affected veterans’ income than the veteran median, and while some could still
success in applying to medical school. Using aggregated data receive parental financial support, this comparison serves to
from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC), demonstrate the divergent financial positions of veterans from
the authors analyzed the average GPAs and MCAT scores of average medical students. Further highlighting this dispar-
applicants with any military experience (defined as “military ity, the 2012 American Medical College Application Service
applicants”) compared to the pool of all applicants from 2018 ( AMCAS) applicant pool showed that according to the AAMC
to 2024. During this period, military applicants to U.S. MD Socioeconomic Status Education-Occupation (SES EO) indi-
programs had an average GPA that was 0.16 points lower and cator, applicants with paid employment in the military had
10
average MCAT score 3.4 points below the average of all appli- lower SES EO categories. These data suggests a correlation
cants. Despite lower academic metrics, the military applicant between military service and a socioeconomically disadvan-
acceptance rate to MD programs was 41.7% compared to taged background.
40.7% for all applicants. Veterans should not be deterred from
seeking a path of service in medicine by below average GPAs In addition to the financial barriers of medical school, veterans
or MCAT scores. Medical school admissions over the past 6 face academic hurdles as well. Most medical schools require
years show that medical school admission committees value recent academic coursework with specific prerequisites and
the perspective, life experience, and skills military veterans minimum Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) scores.
bring to medicine despite their lower GPAs and MCAT scores. This policy places nontraditional applicants, who could have
outdated academic qualifications, at a disadvantage. Prior
5
Keywords: medical school application; military; veteran; GPA; to leaving service, frequent moves, deployments, and train-
MCAT; acceptance rate. ing exercises make it difficult for Servicemembers to maintain
or update academic requirements for medical school. In ef-
forts to stay current and build medical experience, access to
in-person laboratory activities or mentors critical for letters
Introduction
of recommendation can be harder to attain with frequent in-
When Servicemembers leave active duty, they often face un- terruptions or when Servicemembers are based overseas or in
certainty and difficulty in the transition to a civilian career rural locations.
path. Veterans applying into medical fields face significant
1
challenges, due to their older age, competing financial obliga- Community colleges or online programs, due to their flexibil-
tions, and varied academic history. 2–4 ity, may have been veterans’ only pathway to fulfilling aca-
demic requirements prior to leaving service, which puts them
The financial requirements of medical school are a significant at further disadvantage when compared with applicants who
barrier for anyone seeking to become a physician but may be have attained traditional 4-year college degrees. Over half

*Correspondence to Peter M. Campbell, Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L Levy Pl, New
York, NY 10029 or peter.campbell@icahn.mssm.edu
7
8
1 Peter M. Campbell, James Brooks, Tirone Young, Katrina Nietsch, Jamie Frost, Matthew Tonkinson, Jacquelyn Chudow, Dr. Jacob M.
2
5
4
3
6
8
Appel, and Dr. Valerie Parkas are affiliated with the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY. Jacquelyn Chudow, Dr. Jacob M.
7
9
9
Appel, and Dr. Valerie Parkas are affiliated with the Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
74