A Comparison of Applicants and Applications to Canadian Medical and Dental Schools, 1965-66

The plasma phenolsulfonphthalein index (PSPI) was determined in 175 subjects and was compared with levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine, 15-minute urinary excretion of PSP, and clearance of creatinine, PAH and inulin. Statistical analyses indicate that the PSPI measures the same function as the 15-minute urine test when PSP is administered in a dosage of 1 mg./kg. body weight; and that, although the index cannot be used as a precise substitute for PAH clearance, it is equally repeatable and no greater error is associated with its measurement. The PSPI has been found of most value when complete, accurately timed urine collections are unobtainable because of urological abnormality or inability of the patient to co-operate.     

Applicants to Canadian Medical Schools for 1966-67

An examination of applicants to Canadian medical schools for 1966-67 revealed that 4534 applications were received for the approximately 974 available places. The number of Canadian applications was 2866 and these were made by 1815 individual applicants, an increase of 48 over 1965-66. United States applicants declined from 1143 to 1013.

Evaluations made by the schools concerning the acceptability of the Canadian applicants disclosed that 55 applicants who rated as “acceptable” by one or more schools failed to gain admission to any medical school in 1966-67 (as compared to 36 in 1965-66). However, of those applicants who did find a place 76 were evaluated as “marginal” or “unacceptable”, while another 126 were rated as “acceptable” by one school but “marginal” and/or “acceptable” by one or more other schools.

These results were interpreted to imply that the Canadian medical schools were still experiencing difficulty in attracting well-qualified applicants for study in medicine.

     

Medical Students in Canadian Universities: Report of Statistics, 1965-66

Enrolment in the 12 Canadian medical schools in 1965-66 reached a new high of 4023, an increase of 3.8% over 1964-65. The percentage of women among medical students (11.4%) was close to that for the preceding two years. The decline in the numbers of students from outside Canada continued into the present year; in 1965-66, 9.1% of medical students were non-Canadian. This decline has been primarily in the number of students from the U.S.A. The number of students from Commonwealth countries has shown a steady increase over the seven-year period under review; in 1965-66 they make up nearly one-half of all non-Canadian students. It was noted that 27% of overseas students came to Canada under governmental or intergovernmental sponsorship. Of the Canadian students, 95% came from the “home” provinces of the medical schools.     

Projections of Graduates from Canadian Medical Schools, 1970-81

This paper sets forth the projections made by the various Canadian medical schools of first-year undergraduate enrolment through 1977-78. Non-Canadian enrolment and student attrition are discussed and some assumptions are made concerning their levels up to 1981. In conclusion, a set of projections on Canadian and landed immigrant graduates from Canadian medical schools during the period 1970-1981 is offered. The national projections are broken down by medical school and province.

The results of this paper indicate that Canadian medical schools will graduate 1019 Canadians and landed immigrants in 1970, 1052 in 1971, 1064 in 1972, 1113 in 1973, 1250 in 1974, 1342 in 1975, 1377 in 1976 and 1480 in 1981.

     

Career Preferences of First-year Students at Canadian Medical Schools, 1966-67 to 1968-69

The principal findings of this study of the career preferences of first-year Canadian medical students were:

Over 70% of the first-year students expressed a preference for specialty practice, with only 20% oriented towards practice as a family practitioner.

There were considerable differences between the medical schools in the proportion of medical students preferring general practice, ranging from less than 10% at McGill to nearly 33% at Queen's.

Nearly one-third of the students stated that they preferred primarily salaried practice. These students were largely those who preferred specialty practice or a career in an area such as public health or research.

Nearly 70% of the students looked for a career with part-time teaching, while 8% preferred a full-time teaching career.

Only 1% preferred a full-time research career although 90% expected to have at least some research involvement.

Students from smaller communities were more likely to express a preference for general practice than those from large urban areas.

Men and women had similar practice preferences in terms of general practice and clinical specialty, but significantly more women than men preferred a career in salaried practice. Significantly fewer women expressed a preference for major involvement in either teaching or research.