Koenig, J.A.; Mitchell, K.J. Use of Medical College Admission Test Writing Sample Data in Medical School Admissions Decisions. The Advisor, 13:13-15, 1993.

PURPOSE: The authors conducted a survey of medical school admissions officers to assess how Writing Sample data were being utilized in admissions decision processes.

METHODS: Two questionnaires were mailed to the 146 U.S. and Canadian medical schools. The first of the two was distributed in July of 1992 to medical school admissions officers. The second survey was distributed the following year.

RESULTS: Of the 146 medical schools, 103 (71%) responded to the initial survey, 119 (84%) to the second. The authors reported results separately for the two surveys only when differing response patterns were evident. For both groups of respondents, approximately 81% indicated they used Writing Sample data to assist in their evaluation of applicants' credentials. Sixty-two percent of respondents reported they used data at two or more stages of the screening process, and 36% reported using the data at all stages of the screening process. Admissions officers stated they tended to review the actual essays for groups of applicants with specific academic qualifications. For the 1992 application cycle, 21% of respondents indicated they read essays for their more competitive applicants; 31% read essays for applicants with marginal credentials. For the 1993 cycle, only 13% reported reading essays for more competitive applicants, while 57% reviewed essays for applicants with marginal qualifications.

CONCLUSIONS: The authors concluded that analysis of survey data shows a majority of medical schools considered Writing Sample data during admissions decisions in 1991 and 1992. They reported that respondents were more likely to consider Writing Sample scores than to read Writing Sample essays. The authors maintained that for the 1992 and 1993 cycles, schools' limited use of Writing Sample essays was due, in part, to the cumbersome process, being used at the time, for distributing essay copies to the schools' admissions officers. They hypothesized that a computerized system allowing medical schools to electronically access the essays they desire would increase the use of Writing Sample essays in the admissions decision process.

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