Social Class of Medical Students

In a study of the social class background of students in four medical schools, it was found that approximately 12% of the students came from the lowest social classes. Approximately 54% of the total US population is classified similarly. The school with the least expensive tuition fees attracted more students from the lowest classes. It is proposed that greater financial assistance to medical students will attract a larger number of able applicants from the lowest classes. These qualified college graduates represent an untapped pool of medical school applicants.