LAUSR

PROBLEM Reapplicants make up over one quarter of U.S. medical school applicants. Post-application advisement (PAA) can provide potential reapplicants with concrete strategies for improvement, a contextualized basis for their scores, and a realistic idea of their chances for success. However, more data showing the effectiveness of PAA and an analysis of best practices is needed for PAA programs to be more widely adopted. APPROACH In 2010, the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNM SOM) created a PAA program that involves a post-application seminar (PAS), mandatory self-assessment and action plan development, and an individual consult with an admissions dean to prepare participants for reapplication. OUTCOMES From 2010 to 2016, 892 applicants who interviewed and were rejected at UNM SOM were eligible to participate in PAA. Of these, 478 (53.6%) chose to participate in PAA over the 7-year period. Males had a higher participation rate (246/430; 57.2%), as compared to females (232/461; 50.3%; P = .04). African Americans had a higher participation rate (12/17; 70.6%) and American Indian/Alaska Natives had a lower participation rate (17/64; 26.6%) than any other race/ethnicity. Of reapplicants who were subsequently accepted, 140/178 (78.7%) attended PAS and a consult and 7/178 (3.9%) attended PAS only, compared to 31/178 (17.4%) of subsequently accepted reapplicants who did not participate in any PAA (P < .001). NEXT STEPS Additional research should focus on the best approach for assisting reapplicants with prioritizing areas for improvement in their application. Demographic data may be used to target outreach to specific populations.