Xavier stays on top for ninth straight year - Noteworthy News - Brief Article

Black Issues in Higher Education, Jan 31, 2002

NEW ORLEANS

For the ninth consecutive year, Xavier University sent more Black students to medical school in 2001 than any other American college.

Xavier's 94 graduates who started medical school in 2001 is nearly triple the total of second place Spelman College (38) and third place Harvard University. (37), according to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

As admission standards for the country's medical training programs continue to become more stringent, Xavier has not only maintained an unprecedented dominance in preparing its students, it has steadily increased its number over the years. For pre-med adviser Dr. J.W. Carmichael, that's all that matters.

"We're happy with our success, but we'll continue to work hard to get as many of our students in as we possibly can," Carmichael says. "That's been our goal from the very beginning."

The AAMC collects its data annually, providing a way for colleges and universities to assess the programs used to prepare students for medical school.

Xavier first attained its No. 1 status as the top producer of African American premed students in 1993, after several years of finishing second to much larger Howard University. In 2000, Xavier sent 73 graduates to medical school (see Black Issues, July 19).

According to Carmichael, indications are that Xavier will be first this coming year as well. Already 40 of this year's seniors have been accepted into medical school for the fall 2002 semester.

Top 10 Schools Sending Black Students to Medical School

1. Xavier University of Louisiana -- 94
2. Spelman College -- 38
3. Harvard University -- 37
4. Howard University -- 33
5. Morehouse College -- 33
6. Univ. of Maryland College Park -- 24
7. Johns Hopkins -- 20
8. University of California at
Los Angeles -- 17
9. University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill -- 16
10. University of Virginia -- 16