Applications hit an online snag

Every alum knows about the Yale System of Medical Education and its emphasis on independent scholarship over class rankings, grades and exams. This summer, applicants to the medical school became familiar with a different kind of Yale system, created after the failure of a Web-based application process introduced by the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS). Technical glitches made it difficult for many applicants to file online, and the system for transmitting application data to medical schools has been crippled by software problems. Unfortunately, the old AMCAS paper-based system had already been dismantled, and medical schools found themselves scrambling to devise new procedures.

The transition system developed by the Admissions Office and the school’s information technology staff has worked so well that it has been adapted for use by other medical schools. Despite the problems with AMCAS and a downward trend in medical school applications nationally, applications to Yale have remained steady, according to Director of Admissions Richard A. Silverman. Meanwhile, AMCAS has developed an interim system of its own, sending printed copies of its applications to medical schools via overnight mail. AMCAS has also announced changes in leadership and is devoting substantial resources to evaluating this year’s problems while working on a solution for next year.