A national survey of medical school admissions professionals: do you search medical school applicants online?

Few policies or studies exist to guide medical school admissions offices on how to evaluate an applicant’s online presence. This lack of guidance raises concerns for consistency when evaluating applicants, which may introduce unconscious bias and undermine fairness. The aim of this study is to (1) determine if medical school admissions committees have policies regarding the review of an applicant’s online presence and (2) assess the practices of medical school admissions officers when they evaluate an applicant’s online presence. By addressing these aims, our study can contribute to more consistent approaches to applicant evaluation. A cross-sectional survey was distributed to admissions offices at 166 medical schools from March 2024 to July 2024. Questions were split into 4 sections that assessed program (1) demographics, (2) policies, (3) absence of policies, and (4) general opinions. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Excel. We received responses from 60 out of 166 medical schools (36.1%). Only four schools reported having a formal policy for reviewing an applicant’s online presence (4/58, 6.8%). Of these, two programs explicitly stated that the policy prohibited reviewing applicants’ online presence (2/58, 3.4%). The vast majority of schools (54/58, 93.1%) did not have a formal policy, and many reported reviewing applicants online. When conducting searches on prospective students, most admissions offices focused on websites or links (21/24, 87.5%) and creative works (21/24, 87.5%) that were explicitly mentioned in the application. A majority agreed (45/51, 88.2%) that an applicant’s online presence could provide additional context beyond the limitations of the application. Furthermore, a majority agreed (42/51, 82.4%) that national guidelines for assessing applicants’ online presence would be beneficial for admissions committees. Our study reveals that most medical schools are evaluating applicants’ online presence, but the vast majority lack formal policies to guide these reviews. While an applicant’s online presence may enhance their profile, there are also concerns about inconsistent applicant screening. Further research is needed to develop national guidelines and to explore the impact of such practices on admissions.