Medical School Campus Choice

The factors that influence medical school choice have been the subject of previous reports but there is a paucity of data regarding the factors influencing a student’s choice between the main campus and a regional medical campus (RMC) in the United States. The authors surveyed current students and graduates of the University of Kansas School of Medicine (KUSM) rural RMC in Salina regarding those factors that influenced their decision to attend that campus and their satisfaction with delivery of their medical education and student support services. The authors identified three major factors influencing rural campus selection (important or very important in >75% of current students and graduates): small class size, quality of core clinical experiences, and working one-on-one with clinical faculty and residents. Salina met student expectations regarding the main reasons for selecting the campus but were disappointed with several other campus aspects, including: research opportunities, interest groups, academic counseling, mental health services, and residency counseling. The survey results provided impetus for optimizing recruitment strategies and improving campus support services.   The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.