<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/admissionsadvisors/mcat_stats/”>https://www.aamc.org/students/applying/mcat/admissionsadvisors/mcat_stats/</a></p>
<p>As to MCAT: over 80K took MCAT in 2010, over 86K in 2012, over 89K MCAT in 2012, over 94K in 2013 (including repeaters).</p>
<p>Following the “normal” timeline to med school, a student would typically take MCAT in third year. By that time many, many eager young premed minds have come to experience the joy of things like Ochem, or the reality of what the process involves (high GPA, volunteering, shadowing, etc), or how long the process is, and they decide to change career plans. </p>
<p>As to the actual number of “premeds” starting college, at best, it’s a guess because starting college as a premed is in part an aspiration of students/parents and these aspirations are not published anywhere. But based on the number of premeds who actually end up taking MCAT, I thought my guess was pretty conservative. Seeing the increase in the number of MCAT takers makes me think I’m on the low side.</p>