A pilot matching program for applicants to five California medical schools

This report summarizes the results of the 1989 California Medical School Matching Program Pilot Study. The study demonstrated that the technical aspects of a matching program for medical school applicants can be successfully operated. The applicant participation was 48.7%, with 76.1% of the ranked students responding. The schools ranked 1,122 students, with approximately 38% being ranked by more than one school. Of the 905 students who were matched to a school, 88% were matched to one of their top three choices. Of the students who had actually accepted a position at a school under the normal admission procedure, 60% had been matched to the same school by the matching program. The conclusions are that the program operates properly, that it fulfills the wishes of the students as well as could be expected, and that it parallels the current admission process to a reasonable degree.