"Ironically, this rise in applications is beingdriven by the economic situation," says Harvard'sFoster. "The market for engineers and lawyers isless than it has been. Economic factors aredefinitely playing a role."

The need for economic security--especially intimes of recession and financial turmoil--is apopular explanation for such rises.

Leverett House pre-med advisor Rodney J. Taylorsays that the start of the boom in applicantscoincided with the financial instability of thelate '80s and the stock market crash in October,1987.

"After [the crash], the numbers of applicationsto business schools went down," Taylor says. "Thiswas paralleled with an increase in applications tomedical schools."

Jane Y. Sharaf, director of health professionsadvising at Princeton University, says that thecurrent increases can be likened to those of thelate 70s--when financial security was of paramountimportance.

"A lot of students whom I advise have familieswho are going through tough times economically,"she says.

"Many of them have parents who have been laidoff by IBM, or have family businesses that aren'tdoing too well these days," Sharaf says.

Another issue on the minds of manydoctors-to-be is the Clinton Administration'srecently unveiled health care plan.

Experts disagree on the effect health carereform will have on medical school applications,but they do agree on one thing--there will be anincrease in the number of students going intoprimary care.

"We are going through a complete reorganizationand redefinition right now," says Yatraki, aboutthe state of the medical profession.

She notes, however, that the imminent upheavalis not deterring applicants.

Will health care reform ultimately attract ordissuade prospective med school hopefuls? Thequestion is drawing varied responses.

Harold J. Burstein, the pre-med adviser forLowell House, says he thinks it will actually lurelarge numbers of applicants.

"Medicine used to be attractive because youcould be your own boss and make a lot of money,"says Burstein. "But now, a primary appeal of theprofession is its commitment to public service andhelping others."

Burstein says that the humanitarianaspect of medicine has drawn many students tomedical school over the past few years.