"Many of my students in Lowell see [the medicalprofession] as a way to combine academic work witha commitment to helping others," Burstein says.

Paveljit S. Bindra '94, a Cabot House resident,is just one of many students who felt this callingand decided to apply to medical school.

"I spent a summer in India--in the state ofBihar--on a fellowship to educate children. WhileI was there, I realized that the medicalprovisions to the area were minimal," says Bindra,a Crimson editor.

"The conditions were bad--many children weremaimed by polio. I contacted the state governmentand, through the surgeon general, we were able toget vaccine for 1,700 children in 22 differentvillages."

"All of a sudden I felt that this is where Ishould be--in prevention, rather than ineducation," says Bindra. "It was satisfying, and Irealized that primary care is where I want to go."

Steve W. Hetts '96 says that he has wanted togo into medicine since high school. "My family hasa long tradition of community service and I wouldlike to continue doing just that," says Hetts.

"We are seeing three general 'archetypes' ofpre-med students," says Burstein, the Lowell Houseadviser.

"The first are those who want a career ofpublic service--who want to make a difference insociety and help those less fortunate."

"The second are those who have a commitment toscience and want to combine it with their love ofworking with other people," Burstein says.

"The third--which is a relatively newphenomenon--are those who want enter theadministrative, policy-making side of medicine.They are often government or history concentratorswho approach the field from different angle," hesays.

G. Sarah Gelberman, assistant director of theOffice of Career Services (OCS) and health careerscounselor, says that she too has noticed anupsurge of interest in the public service aspectof medicine.

"Many of the students I see want to make adifference in the lives of others," Gelbermansays. "In medicine, you see the results of yourwork on a daily basis."

"Medicine is a never-ending intellectualchallenge," says Foster, the Harvard MedicalSchool admissions director. "It's useful forsociety and it allows you to combine scientificand humanistic concerns."

Another factor contributing to therising numbers of applicants is the recent attemptby medical schools to diversify their incomingclasses.

An applications relations assistant at AAMCsays that many schools are trying to attractlarger numbers of minorities, women and alumniapplicants.