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U of S College of Medicine fills seats reserved for low-income students

A new initiative at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Medicine has allowed six students from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds who would not otherwise have been awarded a seat at the medical school to begin their studies at the college this month.

The College of Medicine made a decision last spring to start reserving six of its 100 seats for Saskatchewan residents from households that bring in less than $80,000 a year, according to a recent article by the Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Under the Diversity and Social Accountability Admissions Program (DSAAP), which came into effect for students applying to begin their medical education this fall, all applicants are first considered under the regular admissions process. Qualified applicants who are not accepted and who declare they come from a household with an annual income of less than $80,000 are then reconsidered for the six reserved seats.

This year, 58 applicants requested to be considered under DSAAP and 37 were deemed to qualify for the program. Six of them were accepted into the school and another six were wait-listed.

Preston Smith, dean of the College of Medicine, said he was “not surprised at all” that the school filled its reserved seats.

“There’s a large pool of smart people out there who don’t have the socioeconomic advantages of the people that usually get into medical school,” he said.

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