If student interest is any indication, Florida Atlantic University's new medical school won't suffer a sophomore slump.

FAU's College of Medicine opened on FAU's Boca Raton campus this August, and received an impressive 1,500 applications for 64 slots. This year, applications have doubled to nearly 3,000 for the same number of seats.

The increase is a "testament to the popularity and desirability of the innovative educational program we have put in place at the College of Medicine," said Robert Hinkley associate dean for admissions for the medical school. "The academic credentials and personal accomplishments of the members of our first class admitted in 2011 were competitive with those of classes admitted to older, more established medical schools and our second class promises to exceed our first class."

FAU also boasts a diverse pool of applicants, with 43 percent from out of state, 46 percent are women, 21 percent Asian, 16 percent Hispanic and 13 percent black.

The medical school has a partnership with The Scripps Research Institute, allowing some students the chance to pursue a PhD from the Scripps Kellogg School of Science at the same time they're working on their medical degree.

Medical education has greatly expanded in Florida in the past few years, with Florida International University and the University of Central Florida both opening medical schools in 2009. The University of Miami has expanded its medical offerings in recent years. And a for-profit college called Palm Beach Medical College hopes to open in the next few years.

Based on FAU's applications, it looks like there's plenty of room for more expansion.

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FAU med school gets surge in applications