Medical Schools for Internal Medicine

Internal medicine is the branch of primary care focused on the prevention and treatment of diseases in adults. Internal medicine students have the option of specializing further and focusing on internal medicine subspecialties such as pediatric internal medicine, endocrinology, rheumatology, infectious diseases, etc. In 2019, there were 8,116 internal medicine residency spots offered in the United States, up by 574 from 2018. Here are some notable medical schools for internal medicine, according to U.S. News and World Report.
 


The Columbia Vagelos School of Medicine curriculum isn’t divided into years, but rather into three stages: Fundamentals, Major Clinical Year, and Differentiation and Integration. All students participate in a 10-week internal medicine rotation in their clinical year, where they spend 6 weeks at New York-Presbyterian Hospital’s Milstein Hospital Building and the remaining four weeks at Harlem Hospital, Stamford Hospital, Allen Hospital, or James J. Peter’s Veteran’s Hospital. Students can also elect to complete a one-month subinternship in medicine. In 2019, 39 Columbia medical students matched with internal medicine residencies. The school admitted 140 students to its MD class in 2023.
[ Learn about Columbia Vagelos School of Medicine ]

Duke’s unique, condensed curriculum is designed so that all the foundational science courses are taken in the first year. Students then complete their clerkships in the second year and pursue dual degrees and research projects in the third year. Each student completes an 8-week internal medicine clerkship in their second year. 25 Duke School of Medicine seniors matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019.
For students admitted to the Duke School of Medicine in 2019, the median undergraduate GPA and MCAT score was 3.83 and 518, respectively.
[ Learn more about Duke Medical School ]

All Harvard Medical School students complete an internal medicine clerkship that covers diagnosis, professionalism, data analysis, careers in medicine, and specific skills on a variety of medical subjects. 42 HMS seniors matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019. The 2019 incoming class of 165 students at HMS had a median undergraduate GPA of 3.9 and a median MCAT score of 519.
[ Learn more about Harvard Medical School ]

In 2019, 30% of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine seniors matched with primary care residencies, including internal medicine. Johns Hopkins medical school curriculum includes early patient interaction, and each student participates in an 8-week internal medicine clerkship in year 3. In 2019, the schools offered admission to 256 out of its 4654 applicants, and 120 students matriculated.
[ Learn more about Johns Hopkins School of Medicine ]

UCSF’s Internal Medicine Department hosts both a required clerkship and required subinternship for all medical students, in addition to over 40 elective courses. 29 students matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019. UCSF has a notoriously competitive admissions process, exemplified by the 2018-2019 admissions cycle, in which 7,760 people applied and only 149 enrolled. Students accepted in 2019 had an average MCAT score of 520 (the full range was 513-525) and an average GPA of 3.8 (full range: 3.6-4.0).
[ Learn more about UCSF School of Medicine ]

Michigan Medicine received over 7,500 applications in the 2018-2019 admissions cycle, and ultimately only 168 enrolled. There are 13 divisions of Michigan Medicine’s Internal Medicine department, including Genetic Medicine, Hematology and Oncology, and Geriatric and Palliative Medicine. 38 Michigan Medicine students matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019. The entering class in 2019 had an average GPA of 3.78 and a class average MCAT percentile of 90.77.
[ Learn more about the University of Michigan Medical School ]

UPenn Perelman School of Medicine students participate in a required 8-week internal medicine rotation in which there’s a focus on small group learning and taking an active role in patient care. There are additional 2- and 4-week internal medicine electives available for interested students. 27 UPenn medical students matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019. The incoming class in 2019 had a median undergraduate GPA of 3.89 and a median MCAT score of 521.
[ Learn more about the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine ]

In 2019, 19 Vanderbilt School of Medicine seniors matched with internal medicine residencies. Vanderbilt medical students get a lot of exposure to the practice of internal medicine. In their second year, students take a physical diagnosis course that serves as an introduction to internal medicine. They then complete a required Core Medicine Clerkship, followed by an optional Primary Care Medicine Clerkship—a one-month elective that can take place in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings depending on the student’s interest. Vanderbilt School of Medicine has a 7:1 faculty to student ratio and a 5.4% acceptance rate. In 2018, students matriculating at the Vanderbilt School of Medicine had GPA scores in the range of 3.2 to 4.0 and MCAT scores that ranged from the 71st percentile to the 100th. 

WashU is in the process of revamping its medical school curriculum to better incorporate new technology, recent scientific discoveries, and modern social determinants of health. All students participate in a mandatory 8-week internal medicine clerkship, and 24 seniors matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019. The incoming class in 2019 at WashU had 134 students.
[ Learn more about Washington University School of Medicine ]

With over 1200 internal medicine faculty, it’s unsurprising that Yale is ranked so highly for internal medicine. The internal medicine department offers two of the school’s required 12-week medical school clerkships: Internal Medicine and Biopsychosocial Approach to Health. Additionally, students can participate in any of Yale’s internal medicine electives and sub-internships. 26 Yale School of Medicine seniors matched with internal medicine residencies in 2019.  
[ Learn more about Yale Scool of Medicine ]
 

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE MCAT STUDY GUIDES

STUDY GUIDE: How to prep for the MCAT in 1 Month

Only have a month to prep? You can still earn the score you need by following this week-by-week plan.

STUDY GUIDE: How to prep for the MCAT in 2 months

Planning on taking the MCAT in two months? You’ll need to put aside a significant amount of study time each week.

STUDY GUIDE: How to prep for the MCAT in 3 months

Three months might seem like plenty of time, but you’ll still need to set aside many hours of study time each week.

STUDY GUIDE: How to prep for the MCAT in 6 months

Let’s take a look at how the next six months should shape up for you.

 

Take a free practice test

How would you do if you took the MCAT today?

Take a free practice test

How would you do if you took the MCAT today?