Researching and Evaluating Medical Schools

Deciding where to apply for medical school is a deeply personal journey, much as it was when selecting your undergraduate college or university. Factors likely influencing your decision include state residency restrictions, the school’s mission, curriculum, GPA, MCAT scores, costs, admission options, and location. The schools you apply to, and ultimately the one you choose to attend, should reflect your unique aspirations. Fit is a crucial aspect of a successful medical school application and of your success as a medical student.

With approximately 200 medical schools in the U.S. offering M.D. or D.O. degrees, building your medical school application list may feel overwhelming. Researching schools and assessing their offerings will maximize your chances of acceptance and help ensure the program aligns with your personal and professional goals. Continue reading for valuable tips on how to find the right medical school for you.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

• Educational Pathways To Becoming a Physician
• Factors to Consider When Researching Medical Schools
• How to Find the Medical School That’s Right for You
• Resources for Researching Medical Schools
• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)
• Choose DO Explorer Tool
• How to Get Started Researching Medical Schools
• Advice From Medical School Admission Experts
• Dual-Degree Medical School Programs

Educational Paths to Becoming a Physician

In the United States, individuals aspiring to become physicians have two primary educational pathways: either attend an allopathic medical school and obtain a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree or earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an osteopathic medical school. Currently, there are over 150 allopathic medical schools and over 40 osteopathic medical schools, with the number growing as new medical schools continue to be established. These schools may be distributed across a range of teaching locations, as some M.D. and D.O. programs operate at multiple sites. 

M.D.s and D.O.s follow similar educational pathways. They begin by earning a four-year undergraduate degree, during which many complete their pre-med courses. After finishing college, they attend either an allopathic or osteopathic medical school. Following four years of medical education, both M.D.s and D.O.s are required to complete an internship and residency training under the guidance of more experienced physicians. Some M.D.s and D.O.s may also pursue fellowships to gain additional expertise in a particular specialty. M.D.s and D.O.s train together during their internships and residencies, and they ultimately practice alongside one another. Both M.D. and D.O. physicians must successfully complete a licensing examination to engage in professional medical practice. 

The differences between the two types of schools are largely rooted in their philosophical approach to medicine. Allopathic medical schools are typically regarded as “traditional” medical programs, although osteopathic medicine has existed since the late 1800s. Osteopathic medicine is rooted in a belief in treating the “whole patient,” which includes considerations of lifestyle and community. As a result of this holistic approach, D.O.s often pursue careers in primary care with a focus on prevention.

We encourage you to learn more about these different routes to becoming a doctor to determine the educational and philosophical framework that most closely corresponds with your values and professional aspirations.

Factors to Consider When Researching Medical Schools

Since GPA and MCAT scores are critical factors in medical school admissions, and are typically the first aspects admissions committees consider when assessing an application, most applicants begin their research by identifying schools for which their GPAs and MCAT scores fall within that school’s accepted score range. Starting with this step will help you focus your efforts on schools that will be most likely to evaluate your application further. 

The next step is to determine what’s important to you. Would you prefer a traditional educational program centered around lectures or a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach? Are you looking for a school that incorporates significant experiential learning? In what type of learning environment do you thrive best? Would you like to live and study in a city, town, or rural environment? 

Below is a list of possible factors to consider when researching medical schools:

• Board exam pass rates
• Campus Setting
• Class Profile
• Class Size
• Clinical Strengths (outstanding specialties)
• Cost
• Culture
• Curriculum
• Dual degree programs available
• Faculty profiles 
• Elective opportunities
• Grading Policy
• Hospital Rankings
• Location
• Match Rates
• Mission and values
• Research Opportunities
• Rotations and Internships
• Special opportunities (e.g., global health, rural health)

You don’t have to choose your future medical specialty in advance, but, if your lifelong dream has been to become an orthopedic surgeon or a pediatric geneticist, or to devote your life to international medical missions, for example, look for schools that will offer you the chance to immerse yourself in your field of interest while in medical school. This will help prepare you well for a future residency position. 

How to Find the Medical School That’s Right for You

This brings us to the concept of “fit.” Review your list of potential schools and determine which ones you believe will allow you to develop into the kind of physician you aspire to become and whether your goals align with the type of doctor they aim to cultivate. Next, identify your specific past experiences that best demonstrate that you are a strong match for these schools. For example, is the school heavily focused on research? Having a strong background in research would make you an attractive candidate. Is the school committed to social justice and addressing healthcare disparities? Having a strong background in public health and community service would catch the admissions committee’s attention. Highlighting your relevant experiences will be crucial when responding to questions such as why you chose to apply to that school and what makes you a compelling candidate among other qualified applicants.

To find your medical school “match,” follow these steps: 

1. Clarify what is important to you personally and professionally.
2. For schools that interest your and match your academic profile, read their mission statement and other literature about the school to learn their core values and priorities.
3. Make sure to demonstrate in your application that you possess the qualities that school is seeking.

Remember, however, that you shouldn’t be addressing specific schools in your primary application, which will be distributed to all schools on your list. You’ll be able to hone in on fit more directly in your secondary applications (specific to each school).

Resources for Researching Medical Schools

Finding credible sources of current information on medical schools is essential for your research. Several guides are published each year that provide rankings of schools, along with data about acceptance rates, median GPAs, and MCAT scores. Additionally, some guides rank schools based on their reputations among students, professors, or prominent people in the field.

Here are some recommended resources to use when researching medical schools:

• AAMC – The AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges) website is the primary resource for aspiring medical students looking for more information on medical education and the admissions process for U.S. allopathic medical schools (those awarding an M.D. degree). The AAMC also hosts the MSAR® database (learn more below) and manages the centralized application service, called “AMCAS” ( American Medical College Application Service), which distributes the primary medical school application to participating medical schools.
  
• AACOM – The AACOM (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine) website serves as the main resource for aspiring medical students seeking information on the admissions process for U.S. osteopathic medical schools (those that award a D.O. degree). AACOM manages the centralized application service, known as “AACOMAS,” for participating D.O. schools.
  
• TMDSAS – The TMDSAS (Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service) website is the primary resource for aspiring medical students seeking more information on the admissions process for participating medical schools in Texas.
  
• U.S. News & World Report – U.S. News ranks medical schools nationwide, enabling you to review and compare them based on their strengths across various factors.
  
• Medical school websites offer the most accurate, up-to-date information regarding their curriculum, offerings, and admissions requirements. 

Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR)

For information on the GPA and MCAT score ranges of recently admitted applicants, you may visit the individual websites of various medical schools. However, there’s a more efficient option. For medical schools awarding an M.D. degree, consult the MSAR (Medical School Admission Requirements™), a comprehensive database hosted by the AAMC. While a free version of the MSAR is available, we highly recommend investing in either a one or two-year subscription to access the full range of available information on each school.

To evaluate a school’s “stats” go to the “Acceptance Data” link on its page in the MSAR database. This link provides the median and range of GPA and MCAT scores for admitted applicants at that institution, along with more granular data, including trends in MCAT subscores. Additionally, the link will display the ranges of both overall and science GPAs a school accepted in the previous application year.

With the MSAR, you can browse, search, sort, and compare information about allopathic medical schools in the U.S. and Canada. Every school profiled in the MSAR contains the following entries:

• School Overview
• Admissions Policies and Procedures
• Acceptance Data
• Education & Research
• Tuition, Aid & Debt
• Campus Life

Choose DO Explorer Tool

While not as robust as the MSAR, AACOM offers a similar online database, called the Choose DO Explorer tool. Using the database, you can sort and compare osteopathic medical schools on the following factors:

• State
• Institution Type
• Campus Setting
• International Students
• DACA Consideration
• Curricular Degrees Offered
• Application Deadline
• Mean GPA
• Mean MCAT
• Tuition

Schools participating in TMDSAS are included in the MSAR or Choose DO Explorer databases as well.

How to Get Started Researching Medical Schools

As previously mentioned, an effective starting point for evaluating medical schools is comparing your MCAT score and GPA alongside the median for medical schools that interest you. This comparison will offer you an estimate of how competitive you are for that school. However, it’s important to remember that MCAT and GPA are not the sole criteria for admission. Other factors, such as recommendation letters and “intangibles” like extracurricular activities and relevant experiences, can significantly influence an admissions decision. Use our medical school application strategy outlined below to assist you in the application process.

[ RELATED: What’s a Good MCAT Score? ] 

A sensible medical school application strategy will include schools in three general categories:

1. Dream schools are places you’d love to attend, but where your chances of acceptance are uncertain or even unlikely.
2. Target Schools are programs you’d like to attend, and where your grades and MCAT score are close to the median.
3. Safety schools are schools where your numbers make acceptance more likely.

A helpful approach to understand how a medical school may view your application is to compile a fact sheet that includes your MCAT scores (or projected scores), science GPA, and your overall GPA. Next, gather information on the mean, median, and range of accepted science GPA, overall GPA, and MCAT scores from the prior year’s admitted class at each school. Make note of any relevant data regarding extracurricular activities such as clinical or research experience, and compare these to your own.

As you identify the schools you are interested in, make note of their course requirements, the required letters of recommendation, whether the PREview or Casper exams are required, as well as any shadowing requirements. Finally, include a section for notes on your personal “fit” for each school, allowing you to reflect on how well you align with the future physicians they aim to graduate.

According to AMCAS data, the average applicant currently applies to 19 medical schools. When deciding how many medical schools to apply to, keep in mind that if you apply to too few schools, you may limit your chances of acceptance, while applying to too many could be overwhelming. The medical school application process–ranging from the initial application (whether AMCAS, AACOMAS, TMDSAS, or all of the above) to secondary applications and interviews–requires a significant investment of your time, financial resources, and emotional energy. Therefore, it’s crucial to apply to schools that align well with your values and goals, and those that would view you as a good candidate for them. Regardless of the number of schools you choose to apply to, your list should primarily consist of schools in the “target” category, complemented by a few “dream” and “safety” schools to optimize your chances of admission.

Advice From Medical School Admission Experts

Get advice about medical school admissions from admissions experts.

Dual-Degree Medical School Programs

Dual-degree medical school programs allow students to earn their M.D. and another advanced degree simultaneously. These specialized programs are designed for individuals interested in careers that connect medicine with other fields, such as research, business, law, or public health.

Below is a brief overview of some of the popular combined degree programs offered at many medical schools:

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Written by Kaplan experts, reviewed by Maria Lofftus, JD and Claudia Mikail, MD, MPH. Maria has extensive experience in graduate admissions and was part of the AAMC’s National Committee on Diversity. Dr. Mikhail is a practicing physician, professor, author, diplomate of the American Board of Preventive Medicine, and a member of the American College of Medical Genetics.