In this post we’ll also cover: Four elite medical schools joined Harvard Medical School (HMS) in announcing their withdrawal from the U.S. News medical school rankings earlier this week. Harvard Medical School (HMS) was the first to withdraw from the U.S. News survey, on January 17, 2023. Law Schools Led the Way in Departing U.S….
3 Tips for High School Students Considering Applying to Medical School
Today’s high school students have lived through an extraordinary–and extraordinarily difficult–chapter of history: the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly all students have missed out on critical in-person class time and fallen behind where they would have been academically were it not for the pandemic. And yet, because of COVID-19, more high school students may now be considering…
Here’s How to Match Your Values to the Medical School Mission Statement
While every U.S. medical school offers you an education that will prepare you for a career as a successful physician, the social mission of each school vary greatly, and you should understand these nuances before you apply. Successful applicants will not only have the essential qualifications a particular school wants, but will also have proven…
How Your Academic Statistics Influence Your Medical School Choices
The most reliable source of information about allopathic medical schools is provided on the Medical School Admissions Requirements (MSAR) website, offered by the AAMC. The statistics in this database can be extremely valuable in helping you decide where to apply. Before you begin exploring the school data, it’s important for you to know that the…
U.S. News Best Medical School (Research and Primary Care) Rankings 2023
U.S. News has released the 2023 ranking of Research and Primary Care Medical Schools. A total of 192 medical and osteopathic schools, accredited in 2021 by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the American Osteopathic Association, were surveyed. This information, along with the results of peer assessment surveys, was used to calculate both…
How to Apply to the Best Med Schools for You [Episode 353]
How should you select where to apply to medical school? Accepted founder Linda Abraham sheds light on this important question. [Show summary] AACOMAS opens in May, and AMCAS opens in June, which means the new medical school application cycle is just around the corner. How should you decide where to apply? Accepted’s founder, Linda Abraham,…
Why Should I Consider Allied Health Careers?
If the road to medical school seems too long, or you have financial constraints that prevent you from applying, you might want to consider a career that offers many of the same experiences a physician can have, but without the extensive schooling. Weighing your options: Pros & cons of allied health careers While length of…
All About SDN, The Largest Online Premed Community [Episode 347]
Interview with Dr. Lee Burnett and Laura Turner of Student Doctor Network [Show Summary] Applying to medical school is a stressful process, and applicants understandably are looking for all the help and support they can get along the way. Student Doctor Network (SDN) is leading the way in providing that support. Celebrating its 20th anniversary,…
How to Get Accepted to Geisinger Medical and Graduate Debt Free [Episode 343]
Interview with Dr. Michelle Schmude, Associate Dean of Admissions at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine [Show Summary] Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is focused on admitting students who are passionate about community service, as well as allowing as many students as possible to graduate from medical school debt free. Dr. Michelle Schmude, Associate Dean of…
How Does Your Top Choice Med School Rank in Accepted’s Selectivity Index?
We just updated our Medical School Selectivity Index which provides you with the latest average acceptance rates, average MCAT scores, and average GPA for different medical schools based on U.S. News and MSAR data. The highest, hardest, and lowest in the Med School Selectivity Index: The Mayo Clinic is the hardest medical school to get…
Assess Your Qualifications for Medical School
This is the first post in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. In the six…
How to Use Residency Placement Data to Plan Ahead
When choosing a medical school, applicants should incorporate residency placement data in their decision-making process. U.S. News published an article on this matter this past February, a couple months after the initial launch of our resource. In the article, several medical school deans comment on the importance of using match list data to navigate the…
Accreditation at Osteopathic and Caribbean Medical Schools
Osteopathic medical schools are accredited by a different organization from the allopathic medical schools. The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) conducts on-site visits, generates reports and evaluates how well the schools are meeting their expectations. COCA meets annually to update their standards. They met last June; you can read the updated…
Why Are Med Schools’ Mission Statements so Important?
We cannot stress enough the importance of understanding and thinking about a medical school’s missions statement – while doing school research at the beginning of the admissions process and then later on while writing secondaries and preparing for interviews. Knowing the school’s mission statement will help you narrow down your choices and apply only to…
Choosing the Best Medical Schools for YOU
You’ve taken the MCAT, completed all the pre-reqs, and maybe shadowed a physician, done some research, and volunteered. Now it’s time to make sure you’re all in for the last legs of this long journey. In this series, we’ll discuss how you can continue to navigate your way to a med school acceptance by analyzing…
How To Research Medical Schools
Considering that there are 125 allopathic medical schools in the U.S., deciding which schools to apply to can be overwhelming, especially since selecting the right schools can make or break your chances of acceptance. Factors to Consider When Narrowing Down Your Medical School Choices To help you choose the best medical schools to apply to,…
How to Use the MSAR to Choose the Best Medical Schools for You
If you are applying to allopathic medical schools, you will need to purchase access to the Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) website. It costs $28 for one year of access. It is published each spring, usually in April, by the AAMC and includes the admission statistics for all participating members – 152 U.S. and 17…
5 Tips for Researching Medical Schools
This post is the fifth in our series on applying to med school in the most efficient and timely manner. You’ve got six months to make this happen. Make sure you do it right by following the tips in Med School Action Plan: 6 Steps for the 6 Months Before You Apply. In deciding which schools…
Medical School Application Strategy: MD vs. DO Programs
Before you decide whether you want to apply to allopathic (MD) and/or osteopathic (DO) medical schools, I recommend that you shadow both types of doctors. They each represent dramatically different approaches to health and healing. Gaining exposure to both forms of medicine will help you make an informed decision about what types of treatment options you…
How Do You Compare to Last Year’s Admitted Medical School Applicants?
In reviewing the matriculation data for the 2017-18 cycle from AMCAS, there are several trends that can be used to inform your application strategy and increase your chances of acceptance. For last cycle, 816,153 applications were submitted by 51,680 applicants, and 21,338 were accepted. In other words, 41.3% of applicants matriculated. AAMC’s data about applicants…