What is osteopathic medicine? Osteopathic medicine (OM) has a distinct philosophy, emphasizing a whole-person approach, partnering with patients, and wellness. The four tenets of the osteopathic approach are as follows, according to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: While allopathic schools have begun integrating these concepts into their curriculum, they are long-standing core…
What Is a Good MCAT Score for Getting into Medical School?
You’ve spent months in an MCAT review course, taken practice test after practice test, and finally sat for the exam. Your results are in. Are they good enough to get you into your target medical school? Let’s take a look at what your scores mean. MCAT scores and your grades are weighted differently. The primary…
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…
Who Gets Accepted to Medical School?
So you want to become a doctor. You have definitely had an aunt at a family dinner tell you, “Medical school? It is way too competitive; try something easier!” Your aunt is right. Getting into medical school is notoriously difficult. In the 2020-2021 application cycle, there were 53,030 people who applied to medical school, but…
What Med School Applicants Need to Know About the University of Colorado School of Medicine [Episode 359]
A conversation with Dr. Nichole Zehnder, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine [Show summary] Dr. Nichole Zehnder, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Student Affairs at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, shares an overview of the school’s unique offerings and admissions process for prospective med…
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,…
Comparing In-State and Out-of-State Medical School Acceptance Rates
You’re applying to medical school. You know the drill – you have the best chance of getting into your home state med programs AND they’ll be your most affordable option (usually). But what if you apply and don’t get into the in-state schools? Or what if your state doesn’t have the best programs for you?…
Should You Apply to a Safety School?
Many applicants who are targeting top ranked programs wonder if they should consider adding a lower-ranked school to their list as a “safety school.” Should you? And is there such a thing? What is a safety school? A safety school is one where you are highly competitive, that is strong in your area of interest,…
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 Many Medical Schools Should You Apply To?
The 2018 AMCAS application will be available soon and the MCAT is looming. Have you chosen your schools yet? Which med schools are the best schools for you? How many should you apply to? Sounds like you have some big decisions to make! Consider the following: • Applying to medical school is expensive. The basic…
5 Questions to Help You Decide Where to Apply to Med School
There are literally hundreds of medical schools in the U.S. to choose from – how do you choose where to apply? Ask yourself the following five questions – their answers will help you narrow down your school selection list and choose the ones that are best for YOU. Question #1: Should you go in-state? This…
Where Should I Apply To Med School?
Which medical schools will be best for you? How should you go about selecting the medical schools to apply to? These are two of the most important and strategic questions you’ll have to answer during the application process. These decisions will directly impact how you navigate the med school maze and will increase your chances…
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…
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…