Medical school is notoriously difficult to get into, and for good reason. These schools train healthcare professionals that deal with life-or-death situations every day. Only about 41 percent of applicants to medical school get that critical acceptance letter.
What medical school you get into significantly impacts your career, too. Students who dream of attending a medical school often look for one that is the right fit for them. They look at factors such as location, tuition, and earned degrees.
The ranking does matter when choosing a medical school, though. It’s something potential students sometimes overlook. This article will discuss why rankings matter when considering how to get into medical school and which schools rank at the top.
Why Should Medical School Ranking Matter to Applicants?
Medical school rankings are about more than just prestige. Higher-ranked schools have more diversity in desired specialties and subspecialties. Often medical students change their specialty once they have exposure to more options.
The medical industry is a highly competitive one, too. Residency programs will sometimes give priority to graduates from high-ranking schools. That’s true even though most of the accredited medical schools provide a strong education. The quality of your residency training can set the stage for your entire career.
How Are Medical Schools Ranked?
U.S. News provides insight into how they rank the best medical schools in the US based on a set methodology that includes:
- Qualitative Assessment that is broken down by peer and residency directors
- Research activity based on both facility members and institution
- Student selectivity related to MCAT total scores, undergraduate GPAs, and acceptance rates
- Faculty resources
Using this data, U.S. News lists the best medical schools each year.
Top Ranking Medical Schools
It is the U.S. News that many students turn to when looking at medical school rankings. They break their list down by specialty.
Best Medical Schools for Specializing in Research
- Harvard University, Massachusetts
- Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
- University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania
- Columbia University, New York
- Duke University, North Carolina
Best Medical Schools for Specializing in Primary Care
- University of Washington, Washington
- University of Minnesota, Minnesota
- Oregon Health and Science University, Oregon
- University of New Mexico, New Mexico
- University of California – San Francisco, California
Best Medical Schools for Specializing in Internal Medicine
- Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
- Harvard University, Massachusetts
- University of California – San Francisco, California
- Duke University, North Carolina
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan
Best Medical Schools for Specializing in Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Harvard University, Massachusetts
- Johns Hopkins University, Maryland
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Duke University, North Carolina
- University of California – San Francisco, California
You may notice some schools appear multiple times. These schools tend to appear on most overall lists for top medical schools:
- Harvard University
- Johns Hopkins University
- University of California – San Francisco
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of Pennsylvania
There are also schools that don’t appear on the U.S. News top lists but do on others, such as the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Minnesota and Stanford University in California.
Navigating Your Path to Medical School
With a myriad of options available, how can you pinpoint the medical school that aligns perfectly with your goals and aspirations? Advanced eClinical Training’s (ACT) medical school admissions consulting program is here to guide you on your unique journey to medical school, offering you personalized assistance from an experienced MD mentor who knows first-hand the obstacles and rewards associated with making this life-changing decision.
Our comprehensive one-on-one mentorship program is meticulously designed to help you make informed, strategic choices that will set the foundation for your future medical career. This begins with selecting the right schools to apply to, understanding why they’re the right fit, and navigating through their specific application processes as you brace yourself to take the exciting leap into medical school.
All our mentors are highly accomplished M.D.s with extensive expertise in:
- Prerequisite coursework and planning
- Medical school applications
- Resume building
- Interview preparation
- Rejection analysis and feedback
- Clinical experience guidance
- MCAT preparation
- Strategic timeline planning
- Crafting compelling personal statements
When you join our program, you are empowered to choose a mentorship plan that is tailored to your individual needs and budget, making our service not only highly personalized but also incredibly affordable. This ensures you receive the right support exactly when you need it, without straining your resources. Beyond this, you’ll gain access to a vast array of resources that can provide answers to your burning questions, along with dedicated one-on-one planning sessions with your MD mentor. Our pre-med program conducts all live mentor sessions virtually, providing the flexibility you need.
At ACT, we’re not just about getting you into medical school; we’re committed to setting you up for success in your medical career. Enroll now to discover the transformative power of a customized pre-medical mentorship on your career trajectory. At ACT, we’re not just about getting you into medical school; we’re committed to setting you up for success in your medical career.
