How do I get into a United States medical school?

There are three main ways to gain admission to medical school.

• Combined BA/MD or BS/MD (8 yr) - 8-year integrated medical program

  Entering high school and studying medicine continuously for 8 years.

• Accelerated Program (6 or 7 yr) - Shorter medical program Upon entering this program

  students take the MCAT exam midway, and if they fail to achieve a certain score, admission to medical school becomes impossible. Most schools require the MCAT exam, while a few may not, but once admitted, it's the completion of medical school.

• EAP: Early Assurance Program

  Applying not in high school but during the first or second year of college for an 8-year medical program. The above two methods may vary in terms of timing, but applying to the 8-year integrated medical program is one approach, while the Pre-Med, introduced below, might be more common.

• Pre-Med

  This is the commonly known method of applying to medical school, completing college, and then entering medical school.

List of Universities Offering Integrated Medical Programs

As seen from the above lists, the universities offering integrated medical programs are not the prestigious schools we typically talk about. Those top 20 schools don't offer the 8-year program. Since the 8-year integrated medical schools don't carry high prestige, outstanding students tend not to apply. By offering these programs, these schools attract excellent students who might otherwise end up in Ivy League-tier institutions. One thing to note is that state universities often only admit students from their respective states, so make sure to check before applying.

Pros and Cons of Integrated Medical Programs

The advantage of applying for an 8-year integrated medical program is the continuity in pursuing the career path set during high school. If becoming a doctor directly involved in patient care is the dream, the integrated program is a good choice. The downside of the integrated program is that the school's reputation might not be high. If changing career paths, even with excellent grades, graduating from a school with lower name value can pose challenging situations. Additionally, for those aspiring to be research-focused MDs rather than patient-facing physicians, schools offering the integrated program might have research outcomes and environments relatively inferior to the top 20 schools in name value. To apply to integrated medical school programs like Combined or EAP, or the traditional Pre-Med route after completing undergraduate studies, several factors need attention:

• GPA

  • Ideally, a school's GPA distribution for all students follows a normal distribution. However, due to the pandemic, many students, especially those from lower- and middle-income backgrounds, abandoned their studies. Consequently, even public schools started awarding slightly higher GPAs akin to private schools. This polarization has led to an increase in both lower and higher GPA ranges among students. To stay competitive, managing one's GPA becomes crucial.

• Standardized Test

  • Even if an official or standardized test is optional, submitting scores is advantageous. Strive to achieve the best possible score.

    
    

• Extra Curricular & Essay (EC)

  • Essays play a pivotal role in medical school applications, making ECs crucial. With GPA rises and high SAT/ACT scores becoming common, ECs often serve as a distinguishing factor.

    
    

  • Referring to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), university activities of accepted students at Johns Hopkins Medical School indicate certain trends:
    

    • Research (97%):

      Almost all students engaged in research. High school students conducting research can yield positive outcomes.

    • Medical Work (90%):

      Internships in places like nursing homes or medical facilities offering direct patient interaction are beneficial.

    • Physician Shadowing (84%):

      Seeking similar shadowing opportunities to those accepted at JHU Medical School is advisable for high school students.

    • Community Service (83%):

      Volunteering holds greater importance for medical school applicants compared to students applying to other majors. Hence, thorough exploration is advised.

      
      

Pre-Med students engage in university activities to align their preparation with that of medical students. Understanding one's tendencies through these activities increases the likelihood of a successful application.

For those preparing for medical school, dedicating attention to the aforementioned four EC areas and integrating personal experiences from these activities into their essays can significantly enhance their chances of acceptance.

The acceptance rates for medical school based on majors show interesting trends:

1. Physical Science (chemistry, geography, physics, and astronomy) - 47.7%

   • Applicants: 4,937

   • Acceptances: 2,355

2. Math and Statistics - 47.3%

   • Applicants: 344

   • Acceptances: 163

3. Humanities - 46.4%

   • Applicants: 1,678

   • Acceptances: 780

4. Biological Science - 40.6%

   • Applicants: 30,693

   • Acceptances: 12,484

5. Social Science (psychology, political science, and economics) - 39.8%

   • Applicants: 5,001

   • Acceptances: 995

     
     

As observed, Math and Statistics had a low number of applicants compared to other majors, while Biological Science had an overwhelmingly high number of applicants. Hence, instead of solely focusing on the acceptance rate, considering the number of applicants might be more informative.

For students aiming for medical school, majors like Biological Science or Physical Science could be advantageous due to their alignment with prerequisite coursework requirements.

 Today, we briefly looked at the fundamental aspects of pursuing medical school. We hope our advice and information provide some assistance in students' career paths. Thank you.