Easiest Medical Schools to Get into in

Whether you are still choosing between DO vs MD or have made up your mind which path to take, check out these stats and find the right school for you! This is the same list we share with our successful students when they first sign up for one of our medical school admissions consulting programs.

Easiest MD Medical Schools to get into in the United States:

Easiest DO Medical Schools to get into in the United States:

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15 Least Competitive or Easiest Medical (MD) Schools Based on Median Accepted GPA

12 Least Competitive or Easiest Medical (MD) Schools Based on Median Accepted MCAT Scores

Applying to medical school? Here's why you should pursue the easiest med schools to get into:

7 Easiest Osteopathic (DO) Medical Schools to Get in to Based on GPA

Want to know the secret to getting into med school with a low GPA? Watch this video!

10 Easiest Osteopathic (DO) Medical Schools to Get in to Based on MCAT

Find the answers to most Frequently Asked Questions about the easiest medical schools to get into:

Easiest Medical Schools to Get into In Canada:

Check out this video to learn the admissions data you need to know to get accepted!

What You Need to Know About the Easiest Med Schools to Get Into

The medical school admission statistics in the tables above can certainly help inform you as you begin your medical school application journey. But remember that this is only the beginning, and there are several things you’ll need to consider and questions you’ll need to ask yourself before you start applying to every school on this list.

1. Medical School Admission Statistics Don’t Tell the Whole Story

The first point to consider is that the statistics don’t tell the whole story. Acceptance rates can tell you how competitive a medical school is, and median GPAs and MCAT scores can give you an idea of matriculants’ academic strengths, but there’s no way to measure the qualitative aspects of medical school applications. Your GPA and MCAT are only a part of your overall application, and while they are important, they alone don’t determine whether you’ll get in. It’s also worth noting that because medical school acceptance rates are notoriously competitive, a majority of students will consider applying to the easiest medical schools to get into. This means these schools may receive significantly more applications, making the applicants’ pool much larger and thereby increasing the competition. This may not be an issue for applicants with excellent applications, so it’s important to make sure your application stands out.

So, when evaluating the easiest medical schools to get into, take these statistics with a grain of salt, and include all the available factors in your selection process when deciding which schools to apply to.

2. Are “Easier” Medical Schools Less Reputable?

Some students worry that their grades aren’t competitive enough for the more prestigious medical schools, like Harvard Medical School or Stanford Medical School, but they are leery of applying to the easiest med schools because they might impact their future careers as doctors. However, there’s no need to worry, as all medical schools in the US have to meet the same high educational standards, and while some schools will be viewed as more prestigious, many of the schools on the lists above are well-regarded and respected. So, as long as school’s profile matches with your goals and you meet the admission requirements, don’t be afraid to add it to your medical school application list.

3. Why You Should Apply to the Easiest Medical Schools Get Into…But Not Exclusively

While the easiest medical schools may have more relaxed admission criteria, you should select the medical schools you apply to based on more than just acceptance rates. While a more competitive school will be harder to get into, it may have a curriculum that appeals to you, or provide clinical opportunities that aren’t available at other schools. Build your list of potential medical schools based on where you meet the GPA and MCAT thresholds. If you do not at least meet these requirements, it is likely your application will be weeded out in the initial evaluation. However, it is likely your GPA and MCAT do meet the requirements for schools that are not as “easy” to get into, so add these to your list of potentials to start. Once you have a list of schools where you meet the minimum GPA and MCAT requirements, you can narrow your medical school choice list down to your top choices, reach schools and lower choice schools.

So, while you shouldn’t necessarily limit your medical school list to the easiest schools, it’s not a bad idea to include any and all schools which match your applicant profile and values, regardless of their competitiveness. And in the end, your choice of medical school will not determine how good a doctor you will be. A school’s prestige will not guarantee you excel in medical school, and a lower-tier school will not necessarily produce inferior doctors. The kind of doctor you become is entirely up to you, the hard work you put into medical school, and the opportunities you pursue in your career. 

After going through our lists, now it’s time to consider some other factors that influence the competitiveness of a medical school. You'll need to consider all the following factors when choosing the right medical schools to apply to.

Unique Ways to Boost Your Chances of Acceptance

Even when applying to the easiest medical schools to get into, you’ll still need to craft a stellar med school application. And most importantly, you’ll need to make sure your application is memorable compared to the many other medical school applicants. Even if your GPA or MCAT just barely meet the expectations of the more competitive schools, the rest of your application needs to make the grade. Here are some of our tips on how to create a stand-out medical school application.

1. Start medical school research in junior year

The first rule of applying to medical schools is to start as early as possible. This means starting your medical school application journey years in advance, during your undergraduate years. We recommend starting to research medical schools you might want to apply to in your junior year of college. This gives you plenty of time to curate a list of potential schools based on admissions data and your applicant profile, as well as to see which programs match your values, career goals and interests. You may be interested in schools which prize medical research, or you may want to find a school which has state-of-the-art facilities and unique clinical experiences to offer students. Starting this early ensures you know what the admission requirements are for your chosen schools and gives you time to close any discrepancies in your application. For instance, if your GPA is too low to get you into Yale Medical School, use this time to hire a tutor and get your grades up. Or, if you’re missing research experience and strong recommendation letters, look into premedical research positions and foster relationships with your professors and research supervisors. If you’re missing some extracurriculars, start now and put in the hours before you graduate.

2. Test-drive your future career

Not only are shadowing hours and clinical hours a requirement for most medical schools, having medical experience on your medical school resume is a huge plus when applying. How many clinical and shadowing hours you need for medical school varies depending on the program, but having quality experience can certainly help you stand out from the crowd at easier and more popular medical schools. With some shadowing hours or clinical experience, you can show medical schools you’re serious about becoming a doctor and that you’re dedicated to learning what it takes.

Learn how to ask to shadow a doctor and start getting that experience as soon as possible. Shadowing is a great way to test the waters of your future career and get an idea what doctors do on a daily basis. It’s a good item to have on your medical school resume to show you at least somewhat understand what it’s like being a doctor and have had some exposure to the medical community. Shadowing can also be a way for you to find opportunities for more hands-on, clinical experience or volunteering positions. If you’re not sure where to look, start by reaching out to any doctors you have in your acquaintance, ask your professors for recommendations or reach out to your school’s medical college, if there is one attached. You can also inquire at local hospitals or clinics to see if any doctors have shadowing availability. If possible, you should shadow at least one DO practitioner, as this will give you a better idea of what osteopathic doctors do on a daily basis, and it will look better to admission committees. Check with local hospitals or clinics if they have any DO practitioners that you can ask to shadow.

Interested in seeing factors you should keep in mind? This infographic is for you:

3. Participate in research

How important is research for medical school? Participating in research projects is one of the best ways for premeds to put themselves ahead of the competition. Whether you’re participating in undergraduate premed research opportunities or a summer research program, it can help your application stand out, show admission committees that you have a deeper interest in the medical field and demonstrate your attention to detail, curiosity, and organizational skills. It’s also a handy way to source medical school recommendation letters by asking your research supervisors to write one. If you plan to apply to a research-focused medical school or pursue an MD-PhD, having prior research experience is even more important, as you’ll be expected to take on significant research projects in medical school, and having that background shows the admissions committee that you have taken the initiative to learn and develop your research skills.

Having some research experience makes you a better candidate for medical school’s rigors, as well. Through research, students can develop their critical thinking and analysis skills, learn more about the broader medical research field and emerging studies, and prepare for research projects they will participate in in medical school. Research is also beneficial when it comes to preparing for your clinical rotations in medical school. During your rotations, you’ll be encountering a great amount of new, complex medical information and having the skills and knowledge developed from research will create a solid foundation of learning for you. If medical school admissions committees can see that you are already readying yourself for the challenges of medical school and can show that you’re equipped to stick with those challenges, you will stand out as a candidate.

You can find premed research opportunities through your university or college, or you can find virtual research positions for premeds.

4. Boost GPA or MCAT

If you’re still in undergraduate courses, you still have chances to boost your GPA and improve your grades. You can consider hiring a tutor to help you boost your grades in your courses or retake courses in which you performed poorly. If you’ve started your medical school research early on, you’ll still have time to boost your GPA and MCAT score so you can have a better shot of getting into your top-choice school.

For aspiring premeds who are still in high school, you can give yourself a hand by enrolling in an undergraduate major that interests you and you will excel in. Your undergrad major won’t be a significant factor on your med school application, so don’t feel the need to enroll in a science major just to improve your chances. As long as you’ve completed any required prerequisites, you will be fine. Check out medical school acceptance rates by major for some insight into how your undergrad major plays into medical school applications.

Many students worry their MCAT score will not be competitive enough. You can boost your chances of acing the test by creating an ideal MCAT study schedule, and giving yourself at least 6 months of dedicated study. You can also hire an MCAT tutor or enroll in an MCAT prep course for personalized help and preparation. When choosing your medical schools, check to make sure your MCAT score at least meets the median score, or apply to medical schools that don’t require the MCAT if you want to avoid the test altogether. For those who retake the MCAT to boost their score, keep in mind that some schools will take only your most recent score, while others will consider only your highest score or the average of all your scores.

5. Nail the personal statement

Your personal statement for medical school is the most important qualitative aspect of your application. For students whose academic performance is less competitive, the personal statement is even more crucial. You’ll need to write a truly compelling essay that captures your reader’s attention and shows them what you will bring to the table as a future doctor. Your personal statement should focus on a powerful narrative you can share about your motivation for studying medicine and what has influenced you to pursue it. Your aim is to impress upon your reader why want to be a doctor by telling your unique story. Ask yourself a few brainstorming questions to get started:

1. Why do I want to become a doctor?
2. What event sparked my interest in medicine?
3. Which experiences grew my interest and knowledge of medicine?
4. What lessons did I learn from those experiences? What did I take away from those experiences about the medical field?
5. What event solidified my decision to apply to medical school? Why?

Writing a winning personal statement is a challenging, but worthy goal, as it can significantly aid your application, even to the easiest schools. Your statement should have a very clear and strong reason as to why you are applying to med school and demonstrate how your interest in medicine has grown over a period of time. Take at least 8 weeks to work on your personal statement. Brainstorm ideas, write multiple drafts and ask someone to read it and provide feedback. A medical school admissions tutor can be a great resource for providing detailed, personalized feedback on your essay. Don’t forget to proofread your essay once it’s finished! Read some medical school personal statement examples to help you get started on learning how to write a strong personal statement.

6. Show yourself outside of academia and medicine

Volunteering in your community is not only a great way to boost your extracurriculars for medical school, but they are also especially desirable to some of the easiest medical schools on the list. Many of the programs we listed in the tables above are in smaller communities and rural areas, so applicants who have taken an interest in helping out in their communities and serving their communities will stand out. For instance, if you’ve spent time volunteering for your community food bank or soup kitchen, if you help tutor or mentor kids on your weekends. Medically related volunteering is a terrific option, too. Volunteers are always needed at hospitals, medical clinics, nursing homes and similar facilities. Med schools will sometimes share what kinds of volunteer activities their matriculants have, which can guide you on which activities to choose for yourself. However, what matters most is that you demonstrate a solid commitment to the role. So, several years of volunteering at your local animal shelter will look more impressive than volunteering as a summer camp counselor for 2 weeks. Try to find volunteering opportunities that attract your interest, so you can be fully involved and dedicated to the experience, rather than volunteering for the sake of accumulating hours. How many volunteer hours for medical school you’ll need will vary by school, same as shadowing hours, but getting involved in community volunteering that interests you is always a bonus. If you’re not sure where to look for volunteering positions, do an internet search for local organizations in your community, reach out to local charities, or ask friends and family for recommendations.

7. Showcase your suitability in secondaries

Some medical schools will send secondary applications and secondary essay prompts to strong applicants they are interested in or to all applicants as a way to further narrow the applicant pool. Even if a secondary essay is marked as optional, use every chance to further diversify yourself and add a bit more to your initial application, even if you think you’re already a strong applicant. Secondary essays are used by admissions committees to determine whether you’re a good fit for their program, whether your values align with the program’s core values, and how you will contribute to their program. As you’re writing your secondary essays, always think about how you can showcase the abilities and qualities you have which exemplify the school’s core values and embody the school’s mission statement. You can find medical school mission statements and core values on each school’s website, as well as information on what they are looking for in ideal candidates. Don’t guess at what schools want and read for yourself! Reflect on what each school’s mission statement and values really mean. Then use this information to demonstrate how you are the best candidate for their medical program.

Consult the list of medical school secondary essay prompts so you’ll know what questions you’ll be asked and start preparing your answers. You will need a very strong answer to the “why this medical school” essay prompt, especially, since the more popular or “easier” medical schools will want to know you’re interested specifically in their programs to weed out candidates.

8. Ace your interview

This is the final round of admissions, so the competition is at an all-time high. It is also the first time the admissions committee will be meeting you in person, and not on paper. It’s crucial to make an impression if you want to stand out in a medical school interview. Your medical school interview is your final chance to sway the admissions committee, so you need to give strong answers, especially to the questions “why do you want to be a doctor” or “why this medical school”. Medical schools want to know you are applying to their school for specific, strong reasons, not just because they are “easier” to get into. Your goal is to show your interviewers that you want to attend their program specifically. Share your top reasons why you applied to their program. Do they have a strong research focus? Are there clinical opportunities available at that program that appeal to you? Do the school’s core values resonate with you and your career goals? Make a connection between your own personal goals and the attributes or mission of the school.

It’s also a good idea to research how each school conducts their interviews. A majority will use either traditional panel interviews or multiple mini interviews (MMI). A handful of schools use additional interviewing methods such as telephone interviews or one-on-one interviews. Knowing which format you can expect will tell you how to prepare for your medical school interview. For MMI interviews, you’ll need to be ready for the multiple different timed stations, therefore your answers will need to be detailed and concise. For a panel interview or phone interview, you’ll have more time to create a connection with your interviewer and weave a narrative. To know how to prepare for an MMI or panel interview, mock interviews are the best method. Once you know what type of interview format you need to practice, set up some mock med school interviews so you can simulate the experience. Check out the different types of multiple mini interview questions or use MMI practice questions so you can get comfortable with this interview format.

Want BeMo's help getting into medical school? Listen to this review from one of our success stories!

How to Choose the Right Medical School

After going through our lists, now it’s time to consider some other factors that influence the competitiveness of a medical school. You'll need to consider all the following factors when choosing the right medical schools to apply to.

#1 In-state vs Out-of-state

Your residency status matters when it comes to medical school admissions. This is especially true of medical schools in the US. Many public medical schools in the US have a limit on the number of out-of-state applicants they can accept. These schools give preference to residents of their own states. This is done for several reasons, the most important of which is the state’s subsidies. The government subsidizes the tuition of in-state applicants since they are the taxpayers of this state. Additionally, in-state applicants are more likely to stay and practice medicine in their home state, which will inevitably benefit the state when the student graduates from medical school and joins a residency program. This is why many medical schools have a distinction between in-state and out-of-state applicants, and even use different metrics to assess candidates from out-of-state. 

Medical schools in Texas and medical schools in California are good examples of such restrictions. Texas even has its own application system, the TMDSAS, to control the admissions process within the state. And while there are many wonderful medical schools in California that do accept out-of-state applicants, many med schools give preference to California residents. Also worth noting, that public schools are some of the cheapest medical schools for in-state applicants.

When you review our lists above, keep this distinction in mind. For example, while Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine has a high overall acceptance rate of 8.52%, the out-of-state acceptance rate is 3.07% - which is still pretty high compared to some other med schools but significantly lower than the overall acceptance rate. So, when you are looking for the easiest medical school to get into, make sure to check out out-of-state friendly US medical schools.

#2 Public vs Private

In the United States, medical schools can either be public or private. The former typically favor in-state applicants, as we mentioned in the previous section of our article. In public schools, admissions requirements for in-state applicants tend to be lower than for their out-of-state counterparts, and medical school tuition is generally lower as well.

This is why if you are applying to out-of-state schools, you should look for out-of-state friendly medical schools, i.e., schools that consider out-of-state applicants equal to in-state applicants. Alternatively, you should look at private medical schools.

Private med schools do not care about your residency status. The admissions process and tuition costs are the same for all applicants, so whether you are applying in-state or out-of-state, your chances for acceptance are the same. While private medical schools tend to be more expensive, their tuition is comparable to the tuition costs you would pay as an out-of-state applicant in a public school.

Keep in mind that the admissions requirements are equal for in-state and out-of-state students, so private schools are also incredibly competitive. Some of the most prestigious medical schools in the world are private, such as Ivy League medical schools, Stanford medical school, Tulane medical school, and so on. 

#3 School Profiles

This is worth repeating: your GPA and MCAT are not everything. While the tables above should help you choose a medical school where your stats meet the requirements, remember that the rest of your application must be stellar. Meeting the required minimums is a good first step to crafting a great medical school application, but your essays, references, and activities must also be fitting for the schools you are applying to.

Applying blindly and carelessly is one of the most common mistakes students make. They think that just because a school has a low GPA and MCAT requirements, they do not have to work hard on the rest of the application. In reality, the rest of your application is even more important if you are trying to get into medical school with a low GPA or MCAT. Furthermore, when you are planning which schools to apply to, you must carefully consider the schools’ mission statements, objectives, goals, and class profiles to see whether you are a good fit for the schools you want to attend. Only then can you craft a fitting personal statement, AMCAS works and Activities, and secondaries. Your application must demonstrate why the medical schools you apply to would be lucky to have you as a student! If you apply blindly, without appropriate research, this cannot be achieved.

#4 Play to Your Strengths

This is closely tied to our previous point – you must play to your strengths to increase your chances of acceptance! Even the easiest medical schools to get into will accept applicants who are not a good fit. Examine your strengths and weaknesses and plan your applications accordingly.

For example, if you are trying to get into medical school with a low MCAT, consider applying to schools that do not require the test score. If you are a commissioned officer looking to become a military doctor, look for medical schools where your background will be valued. The medical school application process is meticulous and long. Give yourself time to find schools that would appreciate and value your accomplishments and disregard your gaps. 

#5 Cost and Location

The cost of medical school and the location of the campus are important factors to consider, too. For instance, private medical schools typically have higher tuition costs, whereas public and state medical schools may be more affordable. Keep in mind that for out-of-state applicants and international applicants, tuition costs may be higher regardless of whether you attend a private or public school.

Cost can be a factor for a school’s location, too. If the medical school you want to apply to is located in a high cost-of-living city or urban area, you’ll need to carefully budget for living costs while you attend school. On the other hand, if the school you have your eye on is located in a rural area or lower cost-of-living city, it will be more affordable, but you may find fewer clinical opportunities or different opportunities than you are looking for. This is why medical school profiles are important to look at as well, since each school will be able to offer you unique opportunities, partly based on their location. When you’re making a shortlist of medical schools, weigh your budget against the opportunities each school can provide you. If a school is a great fit for you, but out of your budget, look into financial aid or applying for loans to offset the costs.

#6 DO or MD Schools

Lastly, you’ll need to consider whether you want to apply to DO schools, MD schools, or both. While DO school rankings usually reflect higher acceptance rates, making them among the easiest medical schools to get into on paper, this doesn’t mean admission committees for DO schools are less discerning. Your application for a DO school will look entirely different from an MD application, though it will have the same components. And it will need to be a stellar application to give you the best shot of getting into even the easiest DO school. Before you apply to both MD and DO schools, evaluate which career path is the right one for you. Does the approach of osteopathic medicine appeal to you? Is the traditional MD path better for your career goals? Do you want to pursue a competitive specialty that has a higher residency match rate for MDs? If you don’t have a strong preference for either one and both are of interest to you, applying to both MD and DO programs is an option, but remember this is time-consuming, so it is better to ask yourself which path is best for you and to stick with one of the options. If you do decide to prepare separate applications for MD through AMCAS and for DO through AACOMAS, don’t copy and paste your application from one to the other. Take the time to craft applications that are specifically for MD and one focused on DO. As always, whether you’re consider one or the other, or both types of medical schools, be sure to do your due diligence and research the admission statistics of all the schools you’re considering.

Conclusion

While the statistics in the top of this blog can tell you which medical schools are “easiest” to get into based on their acceptance rate, median GPA and median MCAT, getting into medical school is still not an easy feat.

At BeMo, we help thousands of students each year get into medical school and we find that students often ask us for a list of "easiest" or "least competitive" med schools. As a future practicing professional, you are going to be responsible for those under your care, so you have to be well trained and well disciplined. The journey is hard, long and very expensive. We're telling you this because we want you to keep this in mind at all times and whether you are our current student or planning to sign up for our services we want to make sure you understand that we only help students who are serious about becoming an outstanding future doctor and willing to do the hard work to get there.

Lastly, it goes without saying that regardless of what you find here, you are responsible for your own results and you should check the official university websites. 

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Please note: although we have made every effort to provide the most accurate information, admissions information changes frequently. Therefore, we encourage you to verify these details with the official university admissions office. You are responsible for your own results. BeMo does not endorse nor affiliate with any official universities, colleges, or test administrators and vice versa. If you see an error here, please notify us with the updated information, and we’ll send you a FREE copy of a BeMo ebook of your choosing! You can receive our Ultimate Guide to Med School Admissions, our Ultimate Guide to MMI Prep, our Ultimate Guide to Medical School Personal Statements & Secondary Essays or our Ultimate Guide to CASPer Prep! Please email us at [email protected] with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free ebook upon confirming the information.

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