Stanford Medical School: How to Get in

Mission Statement

To be a premier research-intensive medical school that improves health through leadership, diversity, and a collaborative approach to discovery and innovation in patient care, education, and research.

Admissions Statistics and Eligibility

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 1.0%
• In-state Acceptance Rate: 0.97%
• Out-of-state Acceptance Rate: 1.0%
• International Acceptance Rate: 1.23%
• Median GPA: 3.92
• Median MCAT: 519

Eligibility

Stanford welcomes applicants from all over the world. International students are welcome, however, they must have at least one year of academic experience at a college or university in the US, Canada, or the United Kingdom before applying to Stanford Medical School.

Students must have a Bachelor’s degree at the time of matriculation. The MCAT is required. Students’ MCAT must be written within four years before matriculation year.

Selection Factors

MCAT and GPA

The average accepted GPA is 3.92 and the average accepted MCAT score is 519. While there are no minimum cut-offs, you should be aiming for these scores and you should have an outstanding application if your scores are slightly below the averages. GPA is one of the hardest factors to control as it represents years of work. However, through careful course selection and time management you can achieve an excellent GPA. Check out medical school GPA requirements for more tips on maximizing your GPA.

Your MCAT score is also an important factor in your Stanford application. Important note: Stanford looks at MCAT scores from every attempt. So while retaking the MCAT is a possibility, keep in mind Stanford will combine the scores of all attempts.

Coursework and Undergrad

Stanford Medicine requires the completion of a bachelor’s degree before matriculation, although there is no restriction on major or program.

Prerequisites and Recommended Courses

Stanford Medicine does not have specific course prerequisites, since course content differs significantly among institutions. However, applicants must demonstrate having knowledge and experience in:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Laboratory or Field Experiments
• Behavioral and Social Sciences
• Communication
• Fluency in a foreign language is highly recommended

Stanford recommends having the following minimum to prepare for medical school:

• 2 years of chemistry with lab (including exposure to general chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry, and biochemistry)
• 1 year of biology with lab
• 1 year of physics with labs

Stanford values a breadth of courses. While you can and should be taking upper-level science courses with labs to showcase your skills, don’t neglect humanities and social science courses in your undergrad. Demonstrating your skills in communication, ethics, psychology, and foreign languages is a great way to set you apart from other applicants.

Extracurriculars

Your extracurriculars are very important! Here is a breakdown of the type of extracurriculars successful applicants participated in: The most common premedical experiences for first-year students are:

What does this figure tell you about getting into Stanford? Almost every successful applicant had research experience coming into Stanford. You must prioritize research experience if you want to get into Stanford.

There are a number of ways to gain research experience in your undergraduate program, from volunteering in a professor’s lab to participating in REU programs. Extracurriculars show that you have explored the practical and social aspects of the medical profession and that you have an idea of what being a physician will entail. However, you should remember that quality always trumps quantity, your extracurriculars must show initiative and dedication to the field of medicine.

While research is key to admission to Stanford medicine, don’t neglect other categories. The vast majority of matriculants to Stanford also have medical volunteering experience, physician shadowing experience, and some sort of community service.

Applicant Essays

The personal statement is an opportunity to share your journey and how this will ultimately make you an excellent physician. If you're applying to Stanford you already have an excellent GPA and MCAT score. You do not need to brag about your scores in the letters. Instead focus on what makes you unique. Consider Stanford's core values as a research-intensive school training the leaders of the medical field. How has your journey prepared you for a place in this institution? Focus on activities and experiences that display research excellence, leadership, and why you are uniquely qualified to be in Stanford's program.

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Secondary Essays

Stanford does require secondary essays as part of their medical school application. Given low acceptance rates, making your secondary essay stand out is an important part of getting into Stanford. Stanford secondary essay prompts may change from year to year. However, generally Stanford is trying to assess your suitability for becoming a doctor and how you will fit at Stanford more specifically. Make sure you do your research into what interests you about Stanford and why you will fit in there. For example, why does the Stanford Medicine Discovery Curriculum excite you and how will you excel at its scholarly concentration requirement? Make sure to read our blog to review some successful Stanford Medical School essay examples. You will be required to answer a number of prompts.. Here are previous prompts:

1. Describe in a short paragraph your educational and family background. (E.g., I grew up in New York City, as the 3rd child of a supermarket cashier and a high school principal. I attended Mann High School where my major interests were boxing and drama.) (600 characters max)
2. Select your desired medical practice. Why do you feel you are particularly suited for this practice scenario? What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path? (1,000 characters max) Choose the single answer that best describes your career goals and clinical practice setting: Academic Medicine (Clinical); Academic Medicine (Physician Scientist); Non-Academic Clinical Practice; Health Policy; Health Administration; Primary Care; Public Health/Community Health or Global Health
3. How will you take advantage of the Stanford Medicine Discovery Curriculum and scholarly concentration requirement to achieve your personal career goals? (1,000 characters max)
4. The Committee on Admissions regards the diversity (broadly defined) of an entering class as an important factor in serving the educational mission of the school. The Committee on Admissions strongly encourages you to share unique, personally important and/or challenging factors in your background which may include such discussions as the quality of your early education, gender, sexual orientation, any physical challenges, and life or work experiences. Please describe how these factors have influenced your goals and preparation for a career in medicine and may help you to uniquely contribute to the Stanford learning environment. (2,000 characters max)
5. Please describe how you have uniquely contributed to a community with which you identify. (1,000 characters max)
6. Please describe an experience/situation when you advocated for someone else. (1,000 characters max)
7. (Optional) Please include anything else that will help us understand better how you may uniquely contribute to Stanford Medicine? (1,000 characters max)

Stanford prompts are a bit longer and more in depth than some other schools, so make sure you spend time preparing your answers! Try to be specific as possible when answering the prompts, mention aspects of Stanford’s curriculum or community that excite you or you will excel in.

Recommendation Letters

Stanford accepts all three recommendation letter options: Committee Letter, Letter Packet, and Individual Letter. Stanford requests a minimum of three and a maximum of six individual letters of recommendation. Committee letters are not mandatory, but if submitted, only the individual letters will count towards the number of recommendations.

 Letter writers should come from a variety of backgrounds and be able to back up the information in your secondary essays which showcase why you will make an excellent physician. Stanford puts a high value on academic and research excellence; remember this when picking your letter writers. You should select someone who can speak to your abilities in these categories, but also someone who is in a relevant position. For example, a tenured professor who supervised your research directly is a stronger letter writer than a graduate student lab instructor in a course you excelled in.

Learn all you need to know about medical school recommendation letters from our blog.

Interview Format

Stanford holds Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). The interviews are facilitated in a specially designed simulation floor. This layout allows smooth relocation of students from room to room. To get ready, you should prepare for the different types of MMI questions you might face. In addition, try going over our sample MMI questions and common medical school interview questions to get some practice!

It’s also worth reviewing some Stanford medical school interview questions, too.

If you’ve been invited for an interview at Stanford you should be confident: you are one of a select group. Remember that Stanford’s interview is not about finding the highest-achieving physician; clearly you are successful if you have been invited to interview. Instead, focus on those soft skills that are vital to the practice of medicine like communication and empathy.

MSTP (MD/PhD) and MD interviews are conducted separately on two consecutive days. Your MSTP interview will include a meeting with the Program Director, who will discuss the unique structure and aspects of the Stanford program. You will also have formal interviews with faculty and advanced MSTP students.

Acceptance and Waitlist Information

Stanford Medical School acceptance letters are usually sent between late January and early March. Students who received an acceptance have up to two weeks to acknowledge receipt of the offer of admission through the electronic system. You can defer entrance requests. Every year Stanford Medicine does have a variable number of waitlist positions. Generally, offers of admissions are sent out from the waitlist to acceptable candidates in late April until the class size is filled. Learn how to get off a medical school waitlist in our blog.

Application Timeline

This is the general timeline of the Stanford Medical School application process. Make sure you check the exact medical school application timelines on their website or in the AAMC portal.

Tuition

• Tuition and fees for in-state and out-of-state students: $66,500
• Total cost of attendance: $113,318 per year
• Students receiving financial aid: 86%
• Average graduating debt at Stanford: $122,830

Funding Opportunities

Stanford Medical School offers different types of financial aid to its students. Their official website will have more information on specific eligibility and application requirements. According to Stanford’s website, 85% of medical students receive some form of financial aid.

Institutional Aid

Internal grants and bursaries are very limited and therefore are awarded to students with the most need. Stanford does not offer merit-based scholarships. These loans are meant to ease the burden of costs for students and families that cannot afford to fund their medical education.

Stanford Loan

Stanford University loans are subsidized private loans that are offered by the university. They are granted to students with limited financial resources. Your eligibility will be determined by the financial aid office.

Stanford Medical Scholars Research Program

This program provides opportunities for students to carry out independent research in any area of the medical field while also offsetting the cost of the MD program.

MedScholars proposals have a variety of applications and regulations depending on your program. Check out the MedScholars website for more information.

Residency Match Rates

Stanford’s generally boasts some of the highest match rates amongst US medical schools. In recent years they have achieved 100% residency mate rates, with most years having at least 98%. Popular specialties include Psychiatry and Oncology. Approximately half of all graduates matched into residencies in California, with around half of these matching into a Stanford-affiliated hospital. While it’s not a requirement to match into a California institution expressing interest in practicing in California may make your application stand out.

Available Programs

Academic Curriculum

Stanford is proud of its unique MD Discovery Curriculum. This improved approach to medical study allows MD students to complete their programs at a more personalized pace. All students must complete the same courses during the first year and then have a flexible option to complete pre-clerkship requirements in two or three years. Students use the extra year to pursue independent research, dual degrees, or other endeavors beneficial to their development as a future physician.

Familiarizing yourself with this program and highlighting why you think you will succeed in it are key to a successful Stanford application!

 Students can also choose whether they take the USMLE Step 1 exam immediately following completion of the pre-clerkship curriculum or in the first clinical year.

Campus and Faculty

Stanford School of Medicine is located in Stanford, California, within the greater Stanford University campus about one hour away from San Francisco. Proximity to tech industry leaders and renowned research institutions provides unique opportunities for internships and collaborative projects in California. Stanford University is a great option for you if you want to be close to all the action but you don’t necessarily want to live in a big city.

Affiliated Teaching Hospitals

Stanford Medicine is affiliated with several prestigious teaching hospitals. The primary affiliated hospitals include Stanford Health Care (Stanford Hospital) in Palo Alto, known for its advanced patient care and innovative research; Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, specializing in pediatric and obstetric care with a family-centered approach; the VA Palo Alto Health Care System, which offers a wide range of services to veterans and is noted for its research in mental health, geriatrics, and rehabilitation; and Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, which provides care to underserved populations and diverse clinical experiences in primary care and emergency medicine.

If one or more of these hospitals matches your interests or your previous experience it is a great idea to highlight this in your application.

Research Fields

Stanford Medicine is renowned for its cutting-edge research across various fields and knowledge of these fields is essential for a successful application. Key research areas include:

1. Cancer Biology: Stanford researchers are engaged in pioneering studies on cancer mechanisms, diagnostics, and treatments. The Stanford Cancer Institute is a designated comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
2. Cardiovascular Medicine: The Stanford Cardiovascular Institute conducts extensive research on heart disease, including the development of new treatments and preventive strategies.
3. Neuroscience: Stanford's neuroscience research encompasses brain function, neurological disorders, and psychiatric conditions. The Stanford Neurosciences Institute and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute facilitate interdisciplinary research.

Highlighting one of these institutes (or one of the man others) at Stanford in your application will showcase you have down your research and that Stanford is the right fit for you.

Notable Faculty

Stanford Medicine boasts an impressive roster of notable faculty, including several Nobel Prize winners. Among them, Paul Berg, Ph.D., awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1980 who pioneered gene-splicing techniques. Roger D. Kornberg, Ph.D., received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2006 for his studies on the molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription. Brian Kobilka, M.D., a 2012 Nobel laureate in Chemistry, advanced the understanding of cell signaling through his work on G-protein-coupled receptors.

Contact Information

Stanford admissions website.

Medical School Admissions: (650) 723-6861.

E-mail: [email protected]

FAQs

To your success,

Your friends at BeMo

BeMo Academic Consulting

Disclaimer: BeMo does not endorse or affiliate with any universities, colleges, or official test administrators. The content has been developed based on the most recent publicly available data provided from the official university website. However, you should always check the statistics/requirements with the official school website for the most up to date information. You are responsible for your own results.

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