If you are looking for medical school acceptance rates, you've come to the right place. Whether you are applying to DO vs MD programs or looking for the easiest medical schools to get into, you need to know what you are up against before you start working on your medical school applications. Scroll down to see each school's overall acceptance rates, in-state acceptance rate, out-of-state acceptance rate, average accepted GPA, as well as average accepted MCAT scores.
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Medical School Acceptance Rates
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Use our Medical School Chance Predictor to calculate your chances of acceptance!
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Medical School Acceptance Rates: Latest Trends and Insights
How Competitive Are Medical School Acceptance Rates?
Medical school acceptance rates have remained relatively steady over the last several years. Despite some of the very low acceptance rates we can see above, the true numbers are not so discouraging. On average, 43.7% of all medical school applicants in the US were accepted in the previous application cycle, according to the AAMC.
The latest data from the AAMC shows there are more medical school students than ever before, with a total of 99,562 current medical students. The number of first-time matriculants also went up this year, with 23,048 new students enrolling in US medical schools.
The AAMC also reported that the number of premeds applying to medical school declined this year to 51,946 total applicants.
Average Medical School Acceptance Rate for all US Med Schools
Key Factors that Influence Your Medical School Application Admission Chances
The type of medical school and each institution’s applicant preferences can play a significant role in medical school acceptance rates.
Public Medical Schools vs Private Medical Schools
Public medical schools have higher in-state acceptance rates and are motivated to fund medical research initiatives. They have a stronger preference for in-state applicants as these applicants are more likely to practice medicine in their home state.
Private medical schools aren’t as picky about in-state or out-of-state applicants and may offer unique opportunities for students. They also tend to have better financial aid programs for students, making them an attractive option.
A low out-of-state acceptance rate means your chances are slimmer in getting into any out-of-state school, even with a strong application. Medical schools in Texas and medical schools in California are notorious for having low out-of-state acceptance rates, for instance. However, residents of California and Texas have greater incentive to apply to medical schools in their state, such as lower tuition and a higher chance of acceptance.
DO Schools vs MD Schools
Admissions criteria tends to be less stringent for osteopathic medical schools, as well. In general, the acceptance rates for DO medical schools are higher, and the average accepted GPA and MCAT scores are lower. Premeds may choose to apply to DO schools because they are among the medical schools that accept low GPA and accept low MCAT scores.
Check out the latest DO school acceptance rates if you’re interested in applying to osteopathic med programs.
Medical Schools that Accept International Students
Certain medical schools have restrictions on who can apply at all. Not all medical schools accept international students, for instance.
Some US medical schools are considered Canadian-friendly medical schools, meaning they view Canadian applicants as “out-of-state” applicants and the admissions criteria may be more relaxed than it is for other international students.
Diversity in Medical School
Many medical schools aim to create diverse student bodies, considering factors like race, ethnicity, and background. Diversity initiatives in medical schools can impact whether certain types of applicants have an increased chance of acceptance.
In fact, medical schools in Canada and some US medical schools have specialized admissions pathways for Indigenous, Native American and Black students.
And if you think “am I too old for medical school?”, think again. The latest matriculants to medical schools in the US, according to the AAMC, ranged in age from 17 to 50+, with hundreds of successful non-traditional and mature applicants being over the age of 30. There are medical schools for non-traditional applicants or mature applicants that value diverse experiences and backgrounds.
Key Takeaways:
- Public medical schools prioritize in-state applicants and often have higher acceptance rates for residents.
- Private medical schools are generally more flexible regarding in-state vs. out-of-state applicants.
- Private medical schools often offer better financial aid packages, despite higher tuition costs.
- DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) programs generally have higher acceptance rates than MD programs.
- DO schools tend to have lower GPA and MCAT requirements compared to MD schools.
- Osteopathic medicine emphasizes a holistic approach, which may appeal to some premed students.
- Applying to both DO and MD programs can increase chances of acceptance, particularly for applicants with lower stats.
- Many schools have initiatives to increase diversity, considering factors like race, ethnicity, and background.
- Specialized admissions pathways exist for Indigenous, Native American, and Black students in both U.S. and Canadian medical schools.
- Non-traditional applicants (ages 30+) successfully gain admission to medical school each year.
Curious about the easiest medical schools to get into?
How to Increase Your Chances of Medical School Acceptance
Why is it important for premeds to know the latest med school admission statistics? Because the first secret to medical school acceptance is understanding how medical schools evaluate candidates and make admissions decisions.
Armed with the knowledge of medical school competitiveness and what admissions trends there are, you can determine how competitive of an applicant you are and selectively apply to the schools where you stand the best chance of getting in. This helps you answer the question of how many medical schools to apply to.
Medical school admissions requirements (MSAR) and statistics can reveal the selection process and admission trends for specific schools. For instance, whether they prefer in-state applicants, whether they prioritize applicants with impressive academics or those from diverse backgrounds.
Still, the first two stats you need to consider when building your medical school list are GPA and MCAT scores.
The Influence of GPA and MCAT
Med schools may have minimum medical school GPA requirements. On average, the minimum GPA to get into med school is 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, although more selective schools may even bump this up to 3.3.
If you don’t meet these medical school GPA requirements, your application won’t be reviewed. Top schools will not even consider an applicant who presents a GPA or MCAT score below the average accepted GPA or score. So, when reviewing medical school admissions statistics, compare your academic profile to the average GPAs and MCAT scores of accepted medical students—this is the true threshold you need to beat for acceptance.
The AAMC has this resource you can use to determine how competitive your GPA and MCAT is overall, and what your overall chances acceptance chances would be. Remember, though, that these chances represent trends in medical school admissions data, not guarantees!
Mean GPA of Accepted Medical Students = 3.77
Mean MCAT of Accepted Medical Students = 511.7
It is still possible to get into medical school with a low GPA or get into medical school with a low MCAT. Your GPA and MCAT score are tools you can use to get your foot in the door. Just remember that they are not the only part of your med school application that matters.
Our med school admissions expert, Dr. Monica Taneja, would agree:
“MCAT and GPA are important as screening tools. They won’t be the end all for you to get in or be rejected from a school, but they are often that first look. Doing well in undergrad, maintaining a solid academic record, and a high MCAT score shows schools that you can handle rigorous academics. However, the other pieces of your application are what differentiate you from a crowd and will ultimately be why a school chooses to accept you.”
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The Importance of Clinical Experience, Extracurriculars, Admissions Essays and More
Your GPA and MCAT scores undoubtedly influence your chances of medical school acceptance, but they are not the only medical school requirements that have an impact.
- Clinical Experience and Extracurricular Activities: Demonstrated experience in healthcare settings and engagement in relevant extracurricular activities are critical for showing commitment to the field of medicine.
- Personal Statement: This provides insight into the applicant's motivations for pursuing a medical career and their personal qualities.
- Letters of Recommendation: Strong endorsements from credible sources can significantly impact an application.
- Interview Performance: Personal interviews assess an applicant's interpersonal skills, professionalism, and suitability for the medical profession.
- School-Specific Requirements and Preferences: Each medical school may have unique criteria or a specific focus (such as research, primary care, etc.) that influence their selection process.
Average Weight of Medical School Application Components
Note your undergraduate school or choice of undergraduate major are usually more negligible compared to these other admissions factors. Medical school acceptance rates by major certainly indicate a science background is the more common medical major for premeds, but it is possible to get into medical school without a science background, too. Medical schools are more concerned with whether you’re prepared for medical school coursework than what you studied in undergrad.
One of our admissions experts, Dr. Monica Taneja, used MSAR to find out medical school profiles and preferences and use them to her advantage when tailoring her application:
“I did not focus on actual acceptance rates as they are all low … I focused more on my priorities and matching my applicant profile to the school’s profile. MSAR was a great resource as I built a list. I utilized the GPA and MCAT ranges to make sure my statistics were within the 25th-75th percentiles. I also noted the number of volunteer, work, and research experiences that accepted applicants had and focused on schools that had averages that matched my numbers.” – Dr. Monica Taneja, MD
Medical School Application Checklist and Selection Criteria
Here’s a quick checklist you can use when evaluating medical school requirements and determining where to apply. We also included some medical school application tips for what to do if your answer to the questions on this checklist is “no.”
Medical School Acceptance Story: Rishi
We want to emphasize that acceptance rates, average GPA and MCAT scores do not tell the full story when it comes to medical school competitiveness or admissions. Even a “perfect” medical school candidate on paper can face rejection if their application is missing something.
Former BeMo student, Rishi, was a medical school reapplicant, even with a strong premed background and impressive academic stats.
"I went to college at the University of California-Berkeley where I studied molecular and cellular biology. I had a little bit above a 3.9 and I had a 523 on my MCAT. I originally applied to medical school and on my first attempt … [didn’t] get into any medical schools that cycle.”
This is a common story for first-time medical school applicants. Rishi had a high GPA and very competitive MCAT score, but he still received no acceptance letters. Because while medical schools value academic skill, premeds can’t rely on this alone to get into even the easiest medical schools.
Determined to make his second application to medical school a success, Rishi took a gap year and reapplied with some help from medical school admissions consulting. He also identified the weaknesses in his application the first time applying, in order to close any gaps.
“The things that really I think prevented me from getting in the first time around is I was very delayed with my secondaries …. you want to make sure you do it right and are doing it to your best ability because you know I'm living proof that sometimes if you don't do the right things, there are consequences.”
If you are really concerned your applicant profile isn’t enough to get into any medical schools, don’t despair. Applicants with a 4.0 GPA and perfect MCAT score still sometimes face medical school rejection if the rest of their application isn’t strong enough or they aren’t prepared. This also means plenty of students choose to reapply to medical school and improve their application.
If you want to learn more about Rishi’s journey as a successful medical school reapplicant, check out his full interview below to learn more about how he changed his application approach and got into the Carver College of Medicine!
BeMo Medical School Acceptance Rates. See how our students are doing:
Want BeMo's help getting into medical school? Check out some BeMo reviews from our successful students!
"My brainstorming session with Dr. Hanlin Liu was incredibly helpful. He took the time to explore my clinical experiences and provide feedback on which ones were the strongest. We ended up with a strong plan for how to structure the essay. Thank you!" - BeMo student.
"I LOVED DR. SHAH! He was so specific in the feedback he gave me so I knew EXACTLY what to target to improve my performance. Plus, he gave great school-specific advice and it shows that he genuinely wants the student to succeed." - Lavneet, BeMo student.
"Today, I spoke to Dr Atytalla about my current extracurricular experiences and helping to brainstorm significant/impactful moments I’ve had. He was very helpful in providing me with the understanding that there are unique takeaways in everything we do and we spoke about how to record these takeaways to assist me later in my application process. I appreciate the time he spent with me and was satisfied with my session." - Isha, BeMo student.
"Great feedback and advice. I feel much better knowing what my next steps have to be and how this will impact my acceptance rate in the long run." - Gabriel Rahbari, BeMo student.
"I've been an active applicant for medical schools for 3 years straight with no success in Canada. So I decided to apply to the United States for the first time and went to BeMo for advice and coaching. Thanks to their help throughout the whole process, from brainstorming essays to writing them to doing nonstop interview prep, I managed to get both an acceptance and waitlisted acceptance into two US Medical schools! Without them, I believe I would not have had the necessary information and coaching needed to be so successful. Upon acceptance, I had no US citizenship, my GPA was 3.84 and MCAT was 516. I would definitely recommend them if you feel like you need that slight push and support to succeed! :)" - BeMo student.
"Dr. Elissar Kassem did an amazing job with explaining everything I need to know about my medical school application process. She took her time to make sure I understand what was required and even went overtime to answer all my questions. I feel less overwhelmed and gained a lot of clarity thanks to her." - Ariella Hanukaiva, BeMo student.
"Haitham Shoman was my consultant for the medical school selection session and answered my questions regarding the application process and tools to assess acceptance chances." - Brian, BeMo student.
"Dr. Adrian left a positive impression on me, I really look forward to working w/ him again the future. He was able to identify my gaps and guide me to find alternative means when the content is lacking. A focus on skill building rather than tips and tricks" - KD, BeMo student.
"It was nice to meet again with LIza Azzarello, I felt like I could tell I was improving" - BeMo student.
"Very nice experience with Bemo" - BeMo student.
"made me feel confident in my grad school application and helped me so much with composing and perfecting my statement of intent! they were extremely quick with reviewing and making suggestions and revisions and very thorough!" - Madeline Friedman, BeMo student.
"Great assistance, as always, from DR. Riley Cutler, who gave me very helpful advice concerning research, science GPA calculations, and shadowing experiences." - BeMo student.
"Very helpful, good feedback, helped promote progress". BeMo student.
1. What factors influence medical school acceptance rates?
Medical schools typically consider a combination of your GPA, MCAT scores, personal statement, letters of recommendation, clinical experience, and extracurricular activities. Each component plays a critical role in demonstrating your suitability for a career in medicine.
2. How can I improve my chances of getting into medical school?
Focus on strengthening your GPA and MCAT scores, gaining relevant clinical experience, crafting a compelling personal statement, and engaging in meaningful extracurricular activities. Also, seek strong letters of recommendation from individuals who can vouch for your abilities and character.
3. How important is the MCAT to medical school admissions?
The MCAT is a crucial component as it assesses your problem-solving skills, critical thinking, and knowledge of natural, behavioral, and social science concepts. A strong MCAT score can significantly enhance your application, especially at more competitive schools.
4. Can I get into medical school with a low GPA?
Yes, you can still apply, but it's important to compensate with a strong MCAT score, excellent letters of recommendation, and substantial clinical experience. Some schools also value an upward trend in your GPA and post-baccalaureate or graduate coursework.
5. How many medical schools should I apply to?
A good number of schools to apply to is around 15-20. Applying to too few schools can lead to not receiving interviews, while applying to too many can make it very difficult to complete secondary applications in a timely and effective manner.
6. Should I apply to schools where my GPA or MCAT is below average?
Out of the 15-20 schools you apply to, perhaps 3-4 can be “reach” schools. These are schools that you really wish to attend but their GPA or MCAT score averages are slightly out of your reach. However, you should still choose these schools carefully and be close to the medians, as applying to schools you are not a good fit for will not end up favorably for you.
7. Does a high acceptance rate mean a school isn’t as competitive?
No, it does not. All MD and DO schools in the US are accredited and meet a very high standard of educating future physicians. You will receive a great education no matter which medical school you attend. You must also keep in mind that for future residency matching, what matters most is what you do during medical school and not the competitiveness of the school you attend.
8. What is the best way to approach secondary applications?
One of the best ways to prepare for medical school secondary essays is to pre-write. This means checking out the prompts for all the schools you applied to and brainstorming your ideas as soon as possible. You’ll need to write possibly dozens of these secondary essays, so a head start is a must!
9. Are there medical school pathways for non-traditional students?
Yes! If you’re not a traditional premed completing your undergraduate studies, you can explore other options such as post-bacc premedical programs or special master’s programs with a linkage to medical school to ensure you meet the requirements for medical school and have support when you apply.
To your success,
Your friends at BeMo
BeMo Academic Consulting
Disclaimer: This blog is updated regularly with the latest admissions data available from the AAMC. 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 content@bemoacademicconsulting.com with any corrections, and we’ll arrange to send you your free ebook upon confirming the information.