Choosing a medical school is a daunting task for many students. Some students wonder “how many medical schools should I apply to”, while others find themselves stuck between multiple options. Medical school admissions officers receive countless applications in every admission cycle. Medical school applications effectively portray the applicants and what they know about the school they are applying to. Admissions officials can easily distinguish applicants who have done research. Medical schools want applicants to do a thorough research and learn about the school before applying to a school.
There are more than 200 schools in the US and 43 schools in the UK. Choosing the best medical school for you seems intimidating at first, but with little research and planning, you can make the selection process easier.
If you are in the deciding phase and looking for the top medical schools to get into, here are the most important factors every premedical student should consider when deciding which school is right for them.
1. Stick to a Reasonable Number of Schools
2. Your Academic Record Matters a Lot
3. Consider Your Personal Preferences and Interests
4. Consider Your Financial Condition
5. Check the School’s Grading System
6. Read the School’s Vision
7. Know the Admission Requirements
8. The Location of a Medical School
9. Clinical Opportunities and Elective Courses
10. Available Options for Extracurricular Activities
Crucial Factors to Decide Which Medical School is Right for You
1. Stick to a Reasonable Number of Schools
Gaining a spot in medical school is becoming gradually competitive, premedical students should apply to a maximum number of schools to increase their chances of acceptance. For many premedical students, it is difficult to choose the average number of schools they need to apply to. Well, it all depends on your academic performance, financial situation, and career goals.
Applying to medical schools requires time, energy and money. Try to limit the number if you can’t afford the primary and secondary application cost. You can keep the number to 7 -10, depending on the choices available in your city or country.
2. Your Academic Record Matters a Lot
Every school has specific admission requirements, gather the admissions statistics and check the GPA and MCAT percentiles for every school. Now compare your academic grades with admission statistics. Try to apply to those schools where your MCAT score and GPA meet the minimum requirements set by the school.
Many medical schools claim that they don’t require the MCAT score, while some schools consider other factors such as clinical experience, extracurricular activities and important skills. Your academic performance still serves as a first indicator that can help you stand out from other applicants.
Due to fierce competition for medical school seats, many admissions officers start giving importance to applicant profiles with stellar GPA and MCAT score. It is advised to get an impressive GPA and MCAT score, so that you can meet the standards set by the accepted students.
3. Consider Your Personal Preferences and Interests
When it comes to applying to medical school, it is advised to decide which medical specialty you will choose or what kind of doctor you want to be. For instance, if you want to become a primary care physician or have interest in research, or have a strong passion for orthopedic surgery, you need to choose the school that offers specific medicine courses of your interests. Many schools offer different programs and courses, research well and look at schools that have specific programs that enable you to pursue your future career endeavors.
4. Consider Your Financial Condition
Medical school hopefuls should consider this important factor when it comes to choosing the right medical school for you. Medical schools are expensive, and you should plan your budget to pay the tuition cost. You need to carefully check the fee structure before applying to medical schools.
Many medical schools offer the best financial aid to eligible students, while some offer merit and need-based scholarships. Perform an in-depth research and look at what type of financial aid schools can provide. Think carefully whether you can afford to pay the substantial amount of money for four years if you don’t get any financial aid or scholarship. Consider your financial options and choose schools wisely.
5. Check the School’s Grading System
Medical schools have different grading systems and pass/fail criteria. Some use a letter grade system, while others have a high pass, low pass, high honors and honors system. Many schools have separate different grading systems for the basic sciences programs and clinical sciences programs. School’s grading system can have a major impact on your mental health as a medical school student. It is advised to get yourself acquainted with different grading systems of each school prior to applying to.
6. Read School Vision and Values
Every medical school has different missions and values. Medical school applicants should be aware of the school’s motto before applying to. The mission and vision of a medical school will help you decide whether the school is the right fit for you.
For instance, if a school says that it is research-intensive, it clearly shows that it will provide its students with many research-based opportunities. Similarly, if a school focuses on training physicians to serve underserved populations, it shows that school is interested in producing physicians dedicated to serve underprivileged communities.
Thoroughly research the school’s mission, values, background and learn what each school is all about. It will help you decide whether you will enjoy your medical school journey at this institution.
7. Know the Admission Requirements
If you are wondering which schools to apply to, knowing the admission requirements for each school will help you make a well-informed decision. Many medical schools want applicants to have a strong academic record, while others won’t consider your MCAT scores. Some medical schools want their applicants to complete a minimum 90 credit hours in biology, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physics, English and mathematics. Many medical schools want a G.C.E certificate for local applicants, while others want your International Baccalaureate grades.
8. The Location of a Medical School
Location matters most when it comes to deciding which medical school is the right fit for you. Create a list of schools in your state so that you can easily attend the school. Applying to schools out-of-state is a good idea if you can easily manage your finances. Check out if the particular school has a good acceptance rate for international students. It is interesting to know that many medical schools accept both local and international students and make no discrimination between both student types.
9. Clinical Rotations and Electives Courses
Medical schools give students an exciting opportunity to gain clinical experience by providing clinical clerkship opportunities. During the two years of clinical practice, you will learn how to interact with patients and deal with real-life cases. This clinical exposure will allow students to apply theoretical knowledge they have learned during the first two years of medical school.
When choosing the right medical school for you, it is important to check the clinical curriculum. You can check the official websites of medical school to see the syllabi of core rotations, selective and elective courses. Find where students complete their clinical rotations and which hospitals, community hospitals and medical centers are associated with the medical school.
It will help you better understand the type of knowledge you will gain with clinical and elective opportunities. This information will help you choose your career options after completing an MD program from the medical school.
10. Involvement in Extracurricular Activities
During your medical school journey, you will get the chance to pursue extracurricular activities. For instance, you will shadow a physician, participate in health clubs, volunteer in rehabilitation centers and old age homes. You can also participate in a research project during medical school and make groundbreaking advancements in the field of medicine.
Many medical schools encourage students to pursue a joint master’s degree to increase their knowledge in the field of business. Take some time to do research to figure out all the available extracurricular activities each medical school provides to their students. It will be a great opportunity for premed students who want to pursue their passion.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, these easy and simple tips will make the medical school selection process easier and help you decide which school to get into. Applying to schools with careful research and sending out applications to those schools you are genuinely interested in will surely increase your chances of acceptance. Remember, choosing the right school will make 4 years of medical school a memorable and fulfilling experience. Good luck!