Are you applying for medical school? Are you trying to decide which schools you should apply for?

If you did well in undergrad and on your MCATs, you probably have some of the best medical schools in the country on your radar. But, what are the best medical schools in the country? And, what makes them so great?

Check out this guide to learn about the best medical schools in the US.

1. Harvard Medical School

Harvard is considered to be the top medical school in the country. If you can get into Harvard, you’ll be able to open many career doors that you otherwise couldn’t.

The average MCAT score you’ll need to get into Harvard is 519. The acceptance rate is about 3.3 percent. There are around 700 students enrolled in the med school program, with out-of-state tuition costing about $65,203 per year.

Harvard Medical School was founded in 1782, and it has continued to influence the medical education world ever since. Today’s medical students are divided into five academic societies, each which offers mentoring and advising team-based learning under the supervision of a faculty member.

If you’re interested in biomedical research, you can apply to the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program.

Most Harvard medical students choose to follow the Pathways Program after the White Coat Ceremony. This program involves studying core scientific principles and concepts and building basic clinical skills.

During the second year, students then begin their principal clinical experiences. The medical campus is in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area, and students can complete their clinicals at affiliated medical institutions throughout the city.

Some of the most popular residency and specialty programs for Harvard students are pediatrics, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, internal medicine, and dermatology.

2. John Hopkins University

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, John Hopkins University is another top-tier medical school in the US.

The faculty-to-student ratio at John Hopkins University is just 5:1. Full-time tuition costs about $55,000 and the School of Medicine has nearly 2,400 faculty members on staff.

Medical students at John Hopkins learn through the Genes to Society curriculum. This pathway pairs academics with current clinical experiences. Every few months, classes break into something known as “intersessions”.

These intersessions consist of weeklong specialized courses that are focused on advanced skills and simulation. All medical students at John Hopkins are divided into four colleges:

  • Sabin
  • Nathans
  • Taussig
  • Thomas

Separating students into these smaller cohorts serves the purpose of fostering a community feel throughout the four years of medical school. Each college has its own group of advisers who guide students through research, med school courses, career selection, and more.

Each college also hosts an annual College Bowl. This is a fun day that involves kickball, tug-of-war, and racing. Students can either choose to earn a traditional M.D., a P.h.D, or both through the university.

John Hopkins also offers several different dual degree programs. For example, you can earn a Masters of Public Health along with your M.D., or you can earn an MBA along with your M.D.

John Hopkins also receives a good amount of research funding through the National Insitute of Health, as well as several other esteemed research organizations. They also run some of the leading research centers in the world, Brain Science Institute and the Institute of Genetic Medicine.

John Hopkins is also affiliated with the highly ranked John Hopkins Hospital. This hospital houses the only eye and pediatric trauma centers in the state of Maryland. There are over 40 groups that students can get involved in throughout campus, so there’s plenty of opportunity to have a life beyond studying.

3. University of Pennsylvania

Located in Perelman, the University of Pennsylvania was actually the first medical school and the first school hospital in the country.

Today, the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is associated with the Pennsylvania Hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.

During your time at UPenn, you have the opportunity to earn your M.D., M.D. and Ph.D., M.D. and masters, or M.D. and post-doctoral degree. Throughout your time here, you’ll learn your coursework through six different modules.

Oftentimes, students are split into small groups in order to emphasize the importance of effective leadership and teamwork in medical settings. UPenn medical students are typically very active throughout the community, running free AIDS awareness programs, health clinics, and more community-related events.

There are around 100 student organizations to choose from, giving you plenty of opportunities to get involved. The school also offers a variety of global educational opportunities. For example, you can join the Spanish language immersion program in South America or Mexico and learn about Spanish-language medical terminology.

Two Noble Prize winners, Stanley Prusiner and Michael Stuart, are UPenn grads.

4. Stanford University

Another excellent university you should consider is Stanford. Located in Stanford, California, the School of Medicine at Stanford University has a faculty-to-student ratio of 2.2:1, meaning you’ll get plenty of opportunity for one-on-one learning with your professors.

The medical school is ranked number 2 in the nation for research. The school offers a flexible curriculum that looks to attract students who are interested in improving the world through innovation, leadership, and research.

Their medical school has a special M.D. Discovery Curriculum that educates students in both biomedical and clinical sciences. The program also emphasizes independent research through scholarly concentrations.

Stanford also places a huge emphasis on interdisciplinary learning, and along with your M.D., you also have the opportunity to earn your MBA, M.P.H, Ph.D., or Master’s of Science in Epidemiology or Health Services Research. Students also have the opportunity to participate in global health research experiences.

The Discovery Curriculum places a heavy focus on integrated learning, basic science content, and compassionate patient-centered clinical training. The clinical training structure at Stanford is very flexible, and students are given the opportunity to customize the order in which their core clerkships are completed.

The Discovery Curriculum also places a strong emphasis on population health. And many courses incorporate experiential learning in conjunction with classroom learning to help provide students with an understanding of the socioeconomic detriments that patients and communities face.

5. NYU Grossman

The Grossman School of Medicine at New York University is another top-tier medical school in the US that’s worth considering.

Located in the Langone Medical Center on the east side of Manhattan, the NYU School of Medicine allows students to earn their M.D.s and Ph.D.s at the same time as a part of a dual degree program.

If you’re interested in focusing on drug and alcohol abuse or AIDs research, the NYU School of Medicine ranks particularly high in these areas of research. If you want to delve deeper into your field, you can also check out the School of Medicine Honors Program.

This program involves 18 weeks of approved scientific research followed by a thesis paper. Another excellent academic opportunity the school offers is the International Health Program. Through this program, you have the opportunity to travel abroad and take part in health initiatives, research, and clinical education initiatives.

If you’re looking for a leadership opportunity through the school, you can join the Medicine Student Ambassador Program. As an ambassador, you’ll have the opportunity to represent your classmates and forge connections between past and present students.

There are over 50 clubs that you can join through the school, including clinical, academic, national, and athletic options. Plus, there’s also a lot to do in NYC outside of NYU. You can get discounted tickets to sporting events, operas, ballets, plays, and movies through the school.

If you don’t think the big city life is right for you, you may also want to check out Baylor College in Texas. You can click here to learn what Christopher Sarofim and other board members have to say about Baylor College.

6. Columbia University

Last but not least, we encourage you to check out Columbia University in New York City.

The Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons strives to be a place where all students thrive no matter what their interests are. Columbia is a world-class university that is known for providing the best medical care to a diverse population of patients.

If you’re interested in community service and service-learning, Columbia University is a great option for you. During med school, you’ll have the opportunity to work with local communities in Inwood, Harlem, Washington Heights, and the greater New York area.

The university also offers a variety of global health programs for those looking to study abroad.

The Best Medical Schools in the US: Time to Start Applying

Now that you know about the best medical schools in the US, it’s time for you to start applying. Pretty soon, you’ll be one step closer to fulfilling your dream of becoming a doctor.

Be sure to check back in with our blog for more school recommendations and rankings.