What are my chances of getting into medical school?

At this time, roughly half of all applicants are accepted to medical school. However, the ratio of applicants to accepted students doesn’t provide a complete picture of your “chances” for getting into medical school. 

One reason is that this ratio varies from year to year. More important, just as it is essential that you build credentials that will make you a competitive candidate for medical school in general, you also should become familiar with the interests and focus of the specific medical schools where you might apply. For example, it might help you to know that many state-supported schools show preference to state residents. 

If you are committed to a career in medical research, you might want to apply to schools that emphasize research training within their curricula.  If you are interested in providing clinical care in rural or inner-city settings, you might want to focus on schools located in these settings. By learning all you can about the medical schools that interest you, you can better decide where to apply.

For More Information:

• Minorities in Medical Education: Facts and Figures 2006  - Free Resource!
  This publication presents data on minority applicants, acceptances, matriculants to, and graduates from medical school.
  
  
• AAMC Curriculum Directory Web Site  - Free Resource!
  Information about medical school programs, combined degree programs, and curricula can be found in this database (searchable by school and program type).
  
  

• Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR™)
  Published by the AAMC, this book is the most authoritative guide for applying to medical school. This accurate, thorough, and reliable resource is the only complete guide to U.S. and Canadian medical schools fully authorized by the schools themselves.  In it you will find information on application procedures and deadlines, selection factors (including MCAT® scores and grade-point averages), medical school class profiles, education costs and financial aid packages, and much more.
  
  

• Minority Student Opportunities in the United States (MSOUSMS)
  This guide is designed specifically for minority students to be used as a companion to Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR^TM).  It presents information from individual medical schools about recruitment programs, admission, academic support programs, financial aid, and more.