So, how hard is it to get into medical school? According to the AAMC, over 55,000 applicants applied during the 2022-2023 application cycle and only 22,000 matriculated. That's an acceptance rate of only 40%, which is an increase from the previous cycle but still less than favorable odds.
Why is it so hard to get into medical school? While the overall matriculation rate to U.S. medical schools is at an all-time low, it may simply be due to a larger number of applications from less-qualified students. Therefore, it's important to know the stats with which applicants apply today relative to years past.
Medical schools are highly competitive, with an average acceptance rate of 43.7% for the 2023-2024 academic year, as reported by the AAMC. During that admissions cycle, 52,577 individuals applied to medical school, but only 22,981 were actually enrolled.
There are simply too many variables to objectively say who had it easier. The reality is that medical school was likely harder back then in some respects and easier in others. Arguing about “who had it worse” only creates an “us vs them” mentality between older and younger generations of physicians.
Why Getting into Medical School is So Hard (& How to Stand Out)
Does high MCAT make up for low GPA?
Getting an exceptional MCAT score is one of the best ways you can balance out a low GPA. Since the MCAT is designed to test your probability for success during your time at med school, it can be what makes or breaks the success of your application.
Considering that a 510 is quite close to the average MCAT score of a 501, it's not very competitive for med-school admission. With a 510, you might make some med-school score cutoffs, but the rest of your application needs to be very competitive to make you a viable candidate for most med-schools.
What Makes 3rd Year the Hardest Year of Med School? 3rd year is the hardest year of med school because you're beginning your clinical rotations. All that knowledge you've frantically absorbed from the previous 2 years, will be presented physically in the form of patients.
The fourth, followed by the third, and the first year. You don't do much in the fourth year, other than insert IVs and catheters, monitor vital signs, take medical histories and write progress notes, and perform physical exams.
A PhD is the highest possible academic degree. Earning a PhD is often considered harder than earning an MD due to the scientific research required to stimulate original thought and develop quality hypotheses.
Less competitive specialties to consider include family medicine, pediatrics, and psychiatry. Other potentially easier options include physical medicine and rehabilitation, anesthesiology, and emergency medicine.
That's an acceptance rate of only 40%, which is an increase from the previous cycle but still less than favorable odds. If you're a premed just starting your future doctor journey, these are worrisome statistics. There is a silver lining though. Getting into medical school isn't like winning the lottery.
However, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the average age of medical school graduates in the United States is about 26 years old for MD graduates and about 28 years old for DO graduates.
This year, there were 52,577 applicants, a 4.7% decline compared to 2022-23, and it's the second consecutive year medical schools saw a drop in applicants.
What is the lowest MCAT score accepted into medical school?
Medical institutions in the U.S. and Canada that necessitate the MCAT typically accept scores ranging from 490-495 at the minimum. Scores below 490 are rarely if ever, accepted. Interestingly, a vast majority of individuals score above this range. Recent data suggests that the average score hovers around 506.5.
Some might argue that because PhDs take longer, they are harder to do, but it really depends on your level of drive and interest in what you are studying. Students who are highly engaged with the material they are studying and are passionate about completing their education might find things easier than others.
Historically, the average age of a medical student would be considered about 22 years old. But according to the annual Matriculating Student Questionnaire from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), nearly 70 percent of students who began their medical studies in 2021 were 23 or older.
There is no age limit for medical school. You can become a doctor in your 30s, 40s, 50s, and even 60s. In the end, medical schools want students who will make good physicians. Age is not a factor.
What is the average age of a 1st year med school student?
Most med students are around 24 years old when heading into their first year. The average graduating age is 28, but it's never too late to go to med school. Non-traditional applicants often fear it may be too late to attend medical school. It's important to know there is no age limit to attending medical school.
What is the hardest pre-med major? While this question is subjective, the hardest pre-med major is considered organic chemistry. Again, simply because this is the hardest major should not have an impact on whether you choose to pursue this degree.
The hardest course of the pre-med requirements depends on your strengths and weaknesses, but organic chemistry has a reputation for being the most difficult. In this class, you need to know the compositions and reactions of countless chemical compounds.
The graduation rate after four years ranges from 81.7% to 84.1%, which leads some sources to suggest that the med school dropout rate is between 18.3% and 15.9%. However, these numbers fail to take into account the notable number of medical students who take more than four years to graduate.
Since this method is not perfect, we'll leave you with a range; between 30 and 70 students every year achieve a perfect 528 MCAT. This is out of the nearly three hundred thousand students who take the exam.
Should I Retake The MCAT If My Score Is 502? If you want to maximize your chances of achieving medical school acceptance, and if your overall application is not strong, we recommend you retake the MCAT if your score is 502.
You should retake a 513 MCAT score if your score is not balanced among the 4 sections, or if your target med-school(s) require a higher score for you to be competitive.
