How Do I Choose a Medical School?

Question: How Do I Choose a Medical School?

I am planning on becoming a physician. How do I choose the right medical school to attend?

Answer: Here are a few factors you should consider when deciding on a medical school to attend:

• Cost: What is the tuition cost per year and total for the medical education? Not all medical schools are equal when it comes to tuition. Private institutions are much more expensive than public or state programs. You should carefully consider your budget, your ability to qualify for student loans and other forms of financial aid when considering which medical school to attend.
• Curriculum: What curriculum and learning environment is best for you? Do you prefer an allopathic (M.D.) program or osteopathic (D.O.) approach? Do you prefer problem-based learning, or do you learn more easily one subject at a time?
• Location: If you have a family, or if you have special needs that require you to have access to particular amenities or remain near a certain region of the country, be sure to consider these factors when choosing a medical school.

You are going to be investing four years of your life at this school, and the outcome could affect the success of your future physician career, so be sure to pick the medical school that feels like the best fit for you.

If you want to attend one of the best medical schools, US News and World Report ranks the top schools every year. This list may be one good resource to help you find out which schools to target.

Keep in mind that the more highly a school is ranked, and the more prestigious it is, the more difficult it will be to get accepted. Most likely these top schools receive the most applications of all medical schools, so competition is tough. Therefore these schools are able to select the applicants with the highest grades and best MCAT scores in the country.