What are the least competitive medical schools in the country? This is a question we at MedSchoolCoach get all the time. Let’s take it one step at a time.
Average GPA & MCAT Scores Don’t Tell the Whole Story
First, there is no really uncompetitive US MD medical school. Getting into any US medical school is a huge accomplishment. Even the “worst” schools have acceptance rates under 20%. So to peg a school as noncompetitive is incorrect.
Now, there are some schools that have lower average GPAs and MCAT scores than others obviously, and this is typically what applicants refer to as the least competitive medical schools. Unfortunately, this does not really hold true. There are a lot of schools that applicants apply to with an average GPA and MCAT lower than theirs, but never get interviews at.
Least Competitive Schools Get More Applications
So with these schools getting thousands upon thousands of applications, they end up actually having a lower acceptance rate and are actually quite competitive.
One important factor to remember is that just because your average GPA and MCAT is right on target for a given medical school, that does not mean you will get in, or even be competitive. If a school publishes their average MCAT as a 29, and average GPA as a 3.7, realize that they are rejecting far more candidates with those numbers than they are accepting. There may be over 4000 candidates with a 29 or above applying to their school, but they are only accepting a tiny fraction of those. So just because your average MCAT and GPA is aligned with a particular medical school you cannot be assured of getting in.
Also, keep in mind that those medical schools with lower GPA and MCAT requirements are often state schools with heavy state preferences for their applicants.
A medical school application consultant can be really helpful for choosing the right school.
List of Private Medical Schools with Lowest Average MCAT & GPA
The question remains though, which are the least competitive medical schools? We like to rephrase that question and say which are the medical schools with the lowest average MCAT and GPA.
Keep in mind, all these schools are still great, but here is a small list of private medical schools (see the note above about state schools) which applicants with lower GPAs and MCATs should consider applying to.
There are more, but this is a basic list. Please keep in mind, each of these schools is exceptional and you will become a great doctor from any of them. Also remember that just because they look at applicants with lower GPAs and MCATs than other medical schools in the country, they are no less competitive.
- San Juan Bautista School of Medicine
- Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
- Meharry Medical College
- Howard University College of Medicine
- Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine
- University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
- Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport
- University of Mississippi School of Medicine
- Mercer University School of Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine - Northeast Ohio Medical University
- University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
- Florida State University College of Medicine
- Brody School of Medicine East Carolina
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine
- Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
- University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences
- University of Arizona College of Medicine
- University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Southern Illinois - University School of Medicine
- Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine
- Central Michigan University College of Medicine
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
- Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences F. Edward
- Hebert School of Medicine
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
- University of Nevada School of Medicine- Las Vegas
- University of South Alabama College of Medicine
- University of Louisville School of Medicine
- Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
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