Are medical school applications declining?

Yes, medical school applications have been declining for a few years from their COVID-19 peak, returning to pre-pandemic levels, with the 2024-2025 cycle showing the lowest applicant numbers since 2017-2018, though enrollment is hitting record highs as schools expand, and a recent uptick in applications for 2025-2026 suggests a potential reversal of the downward trend.

Are med school applications declining?

In fact, 2024-2025 had about 51,946 MD applicants, the lowest since 2017-2018. This marks the third consecutive yearly decline in applicants – a 1.2% drop this year, on top of larger decreases of 4.7% and 11.6% in the prior two years.

Has medical school enrollment in the U.S. hit an all time high?

New data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) show how a record-breaking 2025 class, driven by a surge of first-time applicants and women, tipped the scale. In 2025, the number of all students enrolled in medical school reached 100,723 — a significant milestone for the future of health care.

Is medical school getting more or less competitive?

One trend regarding medical school acceptance rates is that they have been steadily decreasing over the past several years because medical school admissions is becoming increasingly more competitive. In 2025, 44.5 percent of applicants were accepted to allopathic (or MD-granting) medical schools.

Why is it harder to get into medical school now?

But the demand to supply ratio is heavily skewed at the moment. Consider our growing population, increased costs of living, and prominent immigrant culture of persuading your kids to become a doctor, the competition to get in will surely get harder.

Why This Top 0.1% Premed Is NOT Going To Med School (Application Breakdown)

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

A 525 MCAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the 100th percentile, meaning you scored better than 100% of test-takers in recent years (2022-2024) and are just 3 points shy of a perfect score (528). This score is considered a top-tier score for the most selective medical schools, putting you in a statistically tiny fraction of applicants, as scores above 520 represent the top 1-3%. 

Is a 3.7 GPA too low for med school?

No, a 3.7 GPA is generally considered strong and competitive for medical school, but it's not a guarantee and becomes much stronger when paired with a high MCAT score and a robust science GPA. While MD school matriculant averages hover around 3.8+, a 3.7 is above the applicant average, especially if you show an upward trend in your grades, but a lower science GPA (BCPM) could raise concerns. 

What doctor makes $500,000 a year?

Doctors in high-demand surgical and specialized fields like Orthopedics, Plastic Surgery, Radiology, Cardiology, and Gastroenterology often earn over $500,000 annually, with some top earners in Thoracic Surgery or Neurosurgery making significantly more, while even family doctors can reach this level through practice ownership or specialized services.
 

What is the 32 hour rule in medical school?

The "32-hour rule" in medical school admissions refers to a policy where some medical schools focus on an applicant's GPA from their most recent 32 credit hours, often in post-baccalaureate coursework, to evaluate academic strength, giving a chance to those with a weaker overall undergraduate record but strong recent performance, like at LSU-New Orleans and Wayne State. It's a way for schools to see recent academic growth, with examples including focusing on recent semesters or post-bacc programs to demonstrate improvement.
 

What extracurriculars boost med school chances?

Here are some of the most highly regarded extracurricular activities that can strengthen your medical school application:

• Volunteering at a hospital or clinic. ...
• Participating in research. ...
• Shadowing a physician. ...
• Leadership roles in student organizations. ...
• Community service.

Is applying to 40 med schools too many?

On the high end, we recommend you don't exceed 40 schools. However, it's not merely the size of your medical school list that matters, but also the specific programs. If your medical school list is too aggressive based on your stats, you'll want to apply to more schools to achieve the right balance.

What percentage of med students actually become doctors?

Around 65% to 93% of medical school students become doctors.

What is the #1 med school in the world?

There isn't one single "No. 1" medical college, as rankings vary, but Harvard Medical School (USA) consistently ranks at or near the top across major lists like QS and U.S. News, often followed closely by institutions like the University of Oxford (UK), Johns Hopkins University (USA), and Stanford University (USA), with other strong contenders including University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) and University of Pennsylvania (Perelman).
 

Do med schools reject overqualified applicants?

It's important to note that most of the stories and rumors surrounding overqualified students getting rejected are anecdotal. No school has actually admitted to turning down students because they are overqualified.

How many people apply to med school and never get in?

What percentage of people get rejected from med school? Almost 60% of applicants get rejected from med school each year. If you are thinking about applying to medical school for the first time, you must make sure you know what you are getting yourself into. The applicants who were accepted were chosen for a reason.

Why are less people becoming doctors?

The American Medical Association (AMA), a professional body in the U.S., has cited increasing costs of higher education in the country as a barrier to adequate growth in physician supply.

What is the easiest MD school to get into?

The "easiest" medical schools to get into often have higher acceptance rates, favoring in-state applicants and those with strong but not necessarily top-tier GPAs (around 3.7+) and MCATs (around 500+), with examples including University of Mississippi, ECU Brody School of Medicine, University of North Dakota, and Mercer University School of Medicine, but even these are competitive, requiring dedication to building a strong application with experiences and good scores. Osteopathic (DO) schools like William Carey and Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine are also options, often with lower average stats. 

How many W's are too many for med school?

How It Impacts Med School Admissions. One W won't impact your medical school application, but multiple withdrawals and/or those seen as part of a pattern with a low GPA may negatively influence your chances of getting into med school.

Can I get my MD in 3 years?

Yes, you can get your M.D. in three years through competitive, accelerated M.D. programs offered by a growing number of medical schools, allowing high-achieving students to save time and tuition while often securing an early, conditional residency spot and starting their career sooner, though these programs demand high motivation and commitment, especially for primary care. 

What is the lowest paid doctor?

The lowest-paid doctor specialties are often pediatric subspecialties, with Pediatric Endocrinology frequently cited as the lowest, followed closely by Pediatric Rheumatology, Infectious Disease, and Hematology/Oncology, alongside general Pediatrics, Public Health/Preventive Medicine, and Medical Genetics, due to factors like broad training needs, lower patient volume for complex cases, and systemic compensation structures, though salaries vary by source and year. 

What jobs in the US pay $300,000 a year?

Jobs paying $300,000 or more in the U.S. are typically senior roles in technology, finance, law, and medicine, including roles like CEOs, Chief Technology Officers, Investment Bankers, Partner-Level Lawyers, Surgeons, and Specialized Physicians, along with top-tier Sales Directors, Management Consultants, and Private Equity Executives, often relying on bonuses, commissions, or profit-sharing for high earnings. High-income careers without traditional degrees can also be found in tech entrepreneurship, high-level skilled trades, and top-performing sales. 

Is the average doctor a millionaire?

One-quarter of doctors in their 60s are not even millionaires. The chart from the prior year was even more stunning, as it showed 11%-12% of doctors in their 60s didn't even have a net worth over $500,000, and only 48% of doctors over 65 were multi-millionaires.

How do I increase my chances of getting into medical school?

Tips for Med School

1. Get Some Medical Experience on Your Resume.
2. Do Research Projects.
3. Put in Time Serving Others.
4. Choose a Major You Will Excel In.
5. Apply to Multiple Medical Schools.
6. Study Early and Often for the Medical College Admission Test, or MCAT.
7. Learn Another Language.
8. Don't Skimp on Extracurricular Activities.

What is the lowest GPA for Harvard Medical School?

Harvard Medical School's overall median GPA is 3.97. HMS does not have a minimum GPA requirement. Harvard Medical School's median GPA is 3.97, but its mean GPA is 3.94. In 2023-2024, all medical school applicants and matriculants had an average overall GPA of 3.64.

Am I doing enough for med school?

If you've shown that you can work hard enough, study hard enough, and grind hard enough. if you can put in the work to study and sacrifice, then you are doing what you need to do. You do not need to be a genius to get into medical school. You do not need to be a genius to get a good score on the MCAT.