Can your medical school see your rank list?

No, your medical school generally cannot see your specific Rank Order List (ROL) of residency programs; it's confidential between you and the NRMP, but they can track your participation status (registered, certified, withdrawn) through the R3 system, and some school officials might use this info to guide you, though they shouldn't influence your rankings. While you can share your list with mentors, programs themselves cannot ask about it, and your school's oversight is mainly administrative to ensure you're on track for the Match.

Does ranking matter for med school?

In some context, yes, medical school rankings do matter. But it's important to contextualize them and understand what, exactly, is being ranked. You should also consider your priorities, including the speciality you hope to pursue.

Can residency programs see your shelf scores?

Even though residency programs don't see your shelf exam scores directly, they still matter because they influence your transcript and dean's letter (MSPE). Additionally, honors designations (if your school has them) in core clerkships can enhance your application, especially in competitive specialties.

Can programs change their rank list after submitting?

Yes, you can make changes to an already certified ROL but, if changed, the list must be re-certified prior to the Rank Order List Certification Deadline for it to be used in the Match.

What are red flags for residency?

Residency red flags are issues in an applicant's record like failed licensing exams (USMLE/COMLEX), low board scores, poor clinical evaluations, significant gaps in education, or professionalism problems (disciplinary actions, criminal history), which can signal potential challenges for residency programs; however, these can often be addressed by providing explanations, demonstrating improvement, and highlighting growth. Other flags include weak letters, generic statements, or a poor match between goals and specialty.
 

An Important Tip For Making Your Rank List

Where do most people match on their rank list?

Remember that most students match into one of their top 3 programs, and a carefully developed list that accounts for your interest in specific programs, the type of programs in which you are interested, and your competitiveness for different programs is the best way to approach your overall rank list length.

Is a 3.7 too low for med school?

No, a 3.7 GPA is not bad for medical school; it's generally considered competitive, often around the average or slightly below for highly selective MD programs, but strong enough for many schools, especially with an upward trend and a good MCAT score. A 3.7 combined with a strong BCPM (Science) GPA (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Math) and compelling extracurriculars makes you a viable applicant, though lower GPAs might need more exceptional scores or experiences to compensate. 

What score is 75% correct on step 2?

Getting 75% correct on Step 2, especially on practice tests like NBMEs or UWorld, usually translates to a strong score in the mid-to-high 240s or even into the mid-250s, placing you well above average and competitive for many specialties, though top-tier competitive fields might require even higher scores (around 255-270+). A 75th percentile score means you scored better than 75% of test-takers, indicating solid performance and often helping balance a weaker Step 1 or improving residency options. 

What is the hardest residency to get into?

The hardest medical residencies to get into consistently include Dermatology, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and Otolaryngology (ENT), known for limited spots and high applicant demand, requiring top scores, research, and clinical excellence. Other very competitive fields are Radiation Oncology, Interventional Radiology, Diagnostic Radiology, General Surgery, and Vascular Surgery, often due to prestige, lifestyle, or technical demands.
 

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 science courses, instead of their entire undergraduate GPA, benefiting students with a strong upward trend or a solid post-baccalaureate performance. Schools like Wayne State University and LSU Health New Orleans use variations of this to give more weight to recent academic efforts, allowing strong performance in later coursework or post-bacc programs to shine. 

What's the hardest med school to get into?

With an astonishingly low acceptance rate of about 1.4%, Stanford is the country's hardest medical school to get into.

What is Tier 1 vs Tier 2 vs Tier 3 med school?

Here's how the new tier system works: Tier 1 — Overall score of 85–99. Tier 2 — Score of 50–84. Tier 3 — Score of 15–49.

Do all medical schools rank their students?

Many medical schools group their students into categories, with descriptors such as “outstanding” or “very good.” Some schools do not use any type of ranking system or do not clearly define one. Schools' categorical ranking systems vary widely in the terminology used and in the size of the category groups.

What is the hardest fellowship to get into?

The hardest fellowships to match into, particularly within Internal Medicine, consistently include Gastroenterology (GI), Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology), and Pulmonary/Critical Care, often due to high application volume and limited spots, while Gynecologic Oncology and surgical fellowships like Pediatric Surgery and Hand Surgery are extremely competitive in other fields, with factors like lifestyle, pay, and limited positions driving demand.
 

Has anyone ever gotten a 300 on Step 2?

The highest possible score for the USMLE Step 2 CK is 300, but no one has ever achieved a “perfect” score. A score around 280 would be considered a top Step 2 CK score.

What score is 50% on step 2?

A 50% score on USMLE Step 2 (CK) usually translates to a score around 250, placing you at the 50th percentile, which is considered an average-to-good score but may be limiting for highly competitive specialties, though it's a passing score and often sufficient for many programs with strong applications. The actual percentile can vary slightly as more people take the test, but a score in the mid-240s to low-250s generally puts you around the 50th percentile. 

How is step 2 curved?

Step 2 CK Scoring

Your raw score is converted into a scaled score, which reflects your performance compared to other test-takers. The score distribution follows a bell curve, meaning most students cluster around the average, while fewer students score at the extremes.

What is a realistic GPA for medical school?

What is a competitive GPA for medical school? A competitive GPA for medical school is generally 3.6 or higher. On average, successful matriculants — students who are accepted and enroll — have higher GPAs than other applicants.

Can I get into Harvard Medical School with a 3.8 GPA?

Harvard Medical School obviously has the luxury of selecting students from an outstanding pool of applicants. If your MCAT and GPA are excellent (517 and 3.8 or higher) or there are other extenuating circumstances about your background that distinguish you, try applying.

What is the easiest residency to match into?

The easiest residencies to match into are generally Family Medicine, Pediatrics, and Psychiatry, often followed by Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Pathology, due to higher availability of spots and less intense competition compared to surgical specialties, with International Medical Graduates (IMGs) often finding success in these primary care and certain other fields like IM and Psych due to more openings. 

Which medical school has the highest residency match?

Top medical schools with excellent residency match rates (often 92-98%+) include UCSF, Northwestern (Feinberg), Mayo Clinic, Emory, NYU, Weill Cornell, Mount Sinai, Pitt, Baylor, Harvard, Johns Hopkins, University of Michigan, and USC (Keck), known for strong placements in competitive specialties and major academic centers, though rates vary by specialty and year, with some osteopathic (DO) schools like MSUCOM and TCOM also showing strong outcomes. Match success depends heavily on the type of residency (e.g., Dermatology vs. Family Med), so look for schools strong in your desired field.