What is a good MCAT score for Harvard?

For Harvard Medical School, a competitive MCAT score is generally 520 or higher, with averages hovering around 520-521, though scores in the mid-to-high 510s (like 518+) can be competitive if part of an otherwise exceptional application. Aiming for 518-522 puts you in a strong position, but remember that Harvard evaluates your entire profile, including GPA, essays, and experiences, not just the MCAT score.

What MCAT score does Harvard accept?

Harvard Medical School (HMS) is extremely competitive, with recent average MCAT scores for matriculants hovering around 520-521, though there's no official minimum score, and acceptance relies on holistic review. While scores in the 512-528 range are common for accepted students, achieving a 515+ score is generally needed to be competitive for top-tier schools like HMS, reflecting rigorous standards.
 

What is a top 1% MCAT score?

A top 1% MCAT score generally falls around the 515-520+ range, though the exact score shifts slightly with each testing year's percentiles, with scores like 475-477 often representing the 1st percentile on the total score chart, but a 99th percentile is closer to 520+, requiring near-perfect section scores (131-132) for the highest ranks, with 528 being perfect. 

What is the average MCAT score for Yale?

MCAT. Like most U.S. medical schools, Yale requires applicants to submit MCAT scores. The 2025-2026 admits had an average MCAT score of 520.5.

What is the lowest MCAT score to get into Harvard?

While Harvard Medical School (HMS) doesn't publish a minimum MCAT score, accepted students typically have scores in the low 500s or higher, with averages around 520, but exceptional extracurriculars, research, and personal narratives can allow admission with lower scores, like a 515, especially with a high GPA, though even lower scores (like the 511 range for MD-PhD) are seen but are rare for MD-only. 

How to Score 276 on USMLE Step 2 CK: How to Ace Step 2 CK and Score HIGH!

Did Mark Zuckerberg get a 1600 on his SAT?

Yes, reports widely state that Mark Zuckerberg scored a perfect 1600 (or sometimes a near-perfect 1590) on his SAT, achieving top marks before attending Harvard University, consistent with his reputation as a gifted student and programmer.
 

Which Ivy League is best for pre-med?

There's no single "best" Ivy for pre-med, as it depends on your needs, but Harvard, UPenn, and Brown are consistently top-tier for their strong advising, research access, and high med school placement rates, with Brown offering unique programs like PLME. Other strong contenders include Yale (flexibility) and Dartmouth (early assurance), while Princeton offers rigor but with potential grade deflation. The ideal choice aligns with your learning style, goals (like BS/MD), and desired campus environment. 

What's the hardest medical school to get into?

Stanford University School of Medicine

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

What is a realistic MCAT score?

A good MCAT score is generally considered to be 511 or higher, with no section score below 127. The MCAT, also known as the Medical College Admission Test, is a computer-based standardized exam designed to assess your potential as a medical student and doctor.

What is the average MCAT for Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins Medical School MCAT Requirements

Similar to the average GPA for Johns Hopkins, the average MCAT is very high at 521. In our experience, students should have an MCAT of 516 or higher to be competitive for an interview invitation.

What is an Ivy League MCAT score?

Dedicate enough time to preparing for the MCAT: Though your MCAT score isn't the only stat considered, the average MCAT score of Ivy League med school matriculants is 519 or higher.

Should I retake a 516 MCAT?

Bottom line: If you scored 498 or below, I definitely recommend retaking the MCAT. If you scored 499-505 your first time, you should probably retake the MCAT. If you scored 506-511, you may not need to retake, but you could if you know you'd score much higher — especially if you're applying to Ivy League schools.

Is the MCAT harder than the SAT?

Yes, the MCAT is widely considered significantly harder than the SAT, as it's much longer (nearly 8 hours vs. ~3 hours), requires extensive, specialized science knowledge (biology, chemistry, physics, biochemistry, psychology, sociology), and tests advanced critical thinking in complex, passage-based scientific contexts, unlike the SAT's high school-level content. The MCAT demands hundreds of hours of dedicated study, making it a formidable challenge even for high-achievers who did well on the SAT.
 

Is it harder to get into law school or med school?

Getting into the top law schools, such as Stanford and Yale, is more difficult, where acceptance rates average 12.6%. The percentage of applicants accepted into medical schools has remained constant over time.

How hard is it to get 510 on MCAT?

It is not hard to get a 510 as it is at the 80th percentile. That means 20 percent of test takers score 510 or better, which means it is a very reachable goal. However, it requires a lot of studying to get a high MCAT score. Fortunately, at 510 and up, you'll be a competitive candidate.

What's the hardest section of the MCAT?

Most test-takers find the CARS (Critical Analysis and Reading Skills) section the hardest MCAT section due to its focus on reasoning, inference, and reading comprehension of dense, non-scientific texts, rather than pure knowledge recall. However, some struggle with the Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (Chem/Phys) section due to complex content like biochemistry pathways and physics concepts, while Behavioral Sciences (Bio/Psych) also presents unique challenges, making the "hardest" section highly individual.
 

What is the most common MCAT score?

MCAT Self-Paced

For comparison, the average MCAT score for students admitted to an MD program in the United States in 2022–2023 is between 511 and 512, with an average GPA of 3.75. (Source: AAMC ).

How important are MCAT percentiles vs GPA?

A 3.5/30 will make you relevant at most medical schools, but you may need 3.5/33 to be competitive. A high MCAT score can bring up a lower GPA – and vice versa – but only to a certain extent. A low score on either will draw red flags, making you unlikely to be accepted.

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 #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).
 

What is the easiest med school?

There are no truly "easy" medical schools, but some have higher acceptance rates or lower average stats, often including regional schools or those focusing on primary care, like the University of North Dakota, Mississippi School of Medicine, East Carolina (Brody), Mercer University, UMKC, Meharry Medical College, and Ponce Health Sciences University. These schools often prioritize in-state applicants, underserved populations, or rural medicine, so your location, mission alignment, GPA/MCAT, experiences, and personal narrative are crucial, even at these schools. 

Which is World No. 1 medical college?

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).
 

Is Harvard or Yale better for medical?

Neither Harvard nor Yale is definitively "better" for medical school; both are elite, top-tier institutions, but they offer different strengths, with Harvard often cited for its immense resources, vast hospital network in the Boston area, and brand prestige, while Yale is known for its flexible curriculum (Yale System) and strong research focus, making the choice dependent on a student's personal learning style and career goals. For undergrad pre-med, both provide excellent pathways, with Harvard offering a bustling urban environment and Yale a more tight-knit, residential feel, but happiness and performance are key, say experts. 

What is the #1 med school in the US?

While rankings vary slightly by source and focus (research vs. primary care), Harvard Medical School consistently ranks #1 for research in most major lists like U.S. News, closely followed by Johns Hopkins and the University of Pennsylvania (Perelman), with other top contenders including UCSF, Stanford, and Columbia. These top schools are known for cutting-edge research, vast clinical opportunities, and highly selective admissions, making them leaders in medical education.