What MCAT score do I need for Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins requires the MCAT, with accepted students typically having exceptionally high scores, averaging around 520-521, and needing scores above the 90th percentile to be competitive, especially in all sections. You must take the test within four years of matriculation (e.g., August 2022 for Fall 2026 entry) and no later than September of the application year. While there's no strict cutoff, a score below 516 significantly lowers competitiveness.

What is the lowest MCAT score accepted to Johns Hopkins?

Johns Hopkins Medical School MCAT Requirements

In our experience, students should have an MCAT of 516 or higher to be competitive for an interview invitation. However, there are circumstances that might influence an applicant's chances of earning an interview with a lower score.

Is John Hopkins harder to get into than Harvard?

Generally, Harvard is harder to get into than Johns Hopkins (JHU) based on acceptance rates, with Harvard being one of the most selective schools globally and JHU also highly selective but with a slightly higher rate; however, JHU is known for its intense academic rigor, especially in STEM, making the experience at Hopkins feel extremely challenging, even harder for some than Harvard's, particularly in terms of grading curves. Both are elite universities, but Harvard often receives more applications, while JHU's reputation for tough academics and a competitive environment (like a brutal curve in STEM) sets a different standard for difficulty. 

What is a top 1% MCAT score?

A top 1% MCAT score generally starts around 517-518+, with the highest percentile being the perfect 528, but scores in the low 520s (like 521-522) already put you in the 98th percentile or above, meaning you're scoring better than nearly everyone else and firmly in that elite tier for top medical schools, though a 528 is statistically extremely rare.
 

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.

How to Get into Johns Hopkins Medical School

Is 512 MCAT too low?

No, a 512 MCAT score is not bad; it's a strong, competitive score, generally around the 84th percentile, meaning you scored better than most test-takers and are competitive for many MD programs, with averages often around 511-512 for admitted students, though higher scores (515+) boost chances for top-tier schools. It's a solid score that allows for broad applications, but consider your overall profile (GPA, experiences) and target schools, as very selective programs may prefer scores above 515. 

What is the hardest med school to get into in the US?

The hardest US medical schools to get into are consistently top-ranked institutions like NYU Grossman, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Stanford, UPenn, Columbia, UCSF, Mayo Clinic Alix, and Washington University (WashU), known for extremely low acceptance rates (often under 3-4%) and very high average MCAT scores (around 520-523) and GPAs (around 3.9+). These schools attract vast applicant pools, making selectivity incredibly high, with some schools even seeing acceptance rates below 2% or 1%.
 

What is the #1 medical school in the world?

Harvard Medical School is consistently ranked as the #1 medical school in the world by most major publications like QS, CEOWORLD, and U.S. News (for clinical medicine), often followed by Johns Hopkins and Oxford University, though rankings vary slightly by focus (research vs. clinical) and publication. These rankings consider factors like academic reputation, research output, student selectivity, and faculty-student ratios.
 

Is Johns Hopkins a top 10 school?

Yes, Johns Hopkins University is consistently ranked as a top 10 national university by U.S. News & World Report, holding a spot in the top 10 every year since 2019, often ranking around 7th, and is also recognized as a leading institution globally with top-ranked graduate programs, particularly in medicine and public health.
 

What is a realistic MCAT score?

The average MCAT score for all applicants is currently between a 506 and 507. The average MCAT score for matriculants (those who've been accepted and have registered to attend a med school) is between a 511 and a 512.

Is jhu as good as ivy?

Yes, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) is widely considered to be as good as, and in some fields even better than, many Ivy League universities, often grouped with top research powerhouses like Stanford, MIT, and UChicago in the "Ivy Plus" category due to its elite research focus, strong graduate programs, and top-tier global rankings, particularly in health and STEM. While Ivies have historical prestige, JHU excels in research, offering comparable or superior programs in areas like Medicine, Public Health, and Engineering, making it a top-tier institution regardless of the Ivy League label.
 

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.
 

Should I retake a 502 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.

What is considered a bad MCAT score?

A great score is 515 to 528 (the maximum possible score), while an average score is 502 to 508. In contrast, a poor score is 501 and below. This guide will go over what a good MCAT score is and how medical schools use your score to make their decision.

What is the hardest medical school in the world?

The hardest medical program to get into is Stanford Medical School. Only 1.4% of students who apply to Stanford are accepted.

What is the average MCAT score?

The average MCAT score for allopathic (MD) matriculants is around 512, while for osteopathic (DO) matriculants, it's about 503, though this varies slightly by year, with the overall test average around 500 (50th percentile). Scores are out of 528 total (118-132 per section), so 512 is a strong score, placing you above the 84th percentile for MD admissions, while 503 is closer to the 58th percentile for DO admissions. 

What are the top 5 best medical schools?

• Note: Due to concerns with the ranking methodology and its implications, many medical and osteopathic schools have withdrawn from the U.S. News medical school rankings altogether. ...
• Harvard Medical School.
• Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
• Duke University School of Medicine.
• UPenn Perelman School of Medicine.

What is the easiest MD school to get into?

There are no truly "easy" medical schools, but some have higher acceptance rates or lower average GPA/MCAT scores, often focusing on regional needs or specific missions, like University of Mississippi, East Carolina University (Brody), University of North Dakota, Mercer University, Meharry Medical College, University of North Dakota, and University of New Mexico. Osteopathic (DO) schools like William Carey, Arkansas COM, Pikeville KYCOM, and Lincoln Memorial are also frequently listed as having higher acceptance rates than top MD programs. 

How rare is a 525 MCAT?

A 525 MCAT score is extremely rare and exceptional, placing you in the top 1% (100th percentile) of test-takers, just three points shy of a perfect 528, making you a top-tier applicant highly competitive for even the most selective medical schools. While exact numbers vary, only a tiny fraction of test-takers (around 1 in 450 or less) achieve scores of 525+, signifying mastery of the material. 

What is the 32 hour rule?

The 32-hour rule for medical school admissions is a policy used by some admissions committees that focuses on an applicant's most recent credit hours of coursework instead of their entire undergraduate GPA.

Is retaking the MCAT a red flag?

Retaking the MCAT isn't an automatic red flag, especially for one or two attempts with significant score improvement, showing upward trajectory; however, multiple retakes (three or more) without substantial gains, or retaking a strong score, can raise concerns about judgment or inability to learn, potentially signaling issues to admissions committees, though schools often focus on the final, highest score if improvement is shown. It's crucial to understand why you need to retake it, fix prior mistakes, and demonstrate meaningful growth, rather than just repeating the same approach. 

What's a good MCAT score in 2025?

MCAT Score Tiers for 2025

506–510 (Competitive): Good chances across broad MD/DO school ranges. 511–513 (Strong): Highly competitive for most medical schools. 514–518 (Very Strong): Competitive for top-tier programs. 519+ (Elite): Exceptional scores, top 5% of all test takers; highly competitive for elite institutions.

Should I retake a 518 MCAT?

You scored a 518 or higher.

With scores at this level, an MCAT retake is not necessary because schools will consider you to be academically elite.