Are you considering attending medical school in Maryland? Full of national history, lush forests, pristine lakes, and all the crab cakes you can eat, the state has plenty to offer. But what’s it like to attend medical school in Maryland, and how do you get accepted?
In this post, we’ll break down everything you need to know about going to medical school in Maryland, including where the medical schools are located, what it’s like to live in Maryland, how to apply, and tips for gaining acceptance to medical schools in Maryland.
Here’s what to expect below.
- How Many Medical Schools Are in Maryland?
- Maryland Medical School Locations
- How Much is Medical School Tuition in Maryland?
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
- How to Apply to Maryland Medical Schools
- Application Requirements
- Application Deadlines
- Maryland Medical School Secondary Questions
- Tips to Gain Acceptance at Maryland Medical Schools
- Visit the City of Baltimore
- Determine What You Can Offer the School
- Build Your Application Narrative
- Bottom Line: Is Going to Medical School in Maryland Right for You?
How Many Medical Schools Are in Maryland?
There are three medical schools in Maryland, and all are allopathic schools. Maryland currently has no osteopathic medical schools. However, at the time of this article, the Metrius School of Osteopathic Medicine is seeking accreditation and licensure to open a proposed four-year osteopathic medical school in Hagerstown.
It must also be noted that while there are technically three allopathic medical schools in Maryland, the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at USU is specifically for students who are committed to joining the military. Although you will pay no tuition, you are required to “complete an active duty service commitment upon graduating: seven years for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and ten years for the Public Health Service.”
List of Medical Schools in Maryland
Allopathic Medical Schools in Maryland (MD)
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
- University of Maryland School of Medicine
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (USU)
Maryland Medical School Locations
Both the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine are located in Baltimore, Maryland. The campuses are 15-20 minutes away from each other on two opposite sides of the city, but commuting can take as long as 30-45 minutes, depending on traffic.
Baltimore is the largest and most populous city in Maryland by far, with a population of 558,000. The next highest is Columbia, with a population of 107,000. The F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at USU is located in Bethesda, which only has a population of 66,000.
It’s important to note that the crime rates in Baltimore are some of the highest in the country. But while that may be what the city is known for, just like any large city, there are pockets of more dangerous areas as well as many safe areas. We’ll cover what it’s like to live and study in Baltimore later in this guide. Jump to the Visit the City of Baltimore section to learn more.
Baltimore not only offers an extreme diversity of patient population and medical indications, it’s also home to a wide range of young professionals. It’s also not far away from Philadelphia, New York, or D.C., so conferences and activities in those areas are easily accessible.
Baltimore is easily traversable, but you may need a car. It offers a relatively low cost of living when compared to Philadelphia, DC, Boston, or New York, and rent is relatively inexpensive. It’s also possible for students to buy houses in the area.
The Insider contributor for this article bought a house in Baltimore and describes it as one of the best financial decisions he ever made. His house is just a few blocks from UMSOM, and Johns Hopkins students have the ability to do the same.
UMSOM offers housing grants to students and faculty to help subsidize the cost of living in the area. If you’re a USU student, that campus is in Bethesda, and housing there is more expensive.
While many students are in-state, Maryland attracts a great deal of out-of-state students, many of whom end up choosing to live in Maryland, as the state itself has an excellent education system, making it a nice place to raise a family, and plentiful opportunities, as the NIH and FDA are nearby.
The state of Maryland also has a large alumni network due to the age of the medical institutions.
How Much Is Medical School Tuition in Maryland?
So, how much does medical school cost in Maryland?
Maryland Tuition Costs (2023 Data From MSAR)
| Maryland Medical School | Yearly Tuition In-State | Yearly Tuition Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine | $64,778 | $64,778 |
| University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) | $42,669 | $72,557 |
| Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (USU) | $0 | $0 |
View the most recent AAMC tuition data.
- Additional fees not included.
Along with your tuition and additional fees, there is also the cost of medical school applications to consider. These can add up across exam fees, primary fees, secondary fees, study resources, and interview travel costs. Learn more: How Much Do Med School Applications Cost? The Full Price Analyzed.
There are also a number of other costs to factor into your decision making, including transportation, housing, events, food, and exercise. Unfortunately, Maryland has the 7th highest cost of living in the US.
While the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine at USU charges no tuition, you must complete 7 years of active military service or 10 years of Public Health Service upon graduation.
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine was founded in 1893.
The Johns Hopkins Medicine mission statement is as follows:
The mission of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is to educate medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows in accordance with the highest professional standards; to prepare clinicians to practice patient-centered medicine of the highest standard; and to identify and answer fundamental questions in the mechanisms, prevention, and treatment of disease in health care delivery and in the basic sciences.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.96
- Median MCAT: 521
As you can see from the statistics, admission into Johns Hopkins Medicine is quite competitive. The institution has an admit rate of 6.3%.
Johns Hopkins University was the nation’s first research university, and true to this legacy, it is the leading US academic institution in total research and development spending. In 2021, the university performed $3.181 billion in medical, science, and engineering research.
The School of Medicine itself received $566.9 million in NIH funding in 2022, the fifth highest amount among US medical schools. Over 2000 NIH-funded faculty members welcome medical students to participate in mentored research projects. So if you’re interested in research, Johns Hopkins Medicine certainly has the resources.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has 6 academic and community hospitals, four suburban healthcare and surgery centers, and over 40 patient care locations, so med students have many different options when it comes to where they will spend their clinical rotations.
Generally, Hopkins serves East Baltimore and UMSOM serves West Baltimore, so there are kind of two different territories.
It should be noted that Hopkins is deeper into the city than UMSOM, so getting there requires driving through the city or going through a tunnel that charges a toll.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Applicants
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine accepts both in-state and out-of-state applicants.
In 2023, Hopkins had 392 in-state applicants and 5197 out-of-state applicants.
| In-state | Out-of-state | International | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verified Applications | 392 | 5197 | 369 | 5958 |
| Interviewed | 50 | 521 | 18 | 589 |
| Matriculated | 15 | 103 | 2 | 120 |
Hopkins does not give a preference to in-state or out-of-state applicants.
The University of Maryland School of Medicine
The University of Maryland School of Medicine was founded in 1807, making it the first public and fifth oldest medical school in the US. It was also the first medical school in the country to begin a residency training program.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.86
- Median MCAT: 514
UMSOM recently launched its renaissance curriculum, which is a 1.5 year preclinical curriculum designed to give students more time to be exposed to different specialties during their clinical rotations. For example, emergency medicine and anesthesiology are now required core rotations, which allows students to become exposed to these specialties earlier in their medical education.
The curriculum is also now fully pass/fail. Research and clinical volunteering requirements are highly prioritized, as the administration makes an active effort to help their students make their residency application more competitive.
What makes UMSOM unique is the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, one of the top trauma centers in the country, which provides students with excellent exposure training. Every student on their surgical rotation does one week of shock trauma. If you’re interested in surgery or critical care, it’s a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with this environment early on.
Research opportunities are also abundant. There are many cross-school collaborations with Maryland and Hopkins, and many departments are quite productive, including the Center for Vaccine Development, the Institute for Genome Sciences, and the Department of Neuroscience, where much of the faculty is engaged with some very cutting-edge research.
UMSOM offers many diverse rotation sites. For instance, if a student wants more practice working in a community setting, there are plenty of OB/GYN, family medicine, and psychiatry practices where they can gain that exposure. There are also sites in the city where UMSOM students rotate, such as Mercy Medical Center, which is a community medical center that is well-run, efficient, and clean since it’s essentially a new building.
Additionally, students also have the opportunity to work at the main hospital, where they can experience higher acuity and more complex cases. It ultimately depends on what you value.
Another bonus is that all professional schools are located on the same campus, such as nursing, pharmacy, law, dental, and medicine. Many of the facilities, such as the gym and some of the community areas, are shared, which helps promote interprofessional collaboration. The campus facilities are largely new, well-lit, and easily accessible.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Applicants
UMSOM accepts both in-state and out-of-state applicants; however, they give a strong preference to in-state (resident) applicants. The average ratio for their freshmen class is 75% Maryland residents and 25% non-residents.
In 2023, UMSOM had 1017 in-state applicants and 4446 out-of-state applicants.
| In-state | Out-of-state | International | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verified Applications | 1017 | 4446 | 221 | 5684 |
| Interviewed | 260 | 225 | 3 | 488 |
| Matriculated | 119 | 28 | 0 | 147 |
As you can see from the statistics and from UMSOM’s own website, the institution gives a major preference to in-state applicants.
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine (USU)
The USU F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine was established in 1972 and named for the Louisiana Congressman who championed its creation. Known as “America’s Medical School,” the School of Medicine at USU doesn’t have a mission statement per se, but they do have a motto and four core values:
Motto:
“Learning to Care for Those in Harm’s Way.”
Core Values:
RESPECT
We respect our students, staff, faculty, patients, and diversity. Those privileged to hold positions of authority must never use their power over others to demean, harass, or exploit.
INTEGRITY
We don’t lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do. Our patients expect us to be honest with them; so do our classmates, professors, and colleagues.
SAFETY
We are committed to ensuring that students, faculty, staff, contractors, and campus guests are safe from physical harm, threats, and other behavior intended to coerce, demean, or intimidate.
EXCELLENCE
We demand excellence in military medicine and public health during periods of peace and war in the classroom, military hospital, laboratory, or battalion aid station on the other side of the world. Nothing less is acceptable.
Median Academic Scores of Matriculants:
- Median GPA: 3.84
- Median MCAT: 512
The USU F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine says 20% of active military doctors are USU graduates, 20% are first generation college graduates, and the institution holds a 93% board certification rate. The USU School of Medicine’s curriculum, the Molecules to Military Medicine (M2MM), includes over 500 hours of military-unique training, and specialized training in areas like disaster response, cross-cultural medicine, leadership and interdisciplinary teamwork, trauma training, and tropical medicine.
The USU accepts civilians and active duty personnel. All students who are accepted pay no tuition and are sworn in as officers into one of the four uniformed services before they arrive for their first semester.
They also earn the full salary and benefits of a junior ranking officer while attending the program. After they graduate, they will complete an active duty service commitment: 7 years for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and 10 years for the Public Health Service.
In-State vs. Out-of-State Applicants
The USU F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine accepts both in-state and out-of-state applicants. In 2023, USU had 197 in-state applicants and 2319 out-of-state applicants. Only 11% of matriculants were in-state.
| In-state | Out-of-state | International | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verified Applications | 197 | 2319 | 1 | 2517 |
| Interviewed | 59 | 562 | 0 | 621 |
| Matriculated | 20 | 156 | 0 | 176 |
How to Apply to Maryland Medical Schools
To apply to a medical school in Maryland, you will use the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS), the AAMC’s centralized medical school application processing service. It’s the primary application method for first-year entering classes for the vast majority of medical schools in the US.
You only need to submit one set of application materials to AMCAS, regardless of how many schools you want to apply to. The service handles the rest.
Here’s what you need to know about applying to medical school in Maryland.
1 | Application Requirements
Your primary application is composed of several essential components—all of which are vital to your acceptance.
A successful application is made up of your college transcripts, a high GPA and MCAT score, strong letters of recommendation, a narrative-driven personal statement, and a Work and Activities section that displays longitudinal commitment as well as a variety of different interests. Making each piece of your application as persuasive as possible requires a major time investment—one that begins long before you actually apply to medical school.
At the time of this article, no medical school in Maryland requires either the Casper test or PREview. However, the USU School of Medicine does recommend its applicants take PREview.
The AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam is a situational judgment test composed of a series of hypothetical scenarios that students may face in medical school. It’s designed to evaluate a premed’s awareness of effective and ineffective professional behaviors.
Read our comprehensive PREview guide to learn more: AAMC PREview Prep—Everything You Need to Know.
Since most medical schools charge applicants a fee to submit a secondary application, you will likely receive secondaries from many or all of the schools you applied to two to four weeks after submitting your primary application. Unlike the primary application, you will submit your secondaries directly to each of the Maryland medical schools you received them from. Secondaries should be completed within 2 weeks of receiving them.
If you pique the interest of an admissions committee, you could receive an invitation to interview at the school at any point between the end of August and the spring of the following year.
Learn more about the complete application process: How to Get Into Medical School: AMCAS Application Process.
2 | Application Deadlines
The AMCAS application opens during the first week of May for the following academic year’s medical school class, but submissions do not open until the end of May or early June, giving you a month to prepare your application. This means if you plan to start medical school in the fall of 2025, you’ll need to start the application process in the spring of 2024.
However, it is crucial to understand that the technical deadlines provided by AMCAS are just that—technical. You must submit your application long before the technical deadlines, as every week or month you delay your application interferes with your chance of acceptance.
Applying as soon as submissions open is critical to your success. The reason for this is that medical schools evaluate applications as soon as they are received through a process called rolling admissions.
Applicants who submit their application early secure the first secondaries and interview spots.
Schools only have so many interview spots available, so chances of acceptance decrease the longer you procrastinate and delay your application. This also goes for your secondary applications.
Once you submit your secondaries, you’ll begin to receive invitations to interview. Interview season for medical schools in Maryland, and med schools across the country, begins in September and can run through March of the following year.
Since medical schools start sending out acceptances as they interview candidates, delaying any aspect of your application could result in someone with qualifications similar to your own receiving an acceptance in your place.
Stay on top of each of your medical school application deadlines with our comprehensive Medical School Application Timeline and Monthly Schedule. (Updated every application cycle.)
Maryland Medical School Secondary Application Questions
Generally speaking, medical schools send secondaries to every applicant who meets minimum requirements. This is because secondaries help schools get to know applicants better, and the institutions make money off of secondary fees.
However, the USU School of Medicine does not charge any fee for secondaries.
Aim to complete your secondary applications within 2 weeks of receiving them for every school you apply to, as any delays will negatively impact your chance of acceptance. To efficiently complete each secondary application and maintain quality responses, plan your answers in advance.
Typically, secondary questions are quite similar from one school to the next, and schools often reuse their questions from one year to the next. This means you can write responses in advance and also recycle many of your answers.
However, be sure to tailor your answers to each specific school as much as possible. This will help you stand out from other cookie cutter applicants who only take a brief glance at a school’s website before applying.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts
The secondary application for the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine costs $100.
The following questions were asked for the 2023-2024 application cycle, and they were nearly exactly the same for the previous 2022-2023 cycle and each preceding cycle. However, the first two optional questions are new for this cycle.
1. Optional: If you have already received your bachelor’s degree, please describe what you have been doing since graduation, and your plans for the upcoming year. (2000 characters)
2. Optional: If you interrupted your college education for a semester or longer, please describe what you did during that time. (2000 characters)
3. Briefly describe your single, most rewarding experience. Feel free to refer to an experience previously described in your AMCAS application. (2500 characters)
4. Are there any areas of medicine that are of particular interest to you? If so, please comment. (2500 characters)
5. Briefly describe a situation where you had to overcome adversity; include lessons learned and how you think it will affect your career as a future physician. (2500 characters)
6. Briefly describe a situation where you were not in the majority. What did you learn from the experience? (2500 characters)
7. Wonder encapsulates a feeling of rapt attention … it draws the observer in. Tell us about a time in recent years that you experienced wonder in your everyday life. Although experiences related to your clinical or research work may be the first to come to mind, we encourage you to think of an experience that is unrelated to medicine or science. What did you learn from that experience? (2500 characters)
8. Optional: The Admissions Committee values hearing about each candidate for admission, including what qualities the candidate might bring to the School of Medicine if admitted. If you feel there is information not already addressed in the application that will enable the Committee to know more about you and this has influenced your desire to be a physician, feel free to write a brief statement in the space below. You may address any subject you wish, such as being a first generation college student, or being a part of a minority group (whether because of your sexual orientation, religion, economic status, gender identity, ethnicity) or being the child of undocumented immigrants or being undocumented yourself, etc. Please note that this question is optional and that you will not be penalized should you choose not to answer it. (2500 characters)
University of Maryland School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts
The secondary application for the University of Maryland School of Medicine costs $80. The following questions were asked for the 2023-2024 application cycle and were largely similar to the previous cycle.
1. How would you describe your cultural background? (optional, 1000 characters)
2. Describe here the reason why you are specifically interested in attending the University of Maryland School of Medicine. (1000 characters)
3. Have you previously met or attended/seen a presentation by a University of Maryland School of Medicine Admissions staff member at an open house, college fair, conference, school visit, etc.? If yes, please explain. (1000 characters)
4. Aside from summer and holiday breaks, have there been any pauses or delays in your education semesters between high school and college, during college, or after college? If yes, please explain (1000 characters)
5. Please describe what you will be doing during the 2023-2024 academic year. If you graduated/will graduate in 2023, what are your plans for the coming year until you matriculate to medical school? (1000 characters)
6. If you’ve experienced academic challenges while in college and/or graduate or professional school, please describe and explain below. Please be sure to include withdrawals, incompletes, poor grades, etc. (Optional, 1000 characters)
7. Briefly describe your most meaningful exposure to clinical medicine. (1500 char)
8. Briefly describe your most satisfying experience related to community service. (1500 characters)
9. Without limiting the discussion to your own identity, please describe how you envision contributing to the values of equity and inclusivity at our School of Medicine, and in the medical profession. (1500 characters)
10. What does it mean to you to enter into a profession? (1500 characters)
MSTP Prompts:
Please indicate the MD/PhD program you are most interested in (drop-down menu).
Why are you applying to the MD/PhD Program at the UMSOM? (2500 char)
Please list the name(s) of your MD/PhD letter of recommendation writers who can focus on your research potential. (2500 char)
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine Secondary Essay Prompts
The secondary application for the USU F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine is free. The following questions were asked for the 2023-2024 application cycle and were largely similar to the previous cycle.
1. Medicine and Officership are time-honored professions that unite at “America’s Medical School” in rewarding and challenging ways. What are your thoughts and impressions about serving as a uniformed medical corps officer, and why do you want to pursue this career path? (1500 Characters)
2. The Uniformed Services University features a unique curriculum that prepares students to care for those in harm’s way. Please describe what in your research about our school and its values attracts you to our institution’s mission and approach. (1500 Characters)
3. Our Admissions Committee assembles classes of students with a wide range of backgrounds, skills, experiences, and talents. Please describe how a special quality or experience of yours has informed your ability to participate well in a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment.(1500 Characters)
4. (optional) Were there any significant disruptions in your academic/volunteer/work/personal life related to COVID-19 that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider in reviewing your application? (1500 Characters)
5. (optional) You may use this field to enter any information that you would like to share that was not provided on your AMCAS application. (2000 characters)
For any other school you’re curious about, check out our Medical School Secondary Essay Prompts Database.
Tips for Acceptance at Maryland Medical Schools
1 | Visit the City of Baltimore
The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the University of Maryland School of Medicine are both located in Baltimore, and provided you do not want to join the military, it’s likely these schools you’ll be applying to.
It’s vital you visit the city of Baltimore and explore each campus to understand whether or not you could live there for the next four years of your life.
It’s important to note that the crime rates in Baltimore are some of the highest in the country, and it consistently ranks on top 10 lists of the most violent cities in the United States. The chances of becoming a victim of violent crime are 1 in 64, and the chances of becoming a victim of property crime are 1 in 30. Baltimore’s crime rates are not as high as New York City, Los Angeles, or Chicago, but that said, it also has a much smaller population than those cities. However, 2023 saw a historic drop in homicides.
This isn’t meant to scare you away. There are many beautiful, safe places in Baltimore. That said, if you’re moving there from a smaller town where everyone leaves their doors unlocked and you can go anywhere without a worry, moving to Baltimore will certainly be a transition.
In any large city, you need to be more aware of yourself and your belongings and be aware of any unsafe places you might not want to venture through alone at night.
There’s certainly still a lot to love about Baltimore. The city is packed with museums and landmarks, such as the National Aquarium, the Maryland Science Center, the Baltimore Maritime Museum, and Baltimore Museum of Art. It also has a number of cultural events, arts and music festivals, and a dynamic culinary scene, so there is plenty to do in your downtime.
2 | Determine What You Can Offer the School
Your medical education is a two-way street. What can you offer the medical school? Why will you make a good fit? To determine what you have to offer, you must learn more about each school to better grasp the type of candidate they are looking for.
Think beyond superficial traits to deeply understand how you will help the school reach its goals. How have you tangibly lived the school’s values? These are the types of insights that interviewers and admissions committees are looking for.
It’s also essential to determine if the school is a good fit for you. You might like a school on paper or by name, but that’s not enough. Dig deeper than MSAR data by reaching out to current and former students to understand what their experience has been like. What’s the vibe? What research opportunities do they offer? Are there professors you’re excited to study under? What’s the teaching style of the school?
You must be able to speak to what you have to offer the school and why the institution is a perfect fit for you. This is why it’s so vital to do extensive research on each school you apply to, especially your top choice schools.
3 | Build Your Application Narrative
While academic qualifications are critical, a story is much more intriguing and easier to remember than dry facts. Each piece of your application must complement the other and demonstrate why you want to become a doctor and dedicate your life to medicine. A cohesive narrative will persuade admissions committees to look deeper.
Adcoms have your CV. Since they already know your qualifications, you don’t have to repeat them in your personal statement or other essays. Your focus must be on the moments and people in your life who have led you to medicine and made you who are today.
What story do you want to tell? What do you need admissions committees to know about you? Once you know this, weave that thread throughout your application with unique anecdotes and examples from your past. But remember not to repeat yourself. If you detail a story in your personal statement, don’t repeat it in another essay. Each piece of your application should build upon the other with fresh insights.
Crafting a cohesive and compelling narrative is no mean feat—it takes a major investment of time, so don’t put it off. What key moments in your life have defined you and crystallized your ambition to pursue medicine? How has adversity made you more resilient?
Learn more: How to Develop a Cohesive Narrative for Medical School Applications.
Bottom Line: Is Going to Medical School in Maryland Right for You?
Each medical school in Maryland offers significant and unique opportunities and extensive resources—particularly Johns Hopkins. If you’re excited to work with a diverse patient population and gain experience in a great deal of different learning environments, going to medical school in Maryland could be right for you.
However, what matters most is whether or not you enjoy the community and environment that you’ll call home for the next four years of your life.
Pros of Attending Medical School in Maryland
- A diverse patient population in the city of Baltimore and surrounding areas.
- Proximity to top hospitals and research centers with many other hospitals in the city to give a diversity of training experiences.
- At the University Maryland, the presence of multiple other advanced degree programs on the same campus, allowing for the opportunity to meet students in other professions or take courses from other specialties.
- Baltimore is a charming small city with a reasonable cost of living. It has many neighborhoods with character, good restaurants, and fun activities.
- Baltimore isn’t a large city, so it is very walkable and easily drivable. It has a close proximity to the harbor and water, which provides a relaxing ambiance and scenery for restaurants.
- Baltimore is home to plenty of young professionals (graduate students, medical students, nursing students, etc.,) given the several undergraduate campuses in the surrounding areas, such as the undergraduate Hopkins and MICA campus in North Baltimore, the University of Maryland in West Baltimore, and Johns Hopkins in East Baltimore.
- Baltimore is close to D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.
- The BWI airport is just a few minutes outside the city and offers a number of direct flights around the US.
- Maryland is close to good nature spots and hikes in Western MD and VA.
- Baltimore holds large stadium arenas in the city center, such as Baltimore Orioles/Camden Yards, Baltimore Ravens/M&T stadium, which is adjacent to TopGolf, and a casino.
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine has the same tuition rates for both in-state and out-of-state students.
- Crab cakes!
Cons of Attending Medical School in Maryland
- Baltimore has poor public transit. The metro only has a few stops and city buses are unreliable, so generally, you need to have a car.
- Some areas of Baltimore are unsafe or have significant crime, so you need to be particular about where you choose to live and be cognizant of your surroundings in certain areas.
- The traffic going across east/west can be irritating at particular times; some highly trafficked roads are not well-maintained.
- If you’re not living in a secured apartment complex, packages can be stolen.
- The University of Maryland School of Medicine aims to only accept 25% of out-of-state applicants.
Research each medical school in Maryland deeply. Do you align with the teaching styles, goals, and values of each school? Are you excited to live in Baltimore or Bethesda?
Medical school is four or more years of your life, so choosing a location you’ll feel comfortable and be able to thrive in is of the utmost importance. But if you love sports, blue crabs, fishing, and being close to other major US cities, Maryland could be right for you.
Learn more: How to Decide Which Medical Schools to Apply to (12 Important Factors).
What Adcoms Are Looking for
No matter which state you apply to, admissions committees are looking for diverse, mature, enthusiastic, and well-rounded students who will positively impact the student population of their school. Taking a cookie-cutter approach and simply checking off boxes is not enough to get you noticed.
Med School Insiders can help you develop a stand out application that will get you noticed by Maryland medical schools, as well as any schools at the top of your list. We have a wide range of services to suit your individual needs, from one-on-one guidance to application editing to mock interviews.
Our services are tailored to meet the needs of each student because we understand that every applicant is unique. Learn more about our comprehensive medical school application packages.
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Thank you to Thank you to Dr. Albert Zhou, University of Maryland School of Medicine graduate, for being our Insider contributor for this guide.
