Imagine scoring 520 on the MCAT. You’re ecstatic—that’s the * bleeping * 97th percentile! You can already see yourself walking across the stage at Harvard Medical School, graciously accepting your degree before sailing forth into a prestigious and lucrative career.
But then reality hits. You check the median MCAT scores for top medical schools, and your heart sinks. Your hard-earned 520 might not even be competitive at these top-ranked schools.
The brutal truth? At the 10 most elite medical schools in the US, a 520 MCAT score—a score that puts you ahead of 97% of all test-takers—still leaves you just below the median. And not only that, 3 points below the median for the #1 school on our list.
Can you guess which school has a median matriculant MCAT of 523? You may be thinking Harvard or Stanford, but you’d be way off. The school with the highest median MCAT is guaranteed to surprise you.
Why Your MCAT Matters
But before we dive into our countdown, let’s talk about why MCAT scores carry so much weight at these elite institutions.
Unlike schools focused on serving underserved communities, which often place greater emphasis on mission alignment and life experience, these top-tier research powerhouses use MCAT scores as an initial filter. They can afford to be incredibly selective because they receive thousands of applications from the country’s highest-achieving students.
Remember, these median scores represent the middle of the pack, which means half the students scored even higher than these already astronomical numbers. At some of these schools, students with 524s and 525s are commonplace, despite the fact that these scores are achieved by fewer than 1% of all test-takers.
But here’s the thing: while your MCAT score needs to be exceptional to even get your foot in the door at these schools, it’s still just one piece of the puzzle. Every year, the AAMC publishes official data showing applicants who scored a 525 on the MCAT and earned a 4.0 GPA who still did not get into medical school because the rest of their application wasn’t strong enough.
Strong applicants must also show breadth and depth across extracurriculars, gain stellar letters of recommendation, and clearly articulate why they’re the perfect fit for a school’s mission.
10 Highest MCAT Medical Schools
So, what are the most difficult medical schools to get into? Keep in mind that this ranking is based purely on MCAT medians. There are many factors that make a medical school competitive, and what’s challenging for one applicant might be a piece of cake for another, based on their unique background, experiences, and strengths.
There are 10 schools on this list, but many of them share the same median MCAT score, so they are broken down into three clusters of first, second, and third. We’ll begin with third place, which is a tie between four prestigious medical schools.
Second place holds five schools, but only one claims the top spot with the most intimidating MCAT median score in the country.
#3 – Washington University School of Medicine
In third place is Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, with a median MCAT score of 521. A 521 puts you in the 97th percentile—meaning you scored better than 97 out of 100 test-takers.
Located in St. Louis, Missouri, WashU is renowned for its research excellence and consistently ranks among the top medical schools in the nation. The school is particularly strong in biomedical research, with many students going on to competitive residencies and academic careers.
#3 – Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine
Also in third place with a median MCAT of 521 is the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, Illinois.
Feinberg is known for its innovative curriculum and strong emphasis on early clinical exposure. The school’s location in Chicago provides students with access to diverse patient populations and world-class medical institutions.
#3 – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland, also ties for third with a median MCAT of 521.
Hopkins needs no introduction—it’s synonymous with medical excellence and groundbreaking research. The school has produced more Nobel Prize winners in Medicine than any other institution. If you’re dreaming of a career in academic medicine or research, Hopkins is the gold standard.
#3 – Harvard Medical School
Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, ties for third with a median MCAT score of 521.
Harvard is integrated with multiple teaching hospitals, including Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Students benefit from access to some of the world’s most advanced medical facilities and research labs.
Now we move on to our next cluster—five schools that all share the same exceptionally high median MCAT score of 522.
#2 – Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota, has a median MCAT score of 522.
Mayo Clinic’s medical school benefits from being integrated with one of the world’s most prestigious healthcare systems. Students learn from physicians who treat incredibly complex cases and conduct cutting-edge research. The Mayo name carries enormous weight in the medical community.
To put Mayo Clinic’s 522 score in perspective, it’s essential to note that this is a 99th percentile score. That means if you scored a 522, you performed better than 99% of all MCAT test-takers. According to the AAMC, more than 85,000 students take the MCAT each year. A 99th percentile score means that only about 850 students nationwide achieve a score of 522 or higher annually.
You don’t achieve a score like this based solely on smarts or even hard work—it’s a combination of strategy and precise planning.
But you don’t need to go through the trial and error on your own to figure out what works and what doesn’t.
We compiled the learnings of dozens of Insiders who scored in the 99th percentile to create an Ultimate MCAT Study Plan that provides a comprehensive study schedule based on when you plan to take the MCAT, as well as strategies to ensure you stay on track. It’s completely free and available in the video description.
#2 – Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Also in second place with a median MCAT of 522 is Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.
Vanderbilt combines Southern charm with world-class medical education. The school is known for its collaborative environment and strong support system for students. Plus, Nashville’s growing biotech scene and Vanderbilt’s research prowess make it an attractive destination for future physician-scientists.
#2 – Yale School of Medicine
Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, has a median MCAT of 522.
Yale operates unlike any other medical school in the country. It’s one of only a handful of US medical schools with true pass/fail grading—no honors, high pass, or internal rankings for both preclinical years and core clerkships. There’s no AOA Medical Honor Society, no shelf exams, and even anatomy class attendance is optional. Students take just four anatomy tests total and foundational science exams only every eight weeks, creating an unusually low-stress, non-competitive environment.
This unique structure allows students unprecedented flexibility to pursue other interests. About 50% of Yale medical students take advantage of the Flex Year—an additional tuition-free year between their third and fourth year for research, joint degrees, or clinical work. Students can audit classes across Yale’s other schools, from management to law to arts and sciences, and participate in interdisciplinary programs, like the Solomon Center for Health Law & Policy.
#2 – Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia also ties with a median MCAT of 522.
UPenn’s medical school holds the distinction of being the first ever medical school in the US, founded in 1765, and of being home to the first hospital built by a medical school.
It’s renowned for its robust clinical training and extensive research opportunities. The school’s location in Philadelphia provides access to diverse patient populations and multiple teaching hospitals.
#2 – Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
And our last-second-place school, at 522, is Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City.
Columbia’s location in Manhattan provides unparalleled clinical exposure and networking opportunities.
Columbia was the first medical school to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need with scholarships for qualifying students. The move to offer such significant debt relief is a major contributor to this institution’s competitiveness, and though it has been a competitive school for many years, this has no doubt made it even more desirable to applicants.
#1 – NYU Grossman School of Medicine
And finally, claiming the number one spot with the highest median MCAT score of 523 is the NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City.
The school offers world-class faculty, cutting-edge research facilities, and access to NYU Langone Health, one of the nation’s premier academic medical centers. NYU’s accelerated three-year MD program attracts top students who want to fast-track their medical careers.
That said, while NYU was a strong program, it did not lead the pack in terms of applicant statistics. What skyrocketed its competitiveness is the fact that, in 2018, just like Columbia, NYU announced that it would offer free tuition. But the difference? NYU offered it to ALL current and future MD students, regardless of need. That’s right—regardless of need, which means no red tape and no extra essays. That’s like offering a $200,000 bonus to any student who is accepted.
Since implementing this unprecedented tuition-free model, the school’s appeal has surged, becoming one of the most competitive medical schools in the country, with the highest average MCAT score. After all, what med student couldn’t use an extra $200,000?
A high MCAT score is absolutely crucial for gaining admission to these elite medical schools, but it’s not everything. It’s your entire application package that will ultimately determine your success. These institutions are looking for future leaders in medicine—students who will push the boundaries of medical knowledge, become department chairs, and win Nobel Prizes.
If your heart is set on one of these schools, you must approach every aspect of your application strategically, with passion and dedication. That means not just studying for the MCAT, but mastering it.
Do some students get accepted with lower MCAT scores? Absolutely. These are only the medians after all. But a killer MCAT score will make your life easier, and it will open doors for you. Do everything you can to achieve the highest score possible while not neglecting other aspects of your application.
Scoring in the 99th percentile isn’t luck, but it’s also not about smarts. Anyone with the right study plan and test-taking tactics can earn a killer score. Ready to join the ranks of students scoring in the 99th percentile? Download our free Test-Taking Tactics Cheat Sheet, which reveals the exact strategies to help you score in the top 1%.
This Post Has 15 Comments
Interesting. So as a surgeon in NYC, I ask every medical student that comes to the O.R. about their “hobbies,” i.e. music, arts, crafts, cooking, etc. etc. I’ve been doing this for the past 3 years, as I would like to know how, or if, they’ve ever attempted to develop any fine motor skills. And I’m curious because over the past decade or so, I’ve noticed a rapid and severe decline in manual dexterity and fine motor skills in young surgical trainees. I tell them to “hold it like a pencil,” and I get blank stares. Many of them grasp the instruments the way that a 3 y/o grasps a spoon. After interviewing approx. 100 students, the only thing I got in response was “thrift shopping.” No lie! I’m not so so convinced that the application process is as rigorous as it was back in the 90s!
Love this reply! No one asked me about my hobbies when I applied to med school(wound up at Baylor) 40+ years ago, but maybe I should have been a surgeon since my hobbies were piano, clarinet, and knitting(still are). Actually, my personality was much better suited to rural family medicine where my manual dexterity comes in handy for minor office procedures ,circumcisions, and baby deliveries lol. But great questions to ask! Keep it up! I need to start asking the stream of med students that rotate through my practice the same thing!
When my son applied to medical schools, he was asked about his ‘passion’. His interviews inevitably revolved around wrestling and teaching wrestling–something his physician interviewers knew little about and were curious about. He was subsequently offered admission to the 3 medical schools that asked him about it. After 5 years as a Navy flight surgeon (flying–another topic heavily covered in his civilian residency interviews), coaching HS wrestling in his spare time and now 10 years as a primary care physician, wrestling and teaching jiu jitsu continue to be his passions.
I am a retired pathologist who worked in university-based medical centers for over 35 years. I found this article interesting, but less than ecumenical in regard to its emphasis on “top” medical schools. It certainly should be well-known that many excellent and celebrated physicians in our country were educated in medical schools outside the U.S. Moreover, a significant number of American doctors who belong in the highest echelons of their specialty groups attended medical schools that some people might label as “ordinary” or “unimpressive.” My point? It is that a school’s name or its ranking are not necessarily well-matched with the quality of its graduates. An individual’s hard work, perserverance, and breadth of learning are the factors that make quality physicians.
Now entering my 40 year in practice as a clinical cardiologist who started a large multi specialist group in south Florida which included my 16 man cardiology group.
I find it hard to believe how competitive the application process to medical school is seeing the candidates that are coming to interview for positions in our group
I am not seeing applicants who want to work hard and take care of patients but rather are more interested in their salaries workload and call schedules
Maybe more emphasis needs to be placed on community service, doing for others than GPA and MCAT score to bring back a generation of physicians that want to take care of patients!!!
There is a need for the development of a “track” for the creation of students interested in serving as Direct Care Team providers of cost-beneficial care to patients in rural communities:
1) Teaching 9th graders+ to the maxim: You can become certified as a community health worker and homecare provider by the 13th grade of Early College High School upon attainment of a Community College’s degree in Community Caring and with obtaining passing scores on certification exams;
2) Opportunities in 2-5 years of college training at 500 dollars per semester – Elizabeth City State University in my neck of the woods – for certification/licensure as a LPN, Tele-Nurse, Psychiatric Social Worker, Continuity of Care and Comparative Effectiveness Study Facilitator, APP, Midwife, Direct Care Administrator, Advanced Community Health Worker, Communication & Disaster P-R-R (Prevention-Resistance-Resilience) Specialist;
3) Opportunities in 3-5 years to be Licensed as a Direct Care Provider capable of Primary/Mental Health/Public Health/Pregnancy Care @ a cost of 3000 dollars per year.
4) Opportunities in 2-4 years to be Licensed as a Master of: 1) Physical Medicine; 2) Neuropsychiatry; 3) Hospital at Home; 4) Comparative Effectiveness Study & Cost-Beneficial Care; 5) High Risk Pregnancy; 6) Assisted Living & End of Life Care; 7) Wilderness Medicine; 8) Athletic Training & Injuries; 9) Connecting the Dots; 10) Men & Women’s Care; 11) Psychiatric Social Work; 12) Integrated & System-wide Care; 13) Moral & Ethical Care.
Thank you Dr Krasner..
I took the MCATs back in 1971 I was in the 99 plus percent tile My GPA was 3.00 I got into multiple med schools despite my poor GPA I had a wonderful 43 year career in Internal medicine and may resume part time practice as a mentor for younger physicians
That nice, but these schools do a terrible job at turning out primary care physicians which we desperately need for our aging population.
No attention to emotional intelligence (EQ)? Just MCAT scores? When I applied to medical school (1975-76) my scores were respectable but hardly spectacular. I was accepted to Tufts and George Washington University (I chose the former). Interestingly, GWU had more than 10,000 applicants for about 150 places that year. I interviewed locally where I lived at the time (Los Angeles) because I simply couldn’t afford to travel for another interview. I’ve had a great 40+ -year career, mostly in non- direct clinical care, non-traditional roles. To get back to the theme of this article, I think the reliance on MCAT scores (even as a starting point) is way overrated. As technology gallops, we still need human elements in medicine, and that starts with an authentic, empathic corps of new physicians.
I have been out of residency now for 25 years. I am a very hard working psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. I don’t share the negative skepticism about current medical students or recent grads that some of you do. I was a very smart, high achieving student like all of you. I had a very high GPA, but I got into medical school through an early assurance program through the SUNY system which allowed me to avoid taking the MCAT altogether. I studied abroad during my junior year, and I didn’t need to apply to any other med schools. I have been teaching residents for the last 25 years and taught medical students for about 15 years. I think todays med students are not so money-minded or spoiled. They are more professional than I was as a medical student, mature, compassionate, and many have done other things between college and medical school. I think we are continuing to grow excellent doctors.
We are now seeing progressively fierce competition among med school candidates akin to an arms race with ever increasing numbers of publications. Where we once considered 3-5 articles on a candidates CV as impressive, we are now seeing 10-15 with dubious understanding of the candidates role in said research. To what end is this going? There must be a better way for earlier identification of future expert specialists and physicians committed to providing essential family medicine.
I went to Hopkins over 40 years ago and was accepted at other schools as well (agree that a “top” school is no guarantee of being a good doctor—most skills are learned in residency). I had zero papers and zero research. For most applicants today, this is a check the box thing and not a passion. I think commitment to service, to the extent this can be evaluated as not being yet more box checking, is more important.
Currently a registered nurse who’s so passionate about caring for people especially in Geriatrics. Although I’ve always wanted to be an anaesthesiologist from childhood, I hope it becomes a dream come through. I don’t blame my parents for the financial constraints that held me from becoming that but I do hope the fire keeps burning, lol it just won’t go away 😩
It’s been 4 years since getting into healthcare through the nursing pathway and I hope to keep doing good!