If you are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, chances are you have heard of the MCAT. Regardless of what boat you are in, the MCAT is an essential part of becoming a doctor that can not be avoided. The MCAT, which stands for the Medical College Admissions Test, is a standardized test devised for (as the name pretty much clarifies) entrance into medical colleges. In fact, at all medical colleges in the United States, the MCAT is required for even consideration of admission.
The test consists of multiple-choice questions designed to test a variety of subjects that are essential to success in not only medical school, but also the work that will come after. The test is split into four scoring sections: biological and biochemical foundations of living systems, chemical and physical foundations of biological systems, psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior, and finally, critical analysis and reasoning skills.
Because the MCAT plays a significant role in admission to medical school, if you are aiming for a top 5 medical school, it is crucial that you understand what MCAT to shoot for on your exam. When considering the list below, remember that it is recommended that you at least aim for a score of 511 or higher on the MCAT; a perfect score stands at 528. So what scores are associated with the top medical schools?
In the 2024 admissions cycle for medical school, Harvard had an average MCAT score of around 520.42. This high score signifies just how competitive it is to get into a top-tier medical school like Harvard, and this is no easy task, as this falls just around 8 points short of a perfect score.
Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is ranked second among nationally ranked medical schools in the United States. It is second only to Harvard Medical School, boasting an average score of 520, extremely similar and just as difficult to achieve.
At the third slot for highest-ranked medical schools sits the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine. Their average MCAT score was also reported to be highly competitive (not surprisingly) at a score of 521.8. This is interesting because even though it is ranked lower than both Harvard and Johns Hopkins, the average score for admitted students is higher. This is an indication that there are many factors other than MCAT scores that go into not only admission to a medical school but also a medical school’s ranking.
Columbia’s medical school, Columbia Valegos College of Physicians and Surgeons, is ranked fourth among medical schools in the United States. Their MCAT score average is even higher, at 522, displaying just how difficult it is to attain a spot at one of these top medical programs.
Ranked fifth is a whole group of medical schools, but what is interesting is that they have much more of a range in average MCAT scores for admitted students than the previous institutions listed. The fifth rank is shared among Duke University School of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, UCSF School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, and Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. Interestingly, the average MCAT scores for these medical schools range from 513 (significantly lower than the previous institutions discussed) and 519 (which is just as competitive).
This is important to note because it displays that while yes, there is no denying that MCAT scores (and a good one for that matter) are essential, there is such a wide variety of other factors that play into admittance to a medical program besides the MCAT.
Ultimately, the MCAT is an essential part of reaching the goal of becoming a physician and integral to earning a highly coveted spot at any top medical institution in the United States. However, do not ignore other equally important factors to your application, such as GPA, volunteering efforts, research projects, and so much more.
