As you map out your path to becoming a physician, there are several factors to take into account. In narrowing down your list of potential Doctor of Medicine (MD) programs, however, it’s easy to become overly fixated on targeting only the best medical schools—you want a high-quality medical education, after all.

One avenue of information many pre-med students turn to in this decision-making process is medical school rankings. In fact, some students plan to only submit applications to the institutions that appear at the top of these lists.

It’s a strategy that makes sense on the surface, but it might end up being a mistake. The truth is, medical school rankings are hardly the gold standard many assume them to be. Lists like these often fail to mention a host of reputable medical schools that produce excellent physicians.

Part of the issue has to do with the varying ways rankings are compiled. Join us as we explore some of the methods publications use to craft their top medical school lists.

How are medical school rankings determined?

When browsing these lists of highly ranked medical schools, have you ever wondered how exactly these classifications are calculated? Read on to gain a better understanding of the different types of medical school ranking lists and the various factors that are considered when compiling them.

1. Comparing using weighted indicators

Perhaps the most widely recognized publication to rate programs, U.S. News & World Report releases its medical school rankings annually. There are actually two lists: one for research-focused institutions and one for schools that prioritize primary care.

While programs are evaluated differently depending on which category they fall under, there are several criteria that overlap. These include average student GPA, average student MCAT score, acceptance rate, faculty-to-student ratio, and assessments from both fellow medical schools and residency programs. These assessments are weighted heavily in both cases.

The primary care list also considers the percentage of students who pursue primary care residencies following medical school. The research list weighs research activity based on total dollar value by funding source and average dollar value per instructor by funding source.

2. Aggregate publisher rankings and student reviews

Business Insider has highlighted a new source for medical school rankings, compiled through College Consensus. This unique approach ranks schools using an average of published scores from the most respected business rankings (including sources like U.S. News & World Report, The Economist, Forbes, Bloomberg, and more).

These averages are considered in tandem with thousands of real student review scores to uncover what College Consensus deems the 50 Best Medical Schools of 2022.

3. Voter opinion

Ranker is a site you may recognize for its featured polls on everything from entertainment to sports. The results reveal the popular opinion for the question posed. What you may not realize is they also have a top medical schools list.

As with other Ranker polls, this particular list is determined entirely by the voting community. Anyone can participate in the poll and add their opinion to the mix.

Do medical school rankings matter? 4 things to consider

It’s clear there is no single source pre-med students can seek out for medical school rankings, as the methodology can vary quite a bit from one list to the next. Even if each school featured in these roundups is excellent, there’s a lot more you need to take into account.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when browsing these lists.

1. Your needs might not align with rankings

Regardless of the methodology a publication uses when ranking medical schools, you probably won’t gain any real advantages by attending the top school on any list. Dr. Charles Tullius, anesthesiologist and founder of Pre Med Assistance, says attending such a school really only matters if you plan to stay in academics or have your sights set on a competitive chief resident position in the future.

It’s also worth considering that medical school rankings generally tend to favor research institutions over ones that emphasize a different academic focus. While they may be the best schools for some students who have particular medical career goals, that doesn’t necessarily mean those are the best schools for you.

“It depends on what the student is looking for,” Dr. Tullius offers. “Let’s face it, most medical students are not doing research while they’re in med school.” He suggests learning as much as possible about the programs by talking to students and alumni.

Dr. Tullius also shares that reading through online forums and blogs can help shed some light on the schools you’re looking at. But be mindful that students who’ve just had a bad experience tend to vent online, so take everything you read with a grain of salt.

2. High-ranking programs are incredibly selective

Programs at the top of various medical school rankings are typically the most competitive. Targeting only those medical schools when applying could be a mistake because they have very strict standards for academic metrics.

Let’s say, for example, you decide to only apply to the top 16 schools from a certain ranking. “That might be a fool’s errand,” Dr. Tullius warns, “because you might not get into any of the top 16 schools.” You want to be strategic when applying to medical schools, and sometimes that includes casting a wider net.

For more guidance on this, view our infographic “What Medical Schools Should I Apply To?”

3. Residency programs prioritize performance over school

Remember that your journey isn’t over once you earn your MD. Getting into medical school and completing your physician training is one of many steps that lie ahead. In fact, obtaining a postgraduate residency is arguably the most critical step on your path to becoming a doctor—and this happens after you’ve graduated from your MD program.

When it comes to your eventual residency placement, the medical institution you attended will matter less than a strong academic performance and a positive Medical Student Performance Evaluation. The National Resident Matching Program’s 2021 Program Director Survey indicates that the school you attend matters very little in obtaining a residency, so long as it’s received the proper accreditation to enable you to practice in the US.

“As a general rule, people who do well in medical school will get into good programs for training,” says Dr. Glenn Englander, gastroenterologist at Gastro Group of the Palm Beaches.

4. Future patients and colleagues care more about you being a good physician

It’s pretty unlikely your future patients will care whether you attended a high-ranking program or one they’ve never heard of. Research suggests patient satisfaction is more related to a physician’s medical knowledge and communication skills.

Most patients won’t even think to inquire. “Patients don’t care—I can tell you that,” Dr. Tullius says. “I’m almost never asked where I went to medical school.”

Your future colleagues will probably also feel indifferent to whether you attended a ranking list’s top program. If anything, they’ll be more curious about where you completed your residency. “Fellow physicians might be interested in where you trained, but what school you went to is of lesser importance and rarely asked about,” Dr. Englander notes.

Follow your own path toward a medical career

As popular as medical school rankings have become, it’s clear they don’t provide enough information to thoroughly assess MD programs. Excellent schools can be passed over in rankings simply because they don’t respond to a survey, they lack name recognition, or they failed to meet a publication’s specific criteria. You now also know that rankings are general and may not align with your wants and needs.

So, how should you determine which medical school is right for you? You’re better off comparing graduate outcomes and looking into important resources like student support services.

For additional tips to help you make an informed decision, check out our article “How to Choose a Medical School: 8 Things to Evaluate.”