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, itโs easy to become overly fixated on targeting only the best medical schoolsโyou 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.
Itโs 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
Itโs 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, thereโs 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 wonโt 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.
Itโs 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 doesnโt necessarily mean those are the best schools for you.
โIt depends on what the student is looking for,โ Dr. Tullius offers. โLetโs face it, most medical students are not doing research while theyโre in med school.โ 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 youโre looking at. But be mindful that students whoโve 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.
Letโs say, for example, you decide to only apply to the top 16 schools from a certain ranking. โThat might be a foolโs errand,โ Dr. Tullius warns, โbecause you might not get into any of the top 16 schools.โ 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 โWhat Medical Schools Should I Apply To?โ
3. Residency programs prioritize performance over school
Remember that your journey isnโt 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 doctorโand this happens after youโve 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 Programโs 2021 Program Director Survey indicates that the school you attend matters very little in obtaining a residency, so long as itโs received the proper accreditation to enable you to practice in the US.
โAs a general rule, people who do well in medical school will get into good programs for training,โ 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
Itโs pretty unlikely your future patients will care whether you attended a high-ranking program or one theyโve never heard of. Research suggests patient satisfaction is more related to a physicianโs medical knowledge and communication skills.
Most patients wonโt even think to inquire. โPatients donโt careโI can tell you that,โ Dr. Tullius says. โIโm almost never asked where I went to medical school.โ
Your future colleagues will probably also feel indifferent to whether you attended a ranking listโs top program. If anything, theyโll be more curious about where you completed your residency. โFellow physicians might be interested in where you trained, but what school you went to is of lesser importance and rarely asked about,โ Dr. Englander notes.
Follow your own path toward a medical career
As popular as medical school rankings have become, itโs clear they donโt provide enough information to thoroughly assess MD programs. Excellent schools can be passed over in rankings simply because they donโt respond to a survey, they lack name recognition, or they failed to meet a publicationโs 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? Youโre 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 โHow to Choose a Medical School: 8 Things to Evaluate.โ
