St. George’s University

  • Select A School
  • Login to Portal
  • School of Medicine

    School of Veterinary Medicine

    School of Arts & Sciences

    School of Graduate Studies

    School of Medicine

    School of Veterinary Medicine

    School of Arts & Sciences

    School of Graduate Studies

    Medical School Acceptance Rates: How Much Do They Really Matter?

    Medical School Acceptance Rates

    Even if attending medical school has been a longtime goal for you, the process of choosing which medical schools to apply to can be difficult to navigate. Among the range of different criteria you should be evaluating, which factors are most important?

    In addition to considering things like admissions standards, residency placement success, and graduation rates, you might have factored medical school acceptance rates into your review process.

    While you can gather some information about schools by looking into acceptance rates, you won’t get the full picture. These percentages aren’t always as straightforward as they seem.

    Why you should think beyond med school acceptance rates

    Reviewing acceptance rates can give you a good understanding of the general level of competitiveness of a medical school. However, it should not influence your application decisions too strongly. Here’s a few reasons why:

    Acceptance rates don’t necessarily reflect your odds

    One thing to keep in mind about medical school acceptance rates is that they make sweeping generalizations. For example, a program that has a 10 percent acceptance rate. Each applicant would have to possess the exact same qualifications for everyone to truly have a 10 percent chance of being admitted.

    But the truth is that each student’s odds differ depending on several factors including:

    Every medical school will put an emphasis on a different combination of those elements. Some schools may receive a greater number of “stretch applicants” simply based on their name recognition, which skews the overall percentages.

    All in all, it’s important to understand that medical school applicants are evaluated on many different elements, so a simple statistic cannot accurately represent the full picture.

    You could pass over schools that would be a great fit
    It’s important to keep things in perspective and examine the bigger picture before limiting your options to only the medical schools with the lowest acceptance rate. Just because a school is competitive, it doesn’t mean it’s the best institution for you.

    Instead of using acceptance rates as your primary application criteria, you should be evaluating schools based on your personal interests and professional needs. For example, if you value diversity in healthcare or hope to participate in meaningful research, look for schools that emphasize those particular areas.

    There are many factors that make up a great medical school. If you’re too focused on medical school acceptance rates, you could miss out on the ideal program for you.

    What you should consider when evaluating schools

    While there are numerous factors to consider, there are two overarching categories that can help guide your process of choosing medical schools. It is important to look at Accreditation and Curriculum.

    How you compare to a program’s typical student

    Since acceptance rate alone doesn’t reflect your personal odds of getting into any given med school, it can be more sensible to think about how you compare to admitted students.

    You can start with your academic record. Medical schools’ websites include information about their average GPA and MCAT scores — some have minimums listed on their sites as well.
    It’s also worth evaluating how your entire application compares to a given school’s students. Review the admissions pages for all the schools you’re interested in and see which align closest with your qualifications.

    For example, if you have a lot of volunteer experience, it would be smart to see which schools seem to put more emphasis on those activities. Some schools are committed to holistic application reviews and place a lot of consideration on the things you’ve accomplished outside the classroom.

    Quality standards

    This might go without saying, but it’s also important to ensure each program you apply to meets some specific benchmarks. You should make sure the vast majority of any program’s students pass the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1. Keep in mind that 93 percent of US and Canadian allopathic students taking it for the first time in 2022 passed.

    You should also seek information about residency placement rates — what percentage of a school’s students obtain postgraduate positions? A high number indicates that students receive a great education and are well prepared for life after medical school.

    And be sure to dig into each institution’s accreditation status, especially if you’re considering any international medical schools. Beginning in 2024, the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) will only certify international grads to practice in the US if they attended a program accredited by an agency the World Federation of Medical Education has approved. ECFMG certification is also required for all international graduates seeking a residency in the US.

    Lastly, it can be wise to investigate what student support services are available at your target schools. MD programs are incredibly rigorous, even for the best students. It could be invaluable to have an extra layer of support should you find yourself struggling.

    Plan your path toward medical school

    Comparing medical school acceptance rates can certainly be useful, but it’s important to think about a range of different factors when determining which programs could be right for you. You’ll be better off if you maintain an open mind as you continue your research — you may even find that certain Caribbean schools align with your needs and interests.

    Learn more about what this route toward earning an MD has to offer in our article “8 Common Questions About Caribbean Medical Universities.”

    This article was originally published in January 2021. It has since been updated to include information relevant to 2024.

    Related Articles

    From Dr.eam To Doctor

    Learn more about our MD program and tracks

    Every aspect of our MD program and tracks are intentionally designed to support you on your path to becoming a physician.

    Flexible Start Dates: Choose from multiple entry terms in August, January, or April to begin your medical education at your convenience.

    Program and Track Highlights

    • Global Recognition: SGU’s School of Medicine has been continuously accredited for decades, enabling our students to be eligible to practice in the US.
    • Clinical Training: 85+ hospitals and health systems in the US, UK, and Canada offer clinical and ambulatory training and support.
    • Legacy of Excellence: Join the network of over 23K+ graduates* who have impacted healthcare worldwide.
    SGU Graduates Collage

    Connect With Us.

    • Learn more about our MD program and tracks
    • Receive priority invitations to our prospective student events


























    April term is for School of Medicine Only.






    At SGU we respect your privacy and will never sell your information to a third party. I understand and agree, that SGU may show me additional educational opportunities available at SGU, programs and services relevant to my request for information. I acknowledge that my data will be collected and shared with selected SGU affiliated partners to improve educational services, marketing, and analytics. You may withdraw consent at any time. These details are also included in our Privacy Policy.
    SGU would like to communicate with you via text at the phone number provided. Please note: Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP at any time to opt-out. Reply HELP for help. View our Privacy Policy . Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
    By clicking SUBMIT, I understand and agree that St George's University (SGU) will use my personal data for the purpose of processing my request for information. Please see our Privacy Policy for further details.


    We will be in touch soon, but if you have questions now, email us at admissions@sgu.edu