I know it's apples to oranges as a comparison, but I had a conversation the other day about people saying getting into any MD is tougher than admissions to top schools for undergrad. I don't think this is true whatsoever if the metric for MD is just any acceptance. However, I do think that getting into med school at a top school is harder than getting in for undergrad, so I was wondering what others thought. I admit this is a bit of a pointless question, but I am a bit curious, since it seems that med school admissions are unique from other graduate level programs (which are notorious for being relatively easier in selectivity than their undergrad program).
Are Admissions to Top Undergrad or Top Med School Harder?
- Thread starter urface21
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2016
- Messages
- 16,756
- Reaction score
- 26,900
It is absolutely true because there is always a college that will accept you, but there are no safety schools for medical school. The requirements for entry go beyond grades and require years of planning, but there are grades so low a person’s chance is zero. Across all MD schools 40% of applicants gain acceptance and at a specific school that could be as low as 2%.
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2011
- Messages
- 28,672
- Reaction score
- 20,738
In Becoming a Student Doctor, students focus on the pressure of applying to college. A couple of documentaries frame this unit. So I won't directly answer the questions. 🙂
Acknowledging the original question of "top undergrad" vs. "top medical schools," there's much more pressure on admissions officers involved in college admissions. So far, there is no "varsity blues" scandal for medical school admissions.
Undergrad admissions includes admission of transfer students or international students, so the "game" is much broader. Maybe as an aspiring Ivy-plus leaguer, there's the problem of competing against children of legacies, donors, and significant world leaders that is invisible to you (and how they are prepped for the process). At most medical schools, we don't consider transfers or international/undocumented applicants (unless stated) for entering class seats.
Medical school admissions are not appealing to just one demographic group of high school seniors,. nor can we leverage their metadata to micromarket you to apply to their school (and you'll send 100 applications to get into a school because... you want to shoot your shot). Non-traditional enrollees make up about half of each entering class (generalizing for all schools, including the "brand names"). We like maturity because in medical school, you ultimately take care of patients, as early as first week of classes. That's a higher expectation of responsibility that is not present in undergraduate admissions.
You can also drop out of undergrad or transfer out if you feel you need to; it won't affect your future as much as you think it would. It is much more difficult to return to medical school or start elsewhere (it can be done, but it's not easy like undergrad). You also are under much more scrutiny for "professionalism" as a medical student vs an undergrad. We look for professionalism in medical school admissions in your application and our interviews; undergrad admissions doesn't scrutinize as much. You generally can't "go home" to the medical school that admitted you once you leave like you could return to your undergrad program (including non-degree postbac student).
Plus you always have backups in undergrad admissions: some options include a "guaranteed spot" if you graduated top in your high school (Texas), or you can go to community college. There's a national discussion on whether a college degree is worth the cost, given so many millionaire "tech bros" probably dropped out. The discussion for professional school is focused more on debt, but there's a societal need for healthcare workers across the board; no one in society is questioning the value of an MD, DO, DDS, etc. degree except under the context of paying back loans.
Acknowledging the original question of "top undergrad" vs. "top medical schools," there's much more pressure on admissions officers involved in college admissions. So far, there is no "varsity blues" scandal for medical school admissions.
Undergrad admissions includes admission of transfer students or international students, so the "game" is much broader. Maybe as an aspiring Ivy-plus leaguer, there's the problem of competing against children of legacies, donors, and significant world leaders that is invisible to you (and how they are prepped for the process). At most medical schools, we don't consider transfers or international/undocumented applicants (unless stated) for entering class seats.
Medical school admissions are not appealing to just one demographic group of high school seniors,. nor can we leverage their metadata to micromarket you to apply to their school (and you'll send 100 applications to get into a school because... you want to shoot your shot). Non-traditional enrollees make up about half of each entering class (generalizing for all schools, including the "brand names"). We like maturity because in medical school, you ultimately take care of patients, as early as first week of classes. That's a higher expectation of responsibility that is not present in undergraduate admissions.
You can also drop out of undergrad or transfer out if you feel you need to; it won't affect your future as much as you think it would. It is much more difficult to return to medical school or start elsewhere (it can be done, but it's not easy like undergrad). You also are under much more scrutiny for "professionalism" as a medical student vs an undergrad. We look for professionalism in medical school admissions in your application and our interviews; undergrad admissions doesn't scrutinize as much. You generally can't "go home" to the medical school that admitted you once you leave like you could return to your undergrad program (including non-degree postbac student).
Plus you always have backups in undergrad admissions: some options include a "guaranteed spot" if you graduated top in your high school (Texas), or you can go to community college. There's a national discussion on whether a college degree is worth the cost, given so many millionaire "tech bros" probably dropped out. The discussion for professional school is focused more on debt, but there's a societal need for healthcare workers across the board; no one in society is questioning the value of an MD, DO, DDS, etc. degree except under the context of paying back loans.
- Joined
- May 19, 2020
- Messages
- 752
- Reaction score
- 2,005
To add to @Mr.Smile12, admissions for undergrad has a lot more factors for the institution to consider, and at many of them finances are a huge part. They need to ensure they get enough tuition income to balance out costs, and that involves some careful engineering of scholarship and financial aid offers to students.
Additionally, undergraduate institutions also don't have strict class caps. They have targets, but are rarely going to turn away a few extra qualified students especially if they're paying at least some tuition. Most schools would happily take more students and get larger to take students away from a competitor.
Medical schools are different. For one, there isn't a shortage of qualified students. As such, there's less "competition" among schools for students than there is at the undergraduate level. For another, medical education isn't a money maker for schools- in fact, it's usually a money pit that other parts of the school subsidize to some degree or another.
Additionally, undergraduate institutions also don't have strict class caps. They have targets, but are rarely going to turn away a few extra qualified students especially if they're paying at least some tuition. Most schools would happily take more students and get larger to take students away from a competitor.
Medical schools are different. For one, there isn't a shortage of qualified students. As such, there's less "competition" among schools for students than there is at the undergraduate level. For another, medical education isn't a money maker for schools- in fact, it's usually a money pit that other parts of the school subsidize to some degree or another.
Similar threads
