So, how competitive is Mayo Clinic?

[Agarosegel]

(Regarding the medical school M.D. program) How difficult is it to be granted acceptance? I'm assuming the class profile each year is impeccably perfect... I've also heard that the acceptance rate is around %1. The key word is heard, I do not know if this is true or false. I would love to hear any additional (and accurate) facts regarding this program. Spanks guys! 🙂

<3 Gel

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Most medical schools acceptance rate is around .5 to 2%.
Mayo is a very well known medical school. Its hyper competitive.

 

[searun]

Mayo is a wonderful program. It is looking for a certain kind of person as an applicant. It is not about numbers, the numbers at Wash U, Penn, or Columbia are just as high or higher.

The main thing is their class size is very low, around 45 students, divided about equally between men and women. So Mayo will take 20-23 men and 20-23 women per year. So the odds are not good for anyone, even if your numbers are off the chart. Mayo is really not about numbers. If your numbers are insane, you would have a better chance at Wash U.

You just have to fit their unique profile of the kind of person that they are looking for - very few do.

 

[SusGob711]

In the MSAR Mayo reports an average of 3.9 GPA with a 35 MCAT. Mayo also places a strong emphasis on research experience. There is certainly no doubt that it is extremely competitive but once you are in you will have a great education experience 🙂

 

[randombetch]

Most medical schools acceptance rate is around .5 to 2%.
Mayo is a very well known medical school. Its hyper competitive.

You think out of 5000 applicants, there are schools that only accept 25 students?

I think Mayo Clinic and Stanford have the two lowest acceptance rates, and they're around 2.5%.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_University_School_of_Medicine#Rankings_and_admissions

 

[morning]

Mayo is A DREAM school for me, but I'd also be afraid of having such a small class size...what if you don't like any of them? Then again, I bet anyone who gets into Mayo is pretty damn awesome.

 

[bamtuba]

(Regarding the medical school M.D. program) How difficult is it to be granted acceptance? I'm assuming the class profile each year is impeccably perfect... I've also heard that the acceptance rate is around %1. The key word is heard, I do not know if this is true or false. I would love to hear any additional (and accurate) facts regarding this program. Spanks guys! 🙂

<3 Gel

😕

What do you mean by this bolded part?

As far as how difficult it is to get an acceptance from ANY medical school, it depends on what you offer compared to what the particular school wants. I got into Mayo. I was also rejected pre-interview from some schools that aren't even close to being as "selective" as Mayo in regard to the applied vs. accepted ratio, aka "acceptance rate." I was interviewed at Hopkins. University of Virginia, Baylor, and Vanderbilt wouldn't give me the time of day. Apply broadly and don't be afraid of "going for it."

Each school's philosophy will impact your chances almost more than anything else. Some schools go strictly by the numbers, others look for "intangibles" with a minimum level achieved for GPA/MCAT and the like. You won't likely know where you have a good chance until you apply for yourself and see where you get on a case by case basis.

The school specific thread (especially those posts from current students back in June and July) for Mayo will likely give you some great insight.

 

[bamtuba]

Mayo is A DREAM school for me, but I'd also be afraid of having such a small class size...what if you don't like any of them? Then again, I bet anyone who gets into Mayo is pretty damn awesome.

Well, we'll find out about the others soon, but I suck.

😳

 

[BlueElmo]

There's always residency for me. Sigh.

 

[DoctwoB]

Ironically, some of the lowest acceptance rates come from the upper mid-tier schools like BU. They just get such high applicant volume because they're a reach for some, match for others, and "safety" for ridiculous applicants. Plus its in Boston, and some of their class is taken up by 8 year BA/MD folks.

I think they had around 11500 applicants for about 300 acceptances offered, or around 2.6% admit rate.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Ironically, some of the lowest acceptance rates come from the upper mid-tier schools like BU. They just get such high applicant volume because they're a reach for some, match for others, and "safety" for ridiculous applicants. Plus its in Boston, and some of their class is taken up by 8 year BA/MD folks.

I think they had around 11500 applicants for about 300 acceptances offered, or around 2.6% admit rate.

I think that schools like GWU receive almost 20k applicants+, they obviously have a very low admittion rate because of the high amount of applicants.

 

[alibai3ah]

While Mayo would be a awesome awesome school, I would still be turned off by the location..... (Not that I had a chance 😀)

 

[Agarosegel]

We'll all make it somehow... lol maybe not into Mayo necessarily, but into a medical school in general. I definitely think the vast majority of people who registered with this network have a genuine passion for medicine. That within itself is so wicked cool, who couldn't appreciate that?

Thanks for your input! Oh and Bamtuba, when I said that "I'm assuming the class profile each year is impeccably perfect..." I was under the impression that the majority of successful Mayo applicants are those with a 4.0 GPA and 35+ MCAT score, but I understand now that it is so much more than the black and white numbers on paper 🙂

 

[TheMan21]

Slightly off topic, but how hard is it to get a job at mayo as a practicing physician?

 

[bamtuba]

Thanks for your input! Oh and Bamtuba, when I said that "I'm assuming the class profile each year is impeccably perfect..." I was under the impression that the majority of successful Mayo applicants are those with a 4.0 GPA and 35+ MCAT score, but I understand now that it is so much more than the black and white numbers on paper 🙂

Yeah, I do know of some who were recently accepted to Mayo with the 40+ MCAT and the like. I have a lot going for me, but not a "perfect" application in those terms.

You seem to have a good attitude about the process, but I think everyone has doubts at some point. Just don't be afraid of trying to be "the outlier" and going against what others tell you about what a successful applicant MUST have in order to make it in to any school (with the exception of Wash U. perhaps...). A lot of people like to make themselves feel better by telling others "what it takes" to do x,y, or z, usually because they secretly hope that is all they will need to "make it." Just do what you can and go for it.

 

[archimedesxx]

(Regarding the medical school M.D. program) How difficult is it to be granted acceptance? I'm assuming the class profile each year is impeccably perfect... I've also heard that the acceptance rate is around %1. The key word is heard, I do not know if this is true or false. I would love to hear any additional (and accurate) facts regarding this program. Spanks guys! 🙂

<3 Gel

🙂 Frankly speaking most of us don't know what it takes to get into Mayo. For example, I can estimate my chances of getting into some top 10 schools but for Mayo, your guess is as good as mine. Hell I don't even know how I got in. I asked many current MMS students on my interview day how they got in and the common answer was "it's a crapshoot". Bamtuba,do you know how?

One thing I do know is that Mayo wants very passionate people. After reading your application, they should notice an all-encompassing theme: something that runs throughout your application. From your research, to your activities to even your letters of recommendation your application should tell a story. I hope you get the point. Mayo wants to train leaders in medicine and they have to see that in your application. Every premed is a leader of some club. However, are you just a figure head? What did you accomplish? Did it impact people on a large scale?

One thing I also noticed is that ~85% of those who were offered interviews and accepted had participated in something artsy. Involvement in music is something I've seen a lot. Or dance or visual arts. My interviewer even told me that I could form a band with the whole class. You can't be a run-of-the mill applicant and get in. You have to have a deep love for something and it must show. Read bamtuba's mdapp and you will know what I'm talking about. I don't have my mdapp up but I'd dare to say that I had a story to tell and I was told this at virtually all my interviews.

Mayo is not a numbers-*****. After a certain threshold, which I don't know, you're deemed qualified to pass your boards and practice medicine. After that threshold, Mayo wants to know if your life story identifies with their mission of always putting the patient first. You can demonstrate that through your activities. I don't know how to explain it but the admissions committee will see it when they see it.

I wish you good luck. Mayo is a great place to study medicine.

 

[Azjoe]

In the MSAR Mayo reports an average of 3.9 GPA with a 35 MCAT. Mayo also places a strong emphasis on research experience. There is certainly no doubt that it is extremely competitive but once you are in you will have a great education experience 🙂

I understand where to find the GPA and MCAT averages, but how do you know that they place a strong emphasis on research experience? I would love to know this school by school to improve my chances based upon my experience and what the school is looking for.

Thanks.

 

[Narmerguy]

Most medical schools acceptance rate is around .5 to 2%.
Mayo is a very well known medical school. Its hyper competitive.

False my good sir.

I understand where to find the GPA and MCAT averages, but how do you know that they place a strong emphasis on research experience? I would love to know this school by school to improve my chances based upon my experience and what the school is looking for.

Thanks.

A lot of people infer this from the USNews research rankings and the amount of NIH funding schools receive. That can be reliable in some sense but to get an accurate understanding, you pretty much have to know people that have applied/are involved with the school. SDN is a good resource for that so often schools accumulate certain reputations here that will stick around and you can probably find it here somewhere. As far as a good list that you can use, I'm not really sure if that exists.

 

[bamtuba]

🙂Hell I don't even know how I got in. I asked many current MMS students on my interview day how they got in and the common answer was "it's a crapshoot". Bamtuba,do you know how?

One thing I do know is that Mayo wants very passionate people.

I have no clue.

I honestly remember speaking to my wife after the interview and saying something along the lines of "well, this place is amazing; too bad I don't have a shot in hell." I mean, they only take something like 1/10 of those interviewed! And there were some impressive interviewees when I went...

Anyhow, I would agree with the idea that they are looking for passionate people. Maybe the thought goes something along the lines of "passionate correlates with compassionate?"

Who knows. Just apply where you are interested, have fun with the process, and good luck!

 

[Sammich117]

Moving to school specific

 

[BBender716]

pretttty... prettttty competitive.

 

[lrkoehle]

I honestly remember speaking to my wife after the interview and saying something along the lines of "well, this place is amazing; too bad I don't have a shot in hell." I mean, they only take something like 1/10 of those interviewed! And there were some impressive interviewees when I went...

There were also some (one?) not so impressive interviewees at least on your day...🙄

Oh well, we'll find out Monday how unimpressive I was. Sorry for taking the thread off topic.

Yup, Mayo is hard to get into...

 

[mdeast]

Most medical schools acceptance rate is around .5 to 2%.
Mayo is a very well known medical school. Its hyper competitive.

Not true. Most medical school acceptance rates are between 4-8%.
Mayo is unique because of it's small class size...that's why it's acceptance rate is so low (~2.5%). They need less accepted students to fill such a small class size. It's the same reason that UChicago and Stanford have become so competitive as well.

Mayo Clinic get less applications than top schools because of location, among other factors...but only interview about 9% of applicants and accept a small percentage of them (93 students in 2008 to fill a class of 50).

Average MCAT= 32.7, GPA:3.82. The GPA is higher than almost all US medical schools, but very average MCAT scores as compared to top schools (which average between 34-36). Mayo is ranked #28 on USNews. Personally, I feel like if you have scores above their average, apply early, and have a compelling reason to live in Minnesota...you have a respectable chance at getting in.

 

[archimedesxx]

Not true. Most medical school acceptance rates are between 4-8%.
Mayo is unique because of it's small class size...that's why it's acceptance rate is so low (~2.5%). They need less accepted students to fill such a small class size. It's the same reason that UChicago and Stanford have become so competitive as well.

Mayo Clinic get less applications than top schools because of location, among other factors...but only interview about 9% of applicants and accept a small percentage of them (93 students in 2008 to fill a class of 50).

Average MCAT= 32.7, GPA:3.82. The GPA is higher than almost all US medical schools, but very average MCAT scores as compared to top schools (which average between 34-36). Mayo is ranked #28 on USNews. Personally, I feel like if you have scores above their average, apply early, and have a compelling reason to live in Minnesota...you have a respectable chance at getting in.

Dude don't be silly. Mayo is ranked 25th. Secondly given that a lot of 38+ MCAT applicants were rejected this cycle, having just above average numbers won't help you. And about MN, are you really that serious. You think that is what they look for in applicants? This year pre wailist they only accepted 48.

 

[19nbj58]

Not true. Most medical school acceptance rates are between 4-8%.
Mayo is unique because of it's small class size...that's why it's acceptance rate is so low (~2.5%). They need less accepted students to fill such a small class size. It's the same reason that UChicago and Stanford have become so competitive as well.

Mayo Clinic get less applications than top schools because of location, among other factors...but only interview about 9% of applicants and accept a small percentage of them (93 students in 2008 to fill a class of 50).

Average MCAT= 32.7, GPA:3.82. The GPA is higher than almost all US medical schools, but very average MCAT scores as compared to top schools (which average between 34-36). Mayo is ranked #28 on USNews. Personally, I feel like if you have scores above their average, apply early, and have a compelling reason to live in Minnesota...you have a respectable chance at getting in.

um, no.

 

[jerew]

Dude don't be silly. Mayo is ranked 25th. Secondly given that a lot of 38+ MCAT applicants were rejected this cycle, having just above average numbers won't help you. And about MN, are you really that serious. You think that is what they look for in applicants? This year pre wailist they only accepted 48.

Actually, yeah, I think they do look for that. One year they had like 5+ people from Rochester, MN there. How can they do that without some (er, a lot) of preference?

 

[rockaction]

In the MSAR Mayo reports an average of 3.9 GPA with a 35 MCAT. Mayo also places a strong emphasis on research experience. There is certainly no doubt that it is extremely competitive but once you are in you will have a great education experience 🙂

one of the interesting things about their MCAT scores in the MSAR is that their median is 35, but 10th percentile is a 29. at most schools where 35 is the median, the 10th percentile is ~31-32. so they don't care too much about scores! granted, you have to have them, but apparently the "Z factor" is a bigger deal here.

 

[archimedesxx]

Actually, yeah, I think they do look for that. One year they had like 5+ people from Rochester, MN there. How can they do that without some (er, a lot) of preference?

Well they have a lot of people from MN schools and people from there so obviously there is a bias there. However, that is not primarily what they look for. It is just a factor.

 

[Moogle Man]

Mayo is definitely not about the numbers (a friend of mine in this year's M1 class told me that there is someone in his class who got a 24 MCAT, but had a great story). With that said, good numbers will certainly help. Another friend of mine applied last year with a lower 30s MCAT and got rejected, but he applied again this year with an upper 30s MCAT and was accepted.

 

[morning]

Not true. Most medical school acceptance rates are between 4-8%.
Mayo is unique because of it's small class size...that's why it's acceptance rate is so low (~2.5%). They need less accepted students to fill such a small class size. It's the same reason that UChicago and Stanford have become so competitive as well.

Mayo Clinic get less applications than top schools because of location, among other factors...but only interview about 9% of applicants and accept a small percentage of them (93 students in 2008 to fill a class of 50).

Average MCAT= 32.7, GPA:3.82. The GPA is higher than almost all US medical schools, but very average MCAT scores as compared to top schools (which average between 34-36). Mayo is ranked #28 on USNews. Personally, I feel like if you have scores above their average, apply early, and have a compelling reason to live in Minnesota...you have a respectable chance at getting in.

I've never heard ANYONE rank Mayo as the mere 28th best. Madness, son, madness. And I'm pretty sure they wouldn't take anyone who cared if they WERE #28 in the country as rated by some self-important publication most professions think is BS.

 

[paki20]

I've never heard ANYONE rank Mayo as the mere 28th best. Madness, son, madness. And I'm pretty sure they wouldn't take anyone who cared if they WERE #28 in the country as rated by some self-important publication most professions think is BS.

as someone mentioned mayo is in the top 3 hardest schools to get into in terms of percent accepted..i think the rank goes (1) mayo (2) stanford and (3) harvard...and its ranked 25 by US News (it was ranked 22 a couple of years ago) but thats because it doesnt have as much NIH money as some of the bigger institutions and NOT as many people apply due to location (number of applicants also affects US News ranking)..if mayo was located in the northeast or CA or even the south it would receive MANY more applications which is why there might be a regional bias because they want to accept people who will actually matriculate..many people give up Mayo for other schools due to location which will hurt ranking (there is a factor in the ranking that takes this into account)

and the average USMLE scores are one of the highest in the nation despite having lower MCAT averages than the top schools

 

[archimedesxx]

as someone mentioned mayo is in the top 3 hardest schools to get into in terms of percent accepted..i think the rank goes (1) mayo (2) stanford and (3) harvard...and its ranked 25 by US News (it was ranked 22 a couple of years ago) but thats because it doesnt have as much NIH money as some of the bigger institutions and NOT as many people apply due to location (number of applicants also affects US News ranking)..if mayo was located in the northeast or CA or even the south it would receive MANY more applications which is why there might be a regional bias because they want to accept people who will actually matriculate..many people give up Mayo for other schools due to location which will hurt ranking (there is a factor in the ranking that takes this into account)

and the average USMLE scores are one of the highest in the nation despite having lower MCAT averages than the top schools

How they do it still baffles me. Another 'smaller' school is UChicago and even though they have a higher MCAT average their average Step 1 is like 217?

 

[mdeast]

um, no.

Those are official numbers, so there's nothing to refute. You can look them up on US News. And sorry for the mix up...Mayo is #25, tied with Case Western. As for the last comment, I meant that means you'd be in the running. In other words, by a respectable candidate I meant... a competitive candidate. Not a shoe-in.

 

[mdeast]

Dude don't be silly. Mayo is ranked 25th. Secondly given that a lot of 38+ MCAT applicants were rejected this cycle, having just above average numbers won't help you. And about MN, are you really that serious. You think that is what they look for in applicants? This year pre wailist they only accepted 48.

Sorry about the 28 vs 25 mix-up. And yes. I think geographical fit is important. A lot of people apply to Mayo because it's a great school (it's ranked highly and has an international reputation), even though they are the type of individual who would not be happy about living in a small town. If you're someone who was raised in NYC, went to undergrad in LA, and spent a post-bac year doing research in San Francisco....you'd have to have a pretty compelling reason to move to MN for four or five years for medical school. Many of candidates like that will end up going to great schools scattered across the US in urban areas. If they're a good candidate at Mayo, they're probably a good candidate elsewhere where they may be more likely to enroll for geographical preference.

EVERY...and I mean EVERY medical school accounts for impressions of geographical preferences of a candidate to at least some extent. All of my far-distance interviewers have asked me about this, and I had to provide good reasons to justify it. "Why do you want to move to the West Coast? You've lived on the east coast your whole life?" Location plays a huge role in the decision making process for selecting a school, and I think medical school's realize this. In really deciding whether or not to offer an interview slot or acceptance to an applicant...medical schools will ask if accepting an applicant is more likely to result in a matriculation or a withdraw. So yes, for a school in a small town in MN I think it is prudent of them to consider candidates who have compelling reasons and desires to live in that sort of environment for 4 (or 5) years.

 

[paki20]

as someone mentioned mayo is in the top 3 hardest schools to get into in terms of percent accepted..i think the rank goes (1) mayo (2) stanford and (3) harvard...and its ranked 25 by US News (it was ranked 22 a couple of years ago) but thats because it doesnt have as much NIH money as some of the bigger institutions and NOT as many people apply due to location (number of applicants also affects US News ranking)..if mayo was located in the northeast or CA or even the south it would receive MANY more applications which is why there might be a regional bias because they want to accept people who will actually matriculate..many people give up Mayo for other schools due to location which will hurt ranking (there is a factor in the ranking that takes this into account)

and the average USMLE scores are one of the highest in the nation despite having lower MCAT averages than the top schools

and obviously its hospital is ranked 1 or 2 consistently by US News...the only negative about Mayo is its location and possibly small class-size..i wish they opened their medical school in their florida branch instead lol

 

[JasonE]

and obviously its hospital is ranked 1 or 2 consistently by US News...the only negative about Mayo is its location and possibly small class-size..i wish they opened their medical school in their florida branch instead lol

well its not just the cold, its the fact that its in a very small,isolated town. as someone in their early 20's, not the most exciting place to be. the cold just magnifies that.

 

[paki20]

well its not just the cold, its the fact that its in a very small,isolated town. as someone in their early 20's, not the most exciting place to be. the cold just magnifies that.

yeah exactly...i have college friends from rochester, MN and they HATE it...nothing to do in rochester..everything closes by 9pm even on the weekends..the winters are depressing...its not meant for people in their 20's...good thing is the twin cities are only 1.5 hour away LOL

i personally would have a REALLY hard time picking rochester, MN over NYC or Boston...but mayo is such a damn good school...

 

[JasonE]

yeah exactly...i have college friends from rochester, MN and they HATE it...nothing to do in rochester..everything closes by 9pm even on the weekends..the winters are depressing...its not meant for people in their 20's...good thing is the twin cities are only 1.5 hour away LOL

i personally would have a REALLY hard time picking rochester, MN over NYC or Boston...but mayo is such a damn good school...

1.5 is just too much considering you gotta go bothways. it seemed like mayo students didnt go to MN very often at all from what i could gather

 

[archimedesxx]

yeah exactly...i have college friends from rochester, MN and they HATE it...nothing to do in rochester..everything closes by 9pm even on the weekends..the winters are depressing...its not meant for people in their 20's...good thing is the twin cities are only 1.5 hour away LOL

i personally would have a REALLY hard time picking rochester, MN over NYC or Boston...but mayo is such a damn good school...

I know the weather and location sucks big time BUT I think you'll get a very fulfilling education. I'm willing to trade a couple of yrs (its not like I can't have a social life in Rochester. If you're versatile you should be able to adapt) for a great education. Trust me, I'm from big city but as a med student you can't do anything with all that it has to offer. I've been there and done that (born there and live there now).

 

[JasonE]

I know the weather and location sucks big time BUT I think you'll get a very fulfilling education. I'm willing to trade a couple of yrs (its not like I can't have a social life in Rochester. If you're versatile you should be able to adapt) for a great education. Trust me, I'm from big city but as a med student you can't do anything with all that it has to offer. I've been there and done that (born there and live there now).

yea for sure. everyones different. its not like everybody at mayo is making a sacrifice to go there. some ppl probably like the quiet. some probably not as much.

 

[lrkoehle]

and obviously its hospital is ranked 1 or 2 consistently by US News...the only negative about Mayo is its location and possibly small class-size..i wish they opened their medical school in their florida branch instead lol

No way, it would be much better for them to open a school in the AZ area! Screw Florida with all those huricanes and old people...I may be biased since I am from AZ 😛

yeah exactly...i have college friends from rochester, MN and they HATE it...nothing to do in rochester..everything closes by 9pm even on the weekends..the winters are depressing...its not meant for people in their 20's...good thing is the twin cities are only 1.5 hour away LOL

i personally would have a REALLY hard time picking rochester, MN over NYC or Boston...but mayo is such a damn good school...

Yeah, you're totally right. I think every one accepted to Mayo should withdraw! Go on bamtuba, you've had that acceptance long enough. Oh, I feel I should point out that these comments also be biased by the fact that my only hope to get into Mayo now is off of the waitlist (if I even freakin' make the waitlist).

This damn thread is stirring up my love for Mayo all over again. Thanks OP, I had finally come to accept that my fate with Mayo is out of my hands. Now you got me telling all Mayo acceptees to withdraw...geez. 😡 jk, but not really.

 

[bookfreak89]

lrkoehle, your Mayo-obsessed posts always make me smile. I hope you get in. 🙂

 

[lrkoehle]

lrkoehle, your Mayo-obsessed posts always make me smile. I hope you get in. 🙂

Glad I can make some one out there happy. My Mayo obsession is kind of a persona of mine that has developed on here, but I would really like to get in. Step one, make the waitlist. Step two, get in off of the waitlist.