Choosing a medical school is an enormous commitment. Whether deciding between multiple admissions offers, or finalizing a list of medical schools to apply to, some important considerations for future medical students are highlighted below. And read more here about why (or if) it matters where you go to medical school.
What To Consider When Choosing a Medical School
1. Location
Location is one of the primary factors that will determine ultimate medical school cost. According to the AAMC, average medical school tuition and fees for 2021/2022 was about $59,000 per year ($237,000 total for all four years). But students attending public schools in their states of legal residence paid the lowest, averaging approximately $40,000 per year ($160,000 total for all four years).
So attending a public school in your home state could ultimately save you tens of thousands of dollars in tuition and fees over a four-year period. But tuition and fees is only one factor when considering the location of a school. Cost of living is often an equally important consideration.
Cost of living varies greatly from city to city. Attending school in Chicago or New York, for example, could result in tens of thousands of dollars more in living expenses than attending school in a more suburban location. It’s also worth considering a location where a student may have family they could live with during their medical school years. Choosing a city with a lower cost of living is not always possible, and many medical students have no choice but to attend a school with a more expensive location because that’s simply the only school where they were offered admission. But if a student does have options, location is worth considering.
2. Unique Opportunities
If a student has a particular area of interest, it’s important to consider whether a school has unique opportunities within that area of interest. For example, if a student is interested in public health, they may want to consider medical schools formally partnered with schools of public health or universities with a school of public health they could potentially collaborate with. If a student is interested in trauma, it is worth considering whether the university hospital has a level 1 trauma center with opportunities for medical students involvement.
Not every medical school will have adequate opportunities in every area of clinical medicine. Each school of medicine and its associated hospital will have some departments that are stronger than others. For example, Mayo Clinic is the largest integrated organ transplant provider in the United States. If a student is particularly interested in transplant surgery, this school may be able to provide more learning and research opportunities in this area.
For students who have not yet interviewed, finalizing a list of schools to apply to that have unique opportunities in your area of interest is important. And these interests and opportunities make great conversation in medical school interviews. With all other application materials equal, medical schools generally prefer students with a reason for special interest in their program.
3. Personal Connection
One of the most important considerations when choosing a medical school is whether you have a personal connection with the school. For example, many students attend medical school at the same university they attended undergrad or graduate school because they are already familiar with the faculty or are already involved in research there. Other students choose schools where they may have attended a summer program, for the same reasons. For those that have not yet applied, choosing medical schools you have a personal connection to also increases your chances of acceptance to the program.
Students can certainly apply to and attend schools they have not attended before. Especially if, as previously mentioned, a program offers unique opportunities in their particular area of interest. But if a student is already familiar with a program’s faculty and clinical opportunities, it can it easier to get the most of your medical school experience.
Attending a school you are already familiar with can also make it easier to transition into your medical program. Medical school is incredibly challenging, and having a familiar environment and faculty you are comfortable with can make a significant difference.
Final Thoughts
Deciding where to go to medical school is a serious decision and students have a lot to consider. Every medical school has something different to offer, and students should weight the strengths and weaknesses of each program. Ultimately, students should try to choose a school that fits their unique clinical interests. If you are still unsure and haven’t already, reach out to individual programs to schedule a tour or meeting with an admissions representative.
