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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 10/05/23
If you’d like to become a competent and compassionate physician to improve healthcare equity, read on to learn how to get into Howard Medical School!
Howard Medical School is named after Major General Oliver Otis Howard, a colonel in the Civil War, who played a large role in creating The Theological and Normal Institute, which trained black teachers. Over time, more fields of study were offered at this institute, and it was transformed into Howard University.
Today, Howard Medical School is only one part of this large university, and it has a unique mission—to address the special health care needs of medically underserved communities and produce a significant number of the nation's minority physicians.
It is also a large research institute that can offer students limitless opportunities for exploration and discovery. If your values align with Howard’s, this guide will go into further detail about how to get into Howard Medical School, its admission requirements, important deadlines, and more!
From personalized mentorship to hands-on clinical experience, Howard University provides various resources and opportunities to guide students throughout their medical education and career aspirations. To support them throughout the journey, Howard Medical offers several medical programs:
To ensure its students are ready for their MD, Howard also offers pipeline programs that provide academic orientation to entering freshmen. These programs are designed to help students develop their learning skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, and exam-taking.
The Howard Medical School acceptance rate of 1.5% indicates this school is highly competitive.
Howard Medical seeks to admit a diverse group of students who have the most potential to become outstanding physicians and make a positive impact on the healthcare system.
Here is the complete list of the Howard Medical School requirements:
You’ll need to complete an undergraduate degree from an accredited university or college to be eligible for admission at Howard University. You’re encouraged to pursue a pre-med major that you’re interested in and pursue useful electives that can widen your knowledge set and make you a more well-rounded applicant.
However, regardless of your major, you’re required to complete the following courses:
While not mandatory, students are also highly recommended to complete the following courses:
Along with your coursework, your GPA is a crucial component of your medical school application.
Howard’s admissions committee considers your undergraduate GPA as an indicator of your academic ability and potential to succeed in medical school. Students are required to have a minimum science GPA of 3.25 to be considered for admission.
However, to be considered competitive, students should aim for a GPA of 3.67 or higher.
Howard Medical School considers the MCAT as an important component of the application evaluation process. The MCAT assesses an applicant's knowledge and critical thinking skills in areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, and psychology, and thus helps the committee determine their applicants’ preparation for the medical field.
Howard’s median MCAT score is 506. Students may write the MCAT up till the January of the year they are planning to enroll, or as early as three years before. To ensure you can meet this target score, set up a study schedule you can stick to, prioritize practice, and stay consistent!
Since students will be applying to Horward through AMCAS, they will be required to submit a personal statement through this portal.
The personal statement is an opportunity for applicants to convey their unique qualities, life experiences, and their journey towards medicine. Students must limit their answers to 5,300 characters, including spaces.
Applicants are encouraged to reflect on their personal growth, highlight experiences that have shaped their interest in medicine, and share why they chose to pursue medicine. Ensure you present a compelling narrative to distinguish yourself from other applicants and showcase your most impressive and relevant skills.
While there is no limit on the number of letters of recommendation you can include in your application, you must submit at least two. Howard Medical requires one of the following:
If you choose to submit more than two letters of recommendation, ensure these additional letters share unique information about you that cannot already be found in your first two letters!
You’ll also need to answer a few Howard-specific essays along with your personal statement.
Students must demonstrate the following eight competencies that are deemed necessary to excel at Howard and in the medical field:
Ensure you showcase these competencies throughout your application!
There are several steps involved in getting into Howard Medical School University. Students will need to submit their primary application through AMCAS. Once this application has been approved, select applicants will be asked to complete secondary applications, which will involve their supplemental essays and additional information.
Students that impress the committee with their secondary application will be invited to interview, and admissions decisions will be made after this stage of the application process. As your learn more about how to get into Howard Medical School, it’s essential you’re aware of the following crucial deadlines:
Source: Howard Medical School
Since Howard Medical School interviews and accepts students on a rolling basis, it’s in your best interest to submit your application as early as possible!
To maximize your chances of getting into Howard Medical School, it’s imperative you write well! You’ll need to demonstrate your writing skills in your personal statement and supplemental essays. Writing stellar essays takes time and begins with brainstorming.
To help you brainstorm ideas for your essays, here are the prompts you’ll be asked to answer:
Use concrete examples in your answers and ensure they are clear and concise! You only have a limited amount of space to share your thoughts, so avoid sharing any repetitive, unfocused, or irrelevant information.
The final step to consider as we discuss how to get into Howard Medical School is the interview. Howard Medical only interviews about 300 students each year. These interviews are held over several months and last at least 30-45 minutes.
However, your interview day will last several hours, as it will also involve presentations about Howard’s mission and history, its curriculum, financial aid options, and a campus tour. To prepare for this interview, go over common medical school interview questions and reflect on the experiences you want to highlight.
Go over your application and prepare a few insightful questions to ask your interviewer.
Medical education is a significant financial investment, and being aware of the expenses associated with tuition is crucial for planning and making informed decisions. Here’s a rundown of what a typical first-year student at Howard can expect to spend:
Source: Howard Medical School
By understanding how much your MD at Howard will cost, you can assess your financial preparedness, explore the funding options available to you, such as scholarships, grants, and loans, and make a realistic budget for yourself!
Here are some tips to enhance your chances of getting into Howard Medical School:
Howard University is dedicated to addressing the health care needs of underserved communities. All of their secondary essays involve this topic, which is a good indication they are seeking students that already have experience working with these communities and aspirations to continue doing so.
Gain clinical and non-clinic experience working with underserved communities and indicate your interest to continue serving them as a physician. Talk about the specific issues you hope to address through your practice to prove your values align with Howard’s.
As mentioned, Howard University College of Medicine places a strong emphasis on serving diverse and underserved populations. Showcasing your cultural competency, understanding of healthcare disparities, and commitment to diversity and inclusion will strengthen your application.
Your personal statement is the only part of your application that will truly humanize you and showcase your personality. Use it to highlight your passion for medicine, showcase your unique experiences, and illustrate your journey towards becoming a physician.
Spend time on this application component and refine it until you’re certain it will wow the admissions committee!
Should you have any lingering inquiries about how to get into Howard Medical School, read on to find the answers to frequently asked questions about this school!
Howard University Medical School’s acceptance rate is a low 1.5%.
Yes, Howard University College of Medicine is widely regarded as a prestigious and esteemed medical school. It has a strong reputation for producing highly skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals who are dedicated to serving diverse and underserved communities.
It offers strong clinical training, engaging extracurriculars, robust research programs, and a strong alumni network.
You need a science GPA of at least 3.25 to be considered for admission at Howard Medical School. However, you’ll need an overall GPA of around 3.67 to be considered a competitive applicant.
Howard University College of Medicine is a private school.
With a low acceptance rate and high admission standards, getting into Howard Medical School will not be easy! It will require careful preparation, dedication, and a strong commitment to service.
By following the tips in this guide, you can submit a stellar application that will increase your chances of securing a spot at Howard Medical and embarking upon a prosperous and rewarding career in medicine!
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