How To Get Accepted Into Ivy League Medical Schools

Ivy League Medical Schools Requirements & Admissions Stats

While you can find more information about each school below, here’s an overview of each school’s admissions statistics:

Please note that acceptance rate data is calculated based on the number of matriculated applicants, and rates may be slightly higher than these.

Harvard Medical School

Harvard Medical School (HMS) is the country’s best Ivy League school for medicine; it’s no surprise that Harvard is a dream school for many students, including those wanting to pursue medical school.

Harvard’s mission statement is “to nurture a diverse, inclusive community dedicated to alleviating suffering and improving health and well-being for all through excellence in teaching and learning, discovery and scholarship, and service and leadership.” 

HMS lists the following academic requirements for admission: 

Applicants are “encouraged to complete coursework in Behavioural Sciences.” This can be in the form of psychology, sociology, or related courses. 

HMS’ acceptance rate is 2.4% – matriculants report an average GPA of 3.91 and an average MCAT score of 520.

Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Perelman School of Medicine is the nation’s third-best medical school for research and is the #1 school for pediatrics. 

The school’s mission “is to advance knowledge and improve health through research, patient care, and the education of trainees in an inclusive culture that embraces diversity, fosters innovation, stimulates critical thinking, supports lifelong learning, and sustains our legacy of excellence.”

Perelman doesn’t list course requirements but seeks students with competencies in the following areas: 

• English language fluency and communication skills
• Biology 
• Chemistry 
• Physics 
• Mathematics 
• Behavioral disciplines

Perelman’s acceptance rate is 2.35%; the average GPA is 3.96 and the average MCAT score of matriculants is 521. These are the highest of all Ivy League med schools! 

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is the fourth-best U.S. medical school for research. 

Columbia’s mission is “to prepare future graduates to be leaders and role models in patient care, medical research, education, and health-care policy.”

To apply to Columbia’s med school, you must meet the following requirements: 

• English (any one-year English or writing-intensive course)
• Biology (any one-year course that also provided lab experience)
• Physics (any one-year course with a lab component)
• Chemistry (two one-year courses, one of which must be in organic chemistry, and both must have had lab components) 

In addition, Columbia recommends having biostatistics, statistics, and biochemistry courses on your transcript. Columbia expects applicants to achieve A or B grades in the required courses, but they “recognize such grades are not possible under all circumstances.” Anything below a C- is deemed unacceptable.

The Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons acceptance rate is 3.6%. Accepted students entered with an average MCAT score of 522 and a 3.95 undergraduate GPA.

Weill Cornell Medicine

Weill Cornell Medicine is tied with Yale for the country’s tenth-best medical school. 

The school’s mission is to demonstrate “excellence in research, teaching, patient care, and the advancement of the art and science of medicine through the maintenance of scientific and clinical scholarship.” 

Weill Cornell expects you to have met the following academic requirements when you submit your application:

Weill Cornell also requires laboratory coursework (or lab work experience) and recommends applicants to “study a broad range of disciplines,” such as “statistics, ethics, psychology, anthropology, sociology and management skills.” 

The average Cornell matriculant achieved a 3.9 undergraduate GPA and scored 519 on the MCAT. Cornell Weill’s acceptance rate is lower than some other Ivies due to a higher volume of applicants, at 1.34%. 

Yale School of Medicine

Yale School of Medicine excels in medical research, as reflected by the school’s extensive faculty and resources.

Yale School of Medicine’s mission states:

“Yale School of Medicine educates and nurtures creative leaders in medicine and science, promoting curiosity and critical inquiry in an inclusive environment enriched by diversity. We advance discovery and innovation fostered by partnerships across the university, our local community, and the world. We care for patients with compassion, and commit to improving the health of all people.” 

Yales’s academic requirements are similar to its Ivy League counterparts: 

Yale School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is 1.6%. The average matriculant achieved a GPA of 3.92 and an MCAT score of 522. 

Warren Alpert Medical School

The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is located in Providence, Rhode Island, and is ranked as the country’s #35 medical school for research. 

Alpert’s mission is “to support and promote the health of individuals and communities through innovative medical education programs, research initiatives, and clinical excellence in service to society and to improve the health and wellness of all.” 

In their vision and values statements, they emphasize how important innovation, collaboration, and diversity are to their institution. 

To get into Alpert’s MD degree program, you must complete the following courses:

• Quantitative Reasoning: One course in either algebra or statistics, with a preference for biostatistics. No minimum grade is listed.
• Biology: Two courses with a minimum grade of B. Courses should include genetics and cell biology; lab experience is recommended. 
• Chemistry: Two courses in general chemistry, one in organic chemistry, and one in biochemistry. No minimum grades are listed.
• Physics: Two courses covering the following: heat, radiation, optics, mechanics, and electricity. No minimum grades are listed.
• Writing: Any course requiring a significant amount of writing helps you develop strong communication skills. Alpert suggests courses in English, philosophy, or history.

Brown Medical School’s acceptance rate is 2.13%. Matriculants achieved an average GPA of 3.83 and an MCAT score of 517.

Geisel School of Medicine

Dartmouth College Geisel School of Medicine is located in Hanover, NH. Dartmouth is one of the best medical school for research.

Geisel’s focus on primary care is evident in its mission statement: “to address the world’s health problems through research and discovery, the evaluation and improvement of systems of healthcare, and the education of the best future physicians and scientists.” 

Like other Ivy League medical schools, Geisel has academic requirements you must meet to be considered for admission:

• Biology (a one-year course in general biology)
• Physics (a one-year course in general physics)
• Chemistry (two one-year courses in biochemistry and organic chemistry)
• Math (one-half-year course in calculus or statistics)

Geisel also requires you to be proficient in English and demonstrate strong written and verbal communication skills. Geisel also requires you to have gained a background in the humanities disciplines throughout your undergraduate studies.

Admitted Geisel students reported an average GPA of 3.82 and a 514 MCAT score. Geisel’s acceptance rate is 1.0% (partially due to a large volume of applicants and smaller class size.)

Benefits of Attending an Ivy League Medical School

Ivy League medical schools are world-renowned, prestigious institutions. They’re instantly recognizable, and graduating from any can help you stand out to potential employers.

All Ivy League medical schools are affiliated with several reputable healthcare institutions. This provides many opportunities to work with and be taught by healthcare leaders while adding value to your medical school experience. 

For instance, Alpert is partnered with seven healthcare institutions, while Harvard is affiliated with over 15 healthcare providers. These partnerships present abundant opportunities to gain experience and apply your learning.