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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 8/10/22
If you’re wondering how to get into the Stanford University School of Medicine, read on for admissions statistics, requirements, and more!
Stanford prides itself on its commitment to diversity leadership in medical research. If you’re ready to start your journey, we’ll outline how to get into Stanford Medical School.
Students at Stanford can specialize in their degrees in various ways. Do you want to spend your career in medicine and public policy? Consider the joint MD/ MPP degree. Do you want to work in healthcare administration? Look towards the joint MD/MBA program.
No matter your career objectives, Stanford's programs offer students opportunities to personalize their experiences.
Stanford offers numerous dual degree programs, including:
Stanford also offers departmental dual degrees through the School of Education and the Program in Environment and Resources. If you want to be a doctor who serves in local government or a researcher who teaches community classes, Stanford can prepare you for various career paths.
Stanford emphasizes their holistic application process, meaning the admissions committee considers all elements before deciding who to admit. They aim to evaluate each applicant’s circumstances and experiences through each review. This process recognizes that not all students have had the same work or educational opportunities.
The first step in the application process is to complete the American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application, which opens in May.
The second step is to submit the Stanford Supplemental Application, which consists of an application fee and personal essays. The AAMC offers a fee assistance program for those who cannot afford application fees. The third step is interviews, which occur on a rolling basis from September through March.
Final decisions are released between January and March. Stanford allows students to defer enrollment for up to two years.
As one of the top medical schools in the country, it’s no surprise that Stanford’s admission rate is low. Stanford School of Medicine’s acceptance rate is 1.04%.
Please note that this is an approximate acceptance rate and refers to the percentage of matriculants and deferred students compared to verified applications. Medical schools often don’t release data pertaining to accepted applicants and verified applications.
While this number is low, don’t be discouraged. A stellar, well-edited application always boosts your chances of admission.
The average MCAT score at Stanford School of Medicine is 518.8. You should aim for an MCAT score of 519 or above to be a strong candidate.
However, don’t let it dissuade you if you have a lower score. Stanford’s holistic admissions process means you can still show your strengths in other aspects of your application.
Stanford accepts multiple MCAT scores but doesn’t combine them to increase your cumulative score.
Before you apply, meeting all Stanford Medical School requirements is crucial. We use the word “requirements” here loosely; besides a valid MCAT score and a bachelor’s degree, Stanford Medical School has no coursework or extracurricular prerequisites.
However, following the school’s recommendations and pursuing varied extracurriculars to differentiate your profile is important.
There are no Stanford med school requirements for coursework; however, there are recommendations. It’s worth following these course suggestions to be a more competitive candidate. Stanford recommends that students have a strong foundation in the following areas:
Evaluate your academic record and ensure it demonstrates your mastery of these concepts.
Extracurriculars are a great way to display your qualities and add differentiation to your profile. No experience can be discounted, as it might reveal communication development, leadership, or a unique passion. Stanford seeks students “with demonstrated excellence and accomplishments in their chosen field of study.”
As you consider your experience, consider how your activities emphasize your qualities and what you’ve done to prepare for medical school.
Stanford is a world-class research institution and seeks students who can hold their own once on campus. They encourage independent research projects and look for passionate and curious students. Students can participate in everything from research to clinical trials on various conditions.
To prepare for Stanford’s research-intensive program, you can participate in summer research programs for undergraduates or connect with professors at your school and ask about opportunities. Many study abroad programs also offer research opportunities if you’re considering a gap year.
The type of research that impresses the admissions board most is that which has been conducted out of sincere interest, not just an attempt to brighten up an application. Research that you’re passionate about and intend to continue in the future serves you better than experiences undertaken to look good on paper.
Working well with patients isn’t a skill that can be taught in the classroom. Connecting with patients and providing knowledge, comfort, and sympathy is valuable in the medical field. Students at Stanford get early clinical experience, making it all the more vital that you’re prepared for patient interactions.
There are many ways to gain patient exposure, such as medical shadowing, working as a scribe, and volunteering at a hospital. Patient-centered experiences demonstrate your understanding of the medical profession and your ability to maintain a professional but trusting relationship with patients.
Stanford is looking for independent, creative students who think critically. They want to admit students who demonstrate potential and hope to produce graduates who will be leaders in the medical field. Leadership experience can take on many forms: maybe you were a part of the student government in undergrad or created a fundraiser.
Leadership experience shows you can take the initiative to make positive change, giving you a leg up in the selection process.
Stanford asks for a minimum of three and up to six recommendation letters. These letters allow the admissions committee to view you from a credible, third-party perspective.
When thinking about who should write your letters, think of medical professionals or professors you have worked with closely who can speak about your:
A supervisor in the medical field, an academic advisor, a professor, or a volunteer coordinator are excellent sources. Ensure you give your contact plenty of time to write a thoughtful letter.
AMCAS requires a personal statement from all medical school applicants. The AAMC considers this essay “an opportunity to distinguish yourself from other applicants.” Your personal statement should detail your personal motivations and passion for medicine.
The supplemental section of the Stanford application includes secondary prompts. Stanford sends secondary applications to eligible students after they’ve submitted their primaries. These prompts are typically broad and delve deeper into:
Medical schools seek intelligent and experienced candidates who are thoughtful and effective communicators. We’ll outline each Stanford secondary essay prompt from a recent admissions cycle:
1) “What do you see as the most likely practice scenario for your future medical career? Choose the single answer that best describes your career goals and clinical practice setting:
Please describe your motivation for this practice scenario. Why do you feel you are particularly suited for this practice scenario? What knowledge, skills and attitudes have you developed that have prepared you for this career path?” (1,000 characters)
For this prompt, you must select one of these areas that closest matches your career goals. Second, you must back up your selection with how you’ve prepared for your future career. Ensure you show your passion for your selected field and reference how an education from Stanford will help you thrive.
2) “How will you take advantage of the Stanford Medicine Discovery Curriculum and scholarly concentration requirement to achieve your personal career goals?” (1,000 characters including spaces)
Demonstrating why Stanford and the Discovery Curriculum are right for you is a good jumping-off point for your essay. How will you use the unique opportunity to personalize your academic experience? You can think of this essay as the classic “Why us?” prompt.
Ensure you understand the Discovery Curriculum’s goals and outcomes before writing your essay.
3) “Describe in a short paragraph your educational and family background.” (600 characters)
Your answer should be concise here; you only have 600 characters to describe your background, so avoid flowery language and wordy sentences.
4) “Please describe how you have uniquely contributed to a community with which you identify.” (1,000 characters)
Consider this essay an extension of the above diversity prompt. However, its purpose is different: after you identify the community you belong to, this is your opportunity to show leadership capability, community spirit, and compassion.
5) “Please describe which aspects of your life experiences, interests, and character would help you to make a distinctive contribution to Stanford Medicine.” (2000 characters)
Start by selecting one or two formative life experiences that shaped who you are and how you think. These can include cultural background, personal challenges, educational paths, community engagement, or professional experiences, especially those that pushed you to grow in empathy, leadership, resilience, or innovation. Be specific and show how these experiences shaped your worldview or ambitions. Then, link these experiences to your core interests in medicine, research, patient care, or health justice. This paragraph should establish your personal “why” and illustrate what you bring to medicine.
Shift to how your specific traits and passions will help you thrive at Stanford and contribute to its community. Reference values that align with your story, such as interdisciplinary collaboration, social impact, scientific innovation, or commitment to underserved communities. Avoid generic statements; instead, offer clear examples of how your character and experiences will enrich the learning environment, contribute to peer growth, and advance Stanford’s mission. End with a forward-looking sentence about the kind of physician and changemaker you hope to become with Stanford’s support.
6) “Please describe how you have uniquely contributed to a community with which you identify.” (1000 characters)
Begin by clearly identifying the community, which could be based on culture, geography, a shared identity, an interest group, or even a specific team or organization. Briefly describe your relationship to this community and what made it meaningful to you. Then introduce the challenge, need, or opportunity that prompted your contribution. Keep this concise; this part sets the stage, but should only take two or three sentences.
Focus on what you did, why it mattered, and what changed. Describe your actions, mindset, or leadership style that made a difference, whether you built something new, mentored others, advocated for change, or unified people around a goal. Make sure to show the outcome or impact (quantitative if possible, qualitative if not). Wrap up with a short reflection on how this experience shaped your understanding of service, identity, or community.
7) “Please describe an experience/ situation when you advocated for someone else.” (1000 characters)
Stanford Medicine wants to know that you’ll stand up for your beliefs and help others when it counts. You can choose to write about a medical or non-medical anecdote here, as long as you demonstrate your character.
8) Optional: “Please include anything else that will help us understand better how you may uniquely contribute to Stanford Medicine?” (1,000 characters, including spaces)
If there’s anything else you want the admissions committee to know, this is the space to share it. If you think you’ve covered all your bases, feel free to skip this one. Writing no essay at all is always preferable to writing an optional essay that doesn’t add anything new to your application.
The secondary prompt lengths are generally 1000-2000 characters, which doesn’t leave much room for embellishment. Ensure you write concisely and communicate points efficiently. Writing multiple essay drafts will help them get to their optimal final drafts. Plus, it’s a good idea to get guidance from a med school admissions advisor to ensure your essays are polished, unique, and perfectly tailored to this competitive med school.
Given Stanford’s holistic admission process, they’re looking for students who can communicate well in writing and in person. The interview is an excellent opportunity to display your interpersonal skills.
Stanford combines multiple mini-interviews (MMI) with traditional interviews. Questions come in the form of:
When candidates interview, it's not just a chance for the search committee to evaluate them; it’s also the candidate’s opportunity to get a feel for Stanford and the people they might work with. A good interview should be well-organized, give the candidate a chance to shine, and gather the information needed to make a wise hiring decision.
Interview invitations start being sent out in August, and interviews occur on a rolling basis from September through March.
Stanford School of Medicine seeks students who will significantly contribute to the medical field through innovation and creativity. Dean Lloyd Minor said, “Stanford Medicine is dedicated to improving human health through discovery and care.”
To realize this mission, Stanford Medicine is committed to diversity and inclusion. “By creating a more inclusive Stanford Medicine community and working to eliminate health and educational inequalities everywhere, we act not only on the side of justice, we fulfill our vision of bringing hope and healing to all people around the world,” said Minor.
Stanford might be the breath of fresh air you're looking for if you're not a fan of rigid curricula. The school recently switched to an educational program called the Discovery Curriculum. This curriculum was created to allow flexibility and personalization.
The school allows students to determine how they want to complete their education and joint degrees or specific concentrations. To support this curriculum, they use a flipped classroom model: Students consume lectures outside the classroom, leaving classroom time for discussion, problem-solving, and other interactive learning.
A key feature of the curriculum is the required clinical clerkship, which can be completed in one year. Alternatively, you can mix classroom and hands-on experience to complete your clerkship in two years. There’s also a more competitive three-year option, which opens up more time for independent research or a dual degree.
Stanford’s MD tuition structure is broken into quarters. Assuming you enrol three quarters per year, annual tuition (including the medical school research rate) is $68,492. Stanford offers financial aid and scholarship programs. The school doesn’t provide merit-based scholarships but does offer assistance based on financial need.
Stanford also has a unique scholarship: the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. This program gives participants full funding to attend Stanford Medicine leadership classes and academic seminars. It’s open to students applying to any of Stanford’s graduate programs. Eligible students receive:
This is an excellent opportunity for enrichment and to lessen the burden of tuition.
If you still have questions about getting into Stanford medical school, look no further than these FAQs!
Stanford School of Medicine’s admissions statistics show an acceptance rate of just 1.04%. Based on that stat, getting into Stanford is challenging but certainly not impossible!
Yes, Stanford is considered one of the best medical schools in the world. Known for its cutting-edge research, world-class faculty, and innovative curriculum, Stanford University School of Medicine consistently ranks among the top medical programs in the U.S.
The average GPA at Stanford Medical School is 3.89, so you should aim for a GPA of 3.9 or above to increase your acceptance chances.
Stanford is a prestigious school, but you can put your best foot forward with a polished application. Putting time and effort into an authentic representation of your candidacy makes you a much more competitive applicant.
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Dermatology Resident Physician, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
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