collageWith admission rates of 1.19%, no wonder students seek advice on how to get into Stanford Medical School. Stanford School of Medicine is one of the most competitive programs among medical schools in California and in the world. Its innovative curriculum, ground-breaking research, and world-renowned instructors and graduates add to the prestige of this prominent institution. Each year, Stanford Medical School looks to admit exceptional scholars, researchers, and professionals into their program. With the help of this blog, you will learn exactly how to get into Stanford Medical School.
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Mission Statement
To be a premier research-intensive medical school that improves health through leadership, diversity, and a collaborative approach to discovery and innovation in patient care, education, and research.
Available Programs
MD
Stanford’s MD Discovery Curriculum provides students with a choice to complete their pre-clerkship work in either two or three years. This allows for more flexibility for students to pursue and explore various facets of the medical profession. The MD program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach, combining basic science and clinical instructions throughout the curriculum. Students may begin clinical clerkships in May of their second year.
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MD/PhD
This combined program trains students for careers in academic investigative medicine. The joint training includes the same curriculum as each program separately. However, the MD/PhD program will take less time to complete than each degree on its own. On average, this MD/PhD program takes seven to eight years to finish. Students may apply at the time of the MD program applications and current MD students may also apply for this joint program. Applicants will be asked to provide additional application components. Matriculated students will combine preclinical coursework with a two-year apprentice-style lab experience enhanced with physician-scientist oriented career development. Applicants that are not selected for the MD/PhD interview process are automatically rerouted to the Medical School Admissions to be considered for the MD-only program. Decisions about admissions to MD are made independently. Check out our blog on MD-PhD programs to find out about additional requirements, and how to create excellent MD PhD essays.
MD/Berg Scholars Program
Stanford came up with a new training system to address students’ decreasing interest in the career of physician-scientists. The new MD/Berg Scholars Program shortens the training period to six years without compromising the quality of education of physician-scientists. Medical education is combined with lab or informatics-based training, while the 6th year combines MD and an MS in Biomedical Investigation degree. This training focuses on individualized career development of MD-only physician-scientists by placing them in research groups headed by leading faculty members. Students receive full funding in 4-6 years.
MD/MBA
This 5-year joint program combines medical and business training. Students must be admitted to Stanford Graduate School of Business at the time of their admission to Stanford Medical School or after they begin the MD program.
MD/MPH
In collaboration with UC Berkley, Stanford allows its students to pursue their Master of Public Health degree while also pursuing their MD. This dual degree is open to MD students participating in the Scholarly Concentration Community Health program. Students must apply to UC Berkley and all the coursework is carried out on the UC Berkley campus.
PhD/MSM
This combined program trains Stanford PhD students to be better equipped for translational research and application of new scientific discoveries to ensure medical progress. Recently admitted and current Stanford PhD students may apply for the Master of Science Medicine program. This is an excellent choice for students who are committed to research, but not interested in becoming clinicians.
MD/MS Degrees
Students can combine their MD program with Master of Science programs, including Health Policy, Epidemiology, Biomedical Informatics, Biomedical Investigation, and Biomechanical Engineering.
MD/MPP Degree
After completing one year in the MD program, students can apply for a joint MD/MPP (Master of Public Policy) degree. To do that, they must acquire permission from the School of Medicine. Students must dedicate two full years of continuous study to the MD program and then one continuous year of study to the completion of the MPP curriculum.
MD/JD
A combined degree in medicine and law is not for the faint of heart. Although overlapping classes can be used to reduce seven years of study into six, both programs are intensely challenging. Completion of this combined program results in immersion of medicine, law, and biosciences, credibility in all three fields, and countless professional opportunities. This program may be especially useful for students seeking to work in health law, health policy, biotechnology, or bioethics. You must apply to and be admitted by both MD and JD programs separately. After admission, both schools plan a schedule to make the joint program viable for the student.
Academic Curriculum
Stanford is proud of its freshly designed MD Discovery Curriculum. This improved approach to medical study allows MD students to complete their programs at a more personalized pace. Stanford allows its students to complete all their pre-clerkship requirements in two or three years depending on the student’s preference. However, all students must complete the same courses during the first year. Students who are allowed to complete pre-clerkship courses in three years pursue independent research, dual degrees, or other endeavors beneficial to their development as a future physician. Students must ask for permission from the program to finish their pre-clerkship work in three years. Currently, the traditional two-year pre-clerkship option is taken by the majority of students.
The Discovery Curriculum also introduced some completely new, as well as restructured courses, into the pre-clerkship program. These courses expose students to earlier clinical experience and education in pharmacology, strengthen core concepts, and promote a deeper understanding of advanced topics. This new curriculum preserves some of the old components. Students can still choose whether they take the USMLE Step 1 exam immediately following completion of the pre-clerkship curriculum or in the first clinical year. There have been virtually no changes made to the clerkship curriculum. Clerkship curriculum continues to consist of rotations through core clinical specialties with evaluations at the conclusion of each rotation.
Grading system
Pass/Fail is used for pre-clerkship courses and non-required clerkships. You can earn “Pass with Distinction” in required clerkships.
Application Timeline
This is the general timeline of the Stanford Medical School application process. Make sure you check the exact medical school application timelines on their website or in the AAMC portal.
- 1MAYPrimary application is available on AMCAS
- 2JULY – NOVEMBERAMCAS applications are received and Stanford Supplemental Application invitations are sent
- 3MID OCTOBERAMCAS application deadline
- 4EARLY NOVEMBERDeadline for submitting Stanford supplemental application and all application materials
- 5JULY – FEBRUARYApplications are reviewed and invitations to interview are sent
- 6JANUARY – MARCHOffers of admission are sent on three release dates
- 7JANUARY – JULYApplicants submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and other financial need applications if applicable
- 8APRILSecond Look event for accepted candidates
- 9END OF APRILDeadline for all applicants to accept a single offer of MD admission to any institution
- 10AUGUSTOrientation begins for the entering class
- 11LATE AUGUSTFirst week of classes
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Stanford Medical School Requirements For International Students
Eligibility
- Applicants are considered for admission to Stanford Medicine without regard to their country of origin.
- Applicants with disabilities are eligible to apply.
- Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, permanent U.S. residents holding a valid visa, individuals who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at the time of application, undocumented students, and international students.
- International Students must have studied for at least one academic year at an accredited college or university in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom prior to applying for admission.
- Applicants must have earned a Bachelors degree at an accredited college or University by time of anticipated matriculation.
- In order for your application to be considered for the 2022 admissions cycle, at least 1 MCAT result from an exam taken after January 2018 and before September 11, 2021 should be included in your application.
No-Transfer and Prior Enrollment Policy
Stanford Medicine maintains a strict no-transfer policy and does not accept applications for transfer.
For purposes of this policy, Stanford Medicine defines enrollment as attendance at or participation in any pre-orientation program, orientation program, or class.
Stanford Medicine reserves the right to deny a supplemental application to applicants who have previously enrolled in another medical school domestically or abroad. Stanford Medicine may consider on a case by case basis, whether to grant a supplemental application to applicants who have engaged in a limited time of study (usually <2 years) of a medical degree program that combines undergraduate and medical studies.
Academic Preparation and Recommendations
Stanford Medicine seeks to admit a diverse body of students who are interested in the intellectual substance of medicine and are committed to advancing scholarship in any field of medicine. Desirable candidates for admissions are academically ready to succeed in our curriculum, have life experiences that will enrich our learning environment, and have personal qualities that will serve them, their colleagues, and their patients well in their professional lives.
Applicants must have received a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university by the time of matriculation. They are encouraged to explore diverse educational opportunities throughout their college careers and undergo rigorous preparation in the life sciences. Stanford favors students who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to scholarship in an area of their interest.
Since the content and depth of courses varies significantly among institutions, we provide the following recommendations to be used as a guide.
Stanford Medicine does not have specific course requirements, but recommends appropriate preparation for the study of medicine. These recommendations are drawn from the Scientific Foundations for Future Physicians 2009 Report of the AAMC-HHMI Committee and the Behavioral and Social Sciences Foundations for Future Physicians 2011 Report of the AAMC Behavioral and Social Sciences Expert Panel, and we encourage applicants to read these reports for further details.
Biology
Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of how biomolecules contribute to the structure and function of cells; an understanding of principles of how molecular and cell assemblies, organs, and organisms, develop structure and carry out function; explain how organisms sense and control their internal environment and respond to external change; and demonstrate an understanding of how the organizing principle of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of life on Earth.
Chemistry and Physics
Applicants must demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of chemistry and physics, and their applications to the understanding of living systems.
Physics and Mathematics
Applicants must be able to apply quantitative reasoning, statistical principles, and appropriate mathematics to describe or explain phenomena in the natural world and evaluate the published scientific literature.
Laboratory or Field Experiments
Applicants must demonstrate understanding of the processes of scientific inquiry, and explain how scientific knowledge is discovered and validated, through hands-on laboratory or field experiences.
Behavioral and Social Sciences
A patient-centered approach to health care requires an understanding of the patient as an individual and a member of a family, community, and society. Applicants must develop an understanding of behavioral and social processes and their use to predict or influence health outcomes or health risk factors.
Communication
Applicants must be able to write clearly, speak fluently, and read English with excellent comprehension. Fluency in a foreign language, specifically Spanish or an Asian language, is recommended to enhance learning and service in our diverse communities.
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