Virtually anyone who wishes to get into the Ivy League Medical Schools must think about what they can do to improve their chances of getting accepted. Even though these schools are very highly coveted, they do not come easy. There are many students who go through gruelling and intensive applications and examinations to get in. So, make sure that you take your time and sit down to reflect on what you will really need in order to get into one of the eight Ivy League medical schools!

You will also find related posts on ivy league schools, best ivy league school for medicine undergraduate, which ivy league is best for pre-med, top medical schools in the world, does Princeton have a medical school, Yale medical school requirements, best medical schools, top ivy league schools on collegelearners.

top ivy league schools

The fierce competition and strict admission process at Ivy League medical schools in the USA have made prospective students wonder if they could ever be admitted.

These eight elite schools are highly celebrated and famous for the qualitative medical degree programs they run.

And they are equally known to be tough and incredibly strict when it comes to admission selective processes.

This post will, therefore, go on to reveal all the important admission requirements, and some facts about Ivy League medical schools you need to know.

You will also be introduced to the school’s admission selection processes, factors and strategies you can adopt to get accepted.

Benefits Of Attending An Ivy League Medical Schools

• Attending any Ivy League medical college comes with some benefits. One, you have a better chances to secure employment via a decent alumni network.
• You walk and dance around with some prestiges that are only comparable to that of Princes and Princesses.
• Most of the United States of America’s past presidents attended an Ivy League College.
• You will also get access to quality accademic and research materials.
• You will be tutored by award-winning professors, etc.

What is Ivy League College?

Before going further, it’s important we simplify the meaning of Ivy League College. Ivy League is an American-based Collegial Athletic Conference.

It is made of sports teams of eight distinct private universities in the Northeastern part of the United States.

So, because of their popularity, people now call these Northeastern universities as Ivy League Colleges. Or simply put; “The Ivies.”

Seven out of these eight Ivy League Universities began their operations during the colonial era. And they have grown in excellence over time to become elitist colleges and command respect anywhere across the globe.

Top 8 Ivy League Medical Schools In The USA

Without further delay, the following are the eight Ivy league medical schools in the USA.

Stay tuned…

1. Harvard University Medical School | Cambridge, MA

I believe you are not surprised to see Harvard University Medical School topping the list of the Ivy league medical schools in the USA.

It is one of the oldest medical colleges in the United States, and it has trained lots of Nobel Prize winners, CEOs, University presidents, etc.

What’s more, the U.S. News and World Report had put Harvard medical school in the second position in a variety of programs such as anesthesiology, radiology, internal medicine, and paediatrics.

Thus, studying in this Ivy league medical school requires outstanding credentials, such as a 3.91 GPA with 35 on the MCAT.

The school operates in line with her $804 million endowments.

Such is the amount it uses in pursuing her research projects dealing with environmental changes, global pandemics, gene therapy, etc.

International Students

HMS welcomes applications from international students who have studied for at least one year at an accredited institution in the United States or Canada, and have completed the course requirements. Fluency in English is expected; however, the TOEFL is not required.

While we do accept applications from students with international educational backgrounds, candidates with degrees from accredited institutions in the US and Canada are strongly preferred. Students are required to complete at least three years of college work and a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.

A limited number of required courses taken outside the US or Canada may be used to fulfill requirements, determined on a case-by-case basis. Every effort should be made to take the majority of required courses at an accredited college or university in the US or Canada. In any case, at least one year of full-time academic work in the US or Canada is required.

International Students are eligible to apply for need-based financial institutional scholarships and loans. Please see Financial Aid for more information.

In many countries, students enter medical school directly from advanced secondary school, but to apply to Harvard Medical School you must first complete a bachelor’s degree. If you are currently enrolled in any medical school or were enrolled previously, you are ineligible to apply to Harvard Medical School. We also do not accept students who wish to transfer from another medical school. There are no exceptions to these policies.

2. Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (Columbia University ) | New York, NY

Columbia University is yet another elite University located around the Washington Heights district of downtown, Manhattan.

The school as a whole receive over 7,500 applicants every year leaving the school with a 4.5% admission rate.

Students attending this Ivy league medical school have a median Grade Point Average of 3.91 and 521 MCAT median scores.

The U.S. News and World Report placed Vagelos on the top ten list of medical schools with a variety of disciplines.

These programs include anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, psychiatry, and surgery.

Additionally, the same magazine ranked Columbia University as the #4 in the country for overall research.

Application Requirements

Update in Light of COVID-19 Impact on Premedical Education

The Admissions Committee at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has voted to accept Pass/Fail grades for prerequisite courses taken at schools that decided to go Pass/Fail for the 2020 academic calendar and, Spring/Summer 2021 semesters.  We understand some concerns about the impact on GPAs and will take this fully into consideration for future applicants. For students in schools for which Pass/Fail is optional during these semesters, we will consider each student’s situation individually.

We also understand the tremendous stress that many of you feel during this unprecedented time.  As we look at our current students, graduates, and colleagues, we could not be prouder to be part of the healthcare workforce.  Keep up the strong work as you study to be part of this community going forward. 

From academic coursework to letters of recommendation, our application requirements are noted by topic in this section.

Academics

Applicants must have:

• At the time of application, at least three full academic years at a regionally accredited college in the United States or Canada.
• Baccalaureate degree prior to matriculation.
• One year of English or other writing-intensive courses.
• One year of Biology with labs.
• One year of Physics with labs.
• Two years of Chemistry, one of which must be Organic Chemistry, both with labs.
• Biochemistry, Statistics, and Biostatistics are highly recommended but not required.
• Applicants for the 3-Year PhD-to-MD Program must have successfully defended their thesis by April 30th of the year of matriculation.

* For applicants whose undergraduate college accepted Advanced Placement (AP) credit to satisfy requirements in introductory-level Chemistry, Biology, Physics, or English, we require one year of advanced study in each subject area for which AP credit was awarded. For the science courses, this additional year must include at least one semester of lab, and two semesters are recommended.

Prospective students may apply if they lack one or two of the above prerequisites, but completion of these courses is a requirement for enrollment. Applications from students in all majors are considered. Kindly note that we do not accept online courses for our prerequisite classes except for the exceptions noted above due to COVID.

We rarely admit individuals from foreign universities because our Admissions Committee does not have satisfactory means of evaluating premedical education at universities outside of the United States and Canada. We, therefore, require at least one year of premedical training at a U.S. institution, in addition to the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

Please note: Non-residents of the United States are ineligible for federal financial aid programs.

Please note: All prerequisite courses must have been completed within 10 years of application. We prefer that prerequisite courses in biology be taken within five years of application.

MCAT

The MCAT may be taken up to three years prior to applying for the 2022 application cycle. For more information about the MCAT, visit the Association of American Medical Colleges website(link is external and opens in a new window).

Grades

Our Admissions Committee looks for applicants who have received As and Bs in scientific courses (more As than Bs) but recognizes such grades are not possible under all circumstances. A final grade lower than C- in any required courses is regarded by the Committee as an unsatisfactory completion of our requirements. For consideration, these required courses must be retaken (or have acceptable substitutes) with higher grades. Applicants may take a few courses not required for admissions on a pass/fail basis, but if they have failed a course, the Committee will wonder why. If relevant, please include an explanation of such a grade in the application.

Letters of Recommendation

We welcome letters of recommendation from individuals and premedical advisory groups (Committee Letters) with genuine knowledge of applicants and their capabilities, who can provide more than routine praise. Our Admissions Committee requires three letters of recommendation and accepts up to seven. One must come from a science faculty member, teacher, or research mentor. Letters from people who do not personally know the applicants cannot be given serious consideration.

Application 

Applicants must submit the AMCAS and VP&S secondary application to be considered for the entering class. A non-refundable secondary application fee of $110 is required at the time of submission. Students who are granted fee waivers by AAMC’s Fee Assistance Program (AAMC FAP(link is external and opens in a new window)) will receive a fee waiver for Columbia VP&S’ Secondary Application. We will not waive the fee for any other request.

4. Perelman School of Medicine (University of Pennsylvania) | Philadelphia, PA

The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania is the nation’s oldest and one of the most important medical schools.

It was founded in 1765 and has birthed four Nobel Laureates recipients, two Medal of Honor, and several decorated doctors.

Being a member of Ivy League Medical Schools in the USA, Perelman University boasts an agile research agenda that includes a breakthrough in the study of heart failure in pregnant women.   

A student of Medicine in this University will spend four years understudying the science of medicine, the practice of medicine, professionalism, and humanism, etc.

The PhD students on the other hand will spend two years doing course work and three to five years for other intensive research.

To join this program as a future doctor, you’ll need a GP of 3.91 on average and a median MCAT score of 521.

5. Yale University School of Medicine | New Haven, CT

The Yale University School of Medicine also belongs to the group of Ivy league medical Universities in the U.S.

In 2020, Yale Universities College of Medicine was ranked fourth on the NIH grants list. Thereby netting over $512 million to advance her qualitative research goals.

The money was judiciously used to further the University research such as Tourette’s Syndrome, Lyme disease, and other disorders.

In fact, the Yale University College of Medicine’s commitment towards research is reflected in the quality of the school’s staff.

There is Marcella Nunez-Smith who is a Co-Chair of the COVID-19 task force under this Biden administration. There’s Nobel laureate James Rothman, serving the community in his capacity too.

Application to the Yale School of Medicine MD program requires submission of:

• The AMCAS Application
• The Yale Secondary Application
• MCAT Scores
• Letters of Recommendation
• A non-refundable application fee of $95, or an AMCAS Fee Waiver (obtained though the AAMC Fee Assistance Program)

6. Weill Cornell Graduate University of Medical Sciences | New York, NY

The Weill Cornell Graduate University of Medical Sciences was founded in 1952. In its over 60 years of existence, the school has produced notable alumni.

So to join the list of medical luminaries produced by this Ivy League University, you will need good grades.

Weill Cornell University of Medicine sciences admits only 5% of its applicants with whom an average GPA of 3.5 and a median MCAT of 520 scores.

This leading Medical School in the USA also supported its students $275 million to facilitate their research.

This endowment had enhanced several researchers from the faculty to reach a breakthrough in the study of Tuberculosis treatments, mammalian brain atlas  (high-resolution), etc.

7. Alpert Medical School (Brown University Warren ) | Providence, RI

Alpert Medical School is the 7th Ivy league medical school in the USA.

According to the U.S. News and World Report, Brown University Alpert Medical school is regarded as the 19th best medical college for primary care.

The magazine equally placed it as the 36th best medical school for research in the country.

Accordingly, Alpert College of Medicine has a low admission rate of 2.7%, with only 293 admitted students out of the 10,500 applicants.

To gain admission into this Ivy league medical college, you must have a GPA of 3.66 with a median MCAT score of 511 accompanying it.

This may sound like a high bar to reach but to be sincere, it is worth it.

Moreover, being a student at the Alpert Medical School means you will be under the tutelage of gynaecology pioneers like Eli Adashi.

REQUIREMENTS

The Medical Admissions Committee seeks applicants who will become leaders and role models in the practice of medicine and the advancement of human health. The Committee especially values intellectual curiosity, prior experience in research or the clinical realm, a demonstrated commitment to serving others, integrity, and enthusiasm.

All applicants must present a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale). Applicants who have not yet completed a baccalaureate degree may apply to The Warren Alpert Medical School; however, the baccalaureate degree program must be completed prior to matriculation.

The Warren Alpert Medical School welcomes applications from candidates underrepresented in the field of medicine, as well as those with military service. As of September 2020, 26% of the M.D. program student body came from groups underrepresented in medicine.

Eligibility

Individuals who are enrolled in or graduates of accredited institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada are eligible to apply. Applicants must have completed the majority of the premedical course requirements within the previous 10 years. Applicants who have previously been dismissed, withdrawn, or already graduated from a medical school will be considered ineligible to apply to Alpert Medical School. Applicants to AMS may apply a maximum of three times.

Alpert Medical School considers international applicants who have completed a minimum of one year of coursework in an accredited school in the United States or Canada and who meet all the other premedical course requirements. Funding is limited, and information regarding personal and family financial resources is requested prior to an interview. As an international candidate, you would not be eligible for federally subsidized programs, nor would you be eligible for Alpert Medical School need-based institutional funding, although you may be eligible for limited merit-based funding. Other schools may have more substantial institutional funding available. You should also research outside sources of funding. The financial aid office website has resources on scholarships and loan opportunities.

Alpert Medical School accepts applications from Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) candidates. Some institutional funding may be available but would not cover the full cost of attendance. DACA candidates are currently ineligible for federally subsidized loan programs and therefore are encouraged to seek outside sources of funding.

Technical Standards

Students applying to the medical degree-granting program at Brown University must be capable of meeting the competency requirements expected of all graduates, with or without reasonable accommodation, described in the Student Policies Handbook. Technological compensation can be made for some disabilities in certain of these competency requirements. Candidates accepted for admission who will need special accommodations cannot matriculate unless those supportive services are available, as determined by the Dean of Medicine and Biological Sciences.  

8. Geisel School of Medicine (Dartmouth College) | Hanover, NH

All of the Ivy league Medical Schools in the USA have excellent faculties publishing only respected academic journals.

Geisel School of Medicine, however, is the only Ivy medical college to house a Lifeline literary journal.

In addition, the Geisel School of Medicine only accepts top-notch students with GPAs of 3.65 and 515 composite MCAT scores.  

Hence, for you to be considered for admission into this top Ivy league medical school, start studying now!

Similarly, Medical students in this school are studying under great luminaries like astronaut/doctor/politician Jay Clark Buckley, Ira Byock who is a best-selling author, and Lienhard award winner, John Wennberg.

All these excellent doctors are products of Geisel Ivy league Medical School and thanks to them for using their $6 billion endowment grant judiciously.

In fact, such endowment is what the students and the school used to win several other awards with a $42 million NIH grant inclusive.

Admissions Requirements

Intellectual curiosity. Integrity. Empathy. Compassion. Ability to overcome obstacles. Resilience. Distance travelled. Coachability. A commitment to lifelong learning. The goal of the Geisel School of Medicine’s Admissions Committee is to enrol students who reflect all of those qualities and who will contribute to the uniquely close-knit and stimulating learning environment that defines Geisel. Dartmouth receives approximately 7,000 completed applications a year for about 92 places in the entering class. Geisel’s student body is national in scope and impact.

Academic requirements

The admissions committee carefully reviews the entire application with attention to personal, academic, scientific, and community engagement considerations. We seek to select a group of students each year who are reflective of our nation and who will contribute positively to, and benefit from, our institutional mission. We employ a holistic review process that places value on applicants who possess a strong academic foundation, diversity in all forms, a broad range of life experiences, and traits known to promote success in the field of medicine.

Specific academic requirements are listed below:

• One year (8 semester hours or equivalent) of general biology and general physics.
• Two years (16 semester hours or equivalent) of chemistry, which must include one semester (or equivalent) of organic chemistry and one semester (or equivalent) of biochemistry.
• One half-year (3 semester hours or equivalent) of college-level mathematics, including either calculus or statistics.
• Facility in written and spoken English.
• Candidates should have completed a minimum of three years of post-secondary study at a US and/or Canadian college or university, have a bachelor’s degree, and have pursued a broad range of study in the sciences and humanities that provides a solid foundation in the scientific basis of medicine and in human behavior and society.
• Students are encouraged to major in a field of particular interest and, if possible, to pursue independent investigations in that field.
• All candidates are required to present scores from the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and achieve a score of 503 or above. The Admissions Committee considers each application holistically, however applicants should be aware that accepted applications have a median combined MCAT score of 515 and a median undergraduate GPA of 3.65. Students with MCAT scores of 502 or below will not be sent a secondary.
• For 2022 entry, the MCAT exam must have been taken between January 2019 and September 2021, with results to us by December 1, 2021.
• Student matriculating at the Geisel School of Medicine must agree to meet the Essential Standards for Matriculation, Promotion and Graduation which can be reviewed here, and immunization requirements.

Other requirements:
Students matriculating at the Geisel School of Medicine must agree to meet the Essential Standards for Matriculation, Promotion and Graduation which can be reviewed here, and immunization requirements.

Joint-degree programs at Dartmouth
In addition to the M.D. degree, Geisel medical students participate in the following degree programs:

MD-PhD program
The MD-PhD program is committed to training physician-scientists for the 21st century who will provide excellent patient care, lead discovery in biomedical disease-oriented research, advocate for basic and translational biomedical research, and take leadership roles in biomedical research and the delivery of health care. For more information, visit the MD-PhD program website or call (603) 650-1505.

MD-MBA program
The MD-MBA program is coordinated with Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. It is designed to create leaders in health care and medical administration and in entrepreneurial ventures in the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical-product industries. Students apply to the Tuck School during their second year of medical school. The MD-MBA program admits up to 6 students per year and is typically completed in either five or six years. For more information, visit the MD-MBA Program website or call (603) 650-1505.

Health policy programs
MD-MPH and MD-MS programs are offered in concert with The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice. Students apply after enrolling in the MD program. These unique programs provide students with the academic knowledge and skill sets to make an impact in evidence-based public health practice and quality improvement. For more information, visit the TDI programs page or call (603) 646-5678.

Engineering program
The MD-MS program with Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering is designed for people who intend to pursue clinical practice and want to develop research skills in a related engineering area. It is also well suited to students who want to study technologies they will employ as practicing physicians. The program provides a funded research experience in engineering that is expected to lead to a research publication and provides practice in engineering design and analysis. For more information, visit the Thayer School of Engineering website or call (603) 646-2230.

Important Dates

May 3, 2021: AMCAS Applications Open

May 27, 2021: Applications may be filed with AMCAS

September 2021: Interviews begin

November 1, 2021: AMCAS Submissions Close

December 1, 2021: Final Deadline for Secondary Applications

March 31, 2022: Interviews End

How To Get Into Any Of The Ivy League Medical Schools

It has been clearly stated above that the Ivy league medical schools are comprised of eight elite Universities. And getting into any of them is, without a doubt, a thug of war.

So if you will like to dine and wine with magnificent professors and highly celebrated medical luminaries, then follow the below strategies.

1: Improve Your Grade Points Average (GPA) and MCAT scores

To gain admission into any of the Ivy League medical schools, the first thing to do is to improve your GPA and composite MCAT score.

Although there are numerous outliers stories about medical school admissions. Stories of how students with low GPA and poor MCAT scores secured admission into medical school.

But the truth here is that tour chances of getting admission into the Ivy league medical school in the U.S are very high with excellent grades.

Other than that, some medical Universities may overlook your lower GPA if your composite MCAT score, at least, compensates for it.

This is, however, not the case for any of the Ivy League medical schools. The competition is enormous and as such, both your GPA and MCAT average score must speak for you.

2: Impress with Extra-curricula

You equally need remarkable extra-curricular activities that would highlight your passion and dedication for a beautiful career in medicine.

Let the AMCAS Work and Activities part depicts your versatility and readiness. As usual, let the quality of your extra-curricular activities trumps quantity.

More so, having one extra-curricular could jeopardize your chances of getting admission as it’ll limit your experiences.

Accordingly, research shows that students who get admission into Ivy League medical schools in the USA have impressive premedical experience.

And more than 90% of them had in-depth research and laboratory experience.

Thus, with high grades, excellent MCAT, and impressive extra-curricular activities, your chances of getting into the Ivy league is higher.

3: Write outstanding Essays

Since writing a few essays is part of the requirements for getting into the Ivy league medical colleges, then writing an outstanding one is advised.

While there’s no doubt that many pre-med students have a similar experience, your personal statement content and delivery must stand out.

Nonetheless, organizing all your accomplishments and hard work into a coherent story may not be possible considering the available space in the AMCAS application.

Yet, it’s important you prioritize and settle for three to four distinct points for the personal statement.

Lastly, make sure that your essay’s first sentence is captivating, and the conclusion part is memorable.

4: Stellar Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters play an important role in the Ivy League medical schools’ decision-making process.

And this is one of the reasons why your reference or recommendation letters must be strong and stellar.

Hence, you are advised to submit as many reference letters as you can. If the Ivy league medical school you are applying to request for 3 letters on minimum and 6 on maximum, then aim to have as many as 6.

In the same vein, be enlightened that letters from the science faculty are highly encouraged. Although letters from non-sciences are not discouraged, too.

Alternatively, if you have experience in any substantial research, you can ask the principal investigator (PI) to write a recommendation letter for you.

If you have engaged in any clinical practice or shadowing before, endeavour to collect a reference letter from the supervisor as a glowing recommendation.

Conclusion

If you, therefore, add all these strategies together to make one, you come to the realization that getting admission into the elites medical schools is easier.

In fact, your eyes will be opened to the fact that Ivy League medical schools in the USA are not impossible to get into.

It all only requires adequate preparation, determination, and ability to try again, if failed.