The 8 Most Selective Medical Schools

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As a new class of medical students begins their studies this fall, here's a look at the eight schools with the most competitive admissions processes.

A record 49,480 people applied to medical schools in 2014, up 3.1% from the previous year, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

The total enrollment in medical schools also reached record levels in 2014, totaling 20,343.

That’s all good news, because the AAMC says the need for physicians remains high. The association pegs the increases in part to an increase in the number of available med school slots, which has risen due to the growth of some existing schools and the addition of 17 new medical schools since 2002.

Still, medical schools in general remain highly competitive when it comes to admissions. According to US News & World Report, US medical schools had an average acceptance rate of 7.1% in the fall of 2014. Acceptance rates at individual schools ranged from just over 1.5%, to nearly 20% (Oklahoma State’s medical school admitted 19.8% of applicants, according to US News).

So which medical schools are the hardest to get into? The list includes many of the big names you’d expect, along with a couple of smaller schools.

Below are the eight most competitive medical schools, according to US News’ 2014 rankings. The list is based on a survey of 156 medical schools.