Medical School Acceptance Rate Calculator
Calculate institutional selectivity or evaluate your probability based on class size data.
How to Calculate Medical School Acceptance Rates
Understanding medical school acceptance rates is crucial for building a balanced school list. The base formula for an institution's acceptance rate is straightforward:
It is important to distinguish between "Total Offers" and "Matriculants." Many schools must offer admission to twice as many students as they have seats for, because many students decline the offer to go elsewhere. For the most accurate selectivity measure, use the total number of acceptance letters sent out.
Why Statistics Matter: GPA and MCAT
While the overall acceptance rate tells you how hard it is for anyone to get in, your personal stats (GPA and MCAT) dictate your specific likelihood. According to AAMC data:
- MCAT Performance: Scores above 511 significantly correlate with higher success rates in MD programs.
- GPA Consistency: A cumulative GPA above 3.7 is typically considered competitive for allopathic schools.
- The "Holistic" Factor: Remember that stats only get you past the initial screening; clinical hours, research, and letters of recommendation finalize the decision.
Example Calculation
If "University A" receives 8,500 applications and sends out 340 acceptance letters to fill a class of 150:
(340 ÷ 8,500) × 100 = 4% Acceptance Rate
In this scenario, University A is "Highly Competitive." If your GPA and MCAT fall within their 25th-75th percentile range, your individual chance is much higher than that raw 4%.