Medical school in the United States is a graduate program designed to educate physicians in the undifferentiated field of medicine. Most schools confer a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, while some confer a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. The standard curriculum consists of two years of classroom and laboratory-based education, followed by two years of clinical rotations in teaching hospitals.
Admission to U.S. medical schools is highly competitive. In 2023–2024, 52,577 people applied to M.D.-granting medical schools, with 22,981 matriculating (43.7% success rate). Admissions criteria include GPA, MCAT scores, letters of recommendation, and interviews. In 2023, the average MCAT and GPA for M.D. matriculants were 511.7 and 3.77, respectively. Applicants must complete undergraduate courses in biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics.
Medical school typically lasts four years, though some programs offer three-year tracks. The first two years focus on basic sciences and clinical medicine courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, pharmacology, and physiology. The final two years consist of clinical rotations in hospitals and clinics, with mandatory rotations in obstetrics, pediatrics, psychiatry, family medicine, internal medicine, and surgery. After graduation, physicians must complete a residency before becoming licensed to practice.
All U.S. medical schools must be accredited by recognized bodies. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredits M.D.-granting schools, while the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation accredits D.O.-granting schools. The 1910 Flexner Report significantly reformed medical education standards. The first medical school in the U.S. opened in 1765 at the College of Philadelphia; the University of Maryland School of Medicine (1807) was the first public medical school.