5 Best medical schools in Arizona – Plus 3 Great Tips To Get accepted

Best medical schools in Arizona
Best medical schools in Arizona
Best medical schools in Arizona
Best medical schools in Arizona

There are only five universities in Arizona that grant M.D. degrees, while the remaining options are for those who pursue a degree in Osteopathic Medicine.

Nevertheless, these universities are considered to have some of the best medical schools in Arizona.  So, if you live in Arizona, or you are planning to move there for medical school, here are some of the best medical schools that are waiting for your application.

Best Medical Schools in Arizona

1. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson

First on our list is the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona, which is located at the Tucson campus, which is at the Health Science centre, situated on the main campus of the university. This is one of the medical schools in Arizona that grants MDs.

It has a standard program of four years and offers dual degree programs, which include Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Health (these two combined with M.D.), and a joint M.D./Ph.D.

It also has over 50 fellowship and residency programs with two academic medical centres, making the options in this health care area are limitless.

Admissions are highly competitive, over 10,000 people apply to this medical school to just get one of the 120 spots offered by the university. And if you are an international student, your chances of getting admitted will be reduced, as they only accept international students that are recommended by a college’s faculty, and then approved by the Dean.

The application process is explained on their website, but in general, you must submit recommendation letters, have an MCAT score with an average score of 510, an average GPA of 3.79, and attend a few interviews.

The annual tuition fee is $34,914 for in-state students and $55,154 for out-of-state residents. But, if you are on a budget, they also offer financial aid.

You can always visit their website to learn more.

2. University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix

Another medical school at the University of Arizona is located on the Phoenix campus. Their way of operation at this College of Medicine is similar to that in Tucson. In addition to the four-year program for undergraduates, the college also offers the same three dual programs: Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Public Health (these two combined with M.D.), and a joint M.D./Ph.D.

Even though the offer of residency and fellowship programs is diverse enough, there are still over 20 options for students once they finish the four-year M.D. program.

Most medical schools divide the MD program in two, the pre-clerkship curriculum (year one and two) and the clerkship curriculum (year three and four). However, students at the College of Medicine-Phoenix, have better clinical exposure as they enter the clerkship curriculum three months before students in other medical schools, which comes as a result of having flexible schedules and many options for personalized learning.

Admissions here are also competitive. In February 2019, they received 5,900 applications from all over the U.S. but only offered 392 interviews. The good news is that admissions here and, in the Tucson, campus is entirely different, which means you can apply to both simultaneously.

In addition to students’ average GPA of 3.84 and MCAT score of 515, they also consider other aspects.

Previous experience, cultural background, clinical exposure, community service hours done, and extracurricular activities are all features that will be considered when applying.

The annual tuition fee is $34,380 for in-state students and $54,980 for out-of-state residents. But, if you are on a budget, they also offer financial aid.

You can always visit their website to learn more.

3. The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) – Phoenix

To be considered for admission, you must submit recommendation letters, MCAT scores of 520, an average GPA of 3.94, attend an interview, and you must be a U.S. or Canadian citizen or have permanent residency.

The annual tuition fee is $58,900 and it is the same for both in-state and out-of-state residents. But, if you are on a budget, they also offer financial aid.

Also known as the Mayo Medical School (MMS), this university is part of the Mayo Clinic’s educational division. It is situated in Phoenix, but there are two other campuses in Florida and Minnesota. Education here is mainly research-oriented, and it is part of the group of medical schools in Arizona that grants Doctor of Medicine degrees.

Mayo Medical School is considered one of the best and most selective medical schools in the U.S. It was ranked as number 9 in the research list of medical schools. The acceptance rate was 2.1% for the application cycle of 2017-2018, making it the medical school with the lowest acceptance rate.

But their students also have the lowest education debt rates among U.S. medical schools, and they gain the highest scores at the USMLE Step 1, which is part of the test taken to obtain a medical license.

Students are educated at Mayo Clinic Phoenix, which is the 11th best hospital in the U.S. Class sizes are small, schedules and education are very personalized, and research opportunities are limitless.

You can always visit their website to learn more.

4. A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) – Mesa

If you would like to receive education in a specific health care area, ATSU-SOMA might be an option for you. The school is located at Mesa, on the campus of A.T. Still University, and grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. ATSU-SOMA offers a dual degree program so you can earn your Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and your Master of Public Health (MPH) at the same time.

Its educational approach is unique, which emphasis on clinical training and the application of the Clinical Presentation Educational Model. Students spend their first year on the campus, and during the remaining three years, they receive their education at a community health center. There are 12 community health centers accessible to students, and they are located in and outside Arizona.

As Osteopathic medicine involves people that are empathetic and are willing to serve the underserved, the admission board of ATSU-SOMA will assess much more than your tests scores and recommendation letters. They look for students with a background that meets their values.

The average MCAT score is 505 and GPA is 3.45. They have the lowest requirements on this list

The annual tuition fee is $59,802 and it is the same for both in-state and out-of-state residents.

The university offers a wide variety of scholarships and many financial aid options. There are also many volunteer opportunities for potential students.

You can always visit their website to learn more.

5. Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine – Glendale

The Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine has gathered quite a rich set of accolades. It ranks number 1 among schools with graduates practising in primary care fields and in medically underserved areas. The university has many graduates practising in rural areas and is one of the best medical schools for primary care.

Located in Glendale, the college is an excellent choice for anyone looking to get into the field of medicine, with a focus on serving those who struggle to get high-quality health care.

The curriculum and research are student-centred, providing students abundant opportunities for hands-on work and direct patient care. The first two years are focused on didactic coursework, complemented by simulated and standardized patient experiences in a clinical setting. The final two years are deeply focused on clinical rotations through various sites, totalling 84 weeks of direct-care training.

Students are trained by caring faculty members who have fully licensed practitioners and whose expertise guarantees that their students have rewarding careers as compassionate and successful health practitioners. The Multispecialty Clinic is furnished with state-of-the-art technology and was designed for maximum patient comfort and care.

The application process is explained on their website, but in general, you must submit recommendation letters, have an average MCAT score of 506 and an average GPA of 3.48.

The annual tuition fee is $71,875 and it is the same for both in-state and out-of-state residents.

You can always visit their website to learn more.

Arizona medical school admissions Tips

Tip 1: Take a data-driven approach when determining which Arizona medical schools to apply to

When choosing your medical school list, you will want to pay attention to the average GPA and MCAT scores of each Arizona medical school. Of course, there is a substantial variability with regard to stats, nevertheless, you will want to make sure your numbers fall within a few points of the listed averages before adding them to your list.

Focus on maximizing your odds at medical schools where you have a strong chance of acceptance.

Tip 2: Review each Arizona medical school’s mission and demonstrate how you fit in essays and interviews.

Like all medical schools, each Arizona medical school boasts of its unique strengths, such as research innovation or a commitment to underserved populations.

For instance, the University of Arizona Tucson website states, “Since our founding, the UA College of Medicine has focused on medical care in underserved populations, including border communities, Native American communities, and less-developed countries.”

If your extracurricular experiences line up closely with their focus, be sure to mention this in secondary applications and during interviews!

Final thoughts

Attending a medical school in Arizona is a dream for many premed prospective students, so be ready to face stiff competition. By optimizing your school list and communicating how you fit through secondaries and interviews, you will be able to make the most of your admissions odds at your top choice programs.

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