Global education company Kaplan recently took the pulse of medical schools, with 89 percent of admissions officers saying that aspiring doctors are in the midst of another highly competitive admissions cycle. Among that 89 percent surveyed between July and October 2025, 16 percent said it will be much more competitive compared to last cycle; 25 percent said it will be somewhat more competitive; and 48 percent said the level of competitiveness will stay about the same.
This comes at a time when both MD-granting programs and Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine-granting programs (OD)-granting programs across the United States are seeing record enrollment, largely due to new schools opening and existing schools expanding their number of seats. For both degree programs, fewer than half of all applicants get in; and the most competitive medical schools report acceptance rates of less than 5 percent.
Admissions officers shared the following pieces of advice for applicants:
- “One of the things that helps students get in is to have at least one rigorous semester in undergrad. This is a good indicator they can do well in medical school.”
- “Whenever applicants can write or have things written about them, this is a chance for their story to be impactful to the admissions committee. Do not underestimate the power of these opportunities.”
- “The medical school admissions process can be a long journey, so it’s essential to establish your support network early on for guidance.”
The survey also highlights the MCAT’s® critical gatekeeping role. Half (50 percent) of admissions officers cited a low test score as “the biggest application dealbreaker,” far outpacing other weaknesses like a low GPA, lack of clinical experience, and poor letters of recommendation. This 50 percent figure marks a recent high in Kaplan’s annual survey. Underscoring the test’s significance, 100 percent of respondents said an applicant’s MCAT score was important when evaluating candidates—with 46 percent calling it “very important” and 54 percent “somewhat important.”
Rich Maraggio, executive director of pre-health programs, Kaplan, said:
“For two decades, Kaplan’s annual survey of medical schools has provided crucial insights into the pieces of the application that admissions officers weigh most heavily when deciding who gets in. What they are telling us is that a strong application starts with a high MCAT score and GPA—particularly the MCAT, which is often the first factor admissions officers review. If a score falls below the school’s typical range, they may not even look at the rest of an applicant’s credentials, no matter how stellar their letters of recommendation, personal statement, or clinical experience may be. With admissions remaining fiercely competitive, understanding these factors can give pre-med students a significant edge.”
Contact Russell Schaffer at russell.schaffer@kaplan.com for more information.
*Admissions officers from 56 accredited medical schools across the U.S. and Canada were polled by e-mail and phone between July and October 2025. Findings were rounded to the nearest whole number.
MCAT® is a trademark registered and/or owned by the Association of American Medical Colleges, which is not affiliated with Kaplan.
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