Minnesota only has two medical schools that grant doctor of medicine or M.D. and other doctoral degrees. However, they offer quality education and training. If you live in Minnesota, one of them prioritizes resident students, and as it has two campuses, you’ll have more chances to be accepted! We summarized their essential characteristics below to help you decide the best choice. So, let’s take a look at these medical schools in Minnesota.
Top Medical Schools in Minnesota
1. Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
Founded in 1972, the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, or MCASOM, is one of the best private medical schools in the United States. According to the U.S. News & World Report, it is the 9th best in research and the 44th best in primary care. They have two additional campuses: one in Arizona and the other one in Florida.
MCASOM students had the highest scores at the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, the first step of the tests that must be taken to obtain a medical license. Additionally, around 70% of their graduating students matched with their first choice for residency.
The M.D. curriculum is divided into three phases, which are two years of foundational coursework, a year of clerkships, and a year of more advanced clinical rotation. There is a system called “selective,” where students pick a certain amount of classes they prefer during the first and second years. To graduate, students must participate in a research project and write a scientific paper based on it.
In 2018, MCASOM received 9,021 applications. Of the students interviewed, there were 812, but only 105 enrolled. Their average GPA was 3.91, and their average MACT score was 520. Applications are made on the AMCAS platform, and students must follow the same steps as in other medical schools: MCAT, secondary applications, interviews, etc. They also accept international students, but the admission process is different.
2. University of Minnesota
Founded in 1888, the University of Minnesota‘s Medical School is part of the Academic Health Centers, or AHC, which also comprises the School of Dentistry, the School of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Veterinary Medicine, and the School of Nursing. This medical school in Minnesota has two campuses: one in Duluth and the other in Twin Cities. In the 2019 U.S. News & World Report ranking of medical schools, it was ranked 10th in primary care and 43rd in research.
The Duluth campus focuses on rural healthcare, primary care, and educating Native American physicians. Students will choose the campus before starting classes, and the application processes for each campus are separated. Along with M.D. degrees, they also offer dual degree programs.
Students can combine their M.D. degree with a Ph.D., a Master’s in Public Health, or a Master’s in Business Administration, among others. They also have graduate programs in neuroscience, pharmacology, medical physics, rehabilitation science, stem cell biology, etc. In 2018, 4,205 applications were received, and 240 students were admitted. This data includes students on both campuses. 85% of them were Minnesota residents.
While there are only two institutions to choose from when pursuing a medical degree, their education quality doesn’t fall under the other medical schools in different states. Each school has its strengths or specializations, like the University of Minnesota focusing on primary care and the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine specializing in medical research.
We hope this article on the best medical schools in Minnesota was informative. To learn more information about studying in the United States, check out the Study in the USA Page and the Available Programs for International Students in the USA!
