Medical Schools That May Be More Attainable for 2027 Applicants

Medical school is competitive everywhere, but some programs have lower average GPA and MCAT profiles than the most selective U.S. medical schools.

That does not make them “easy” to enter. Admissions decisions also depend on state residency, mission fit, clinical experience, service, essays, interviews and other factors.

For 2027 applicants, the best strategy is to identify schools where your academics and experiences genuinely align with the students they typically admit.

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What Makes a Medical School More Attainable?

A school may be relatively more attainable when it has:

• Lower average MCAT and GPA metrics
• A larger entering class
• Strong holistic admissions
• A mission that closely matches your background and experiences
• Regional or community-focused admissions priorities

DO programs can also broaden your options. In 2025, students entering osteopathic medical schools had a mean MCAT of 502.95 and overall GPA of 3.62, according to AACOM.

For comparison, students entering U.S. MD schools in 2025 had a mean MCAT of 512.1 and GPA of 3.81. These are national averages, not minimum requirements.

Medical Schools With Lower Academic Metrics

Several programs highlighted in recent admissions data have historically admitted classes with MCAT or GPA averages below national MD matriculant averages.

Examples include:

Applicants should verify the latest admissions statistics directly with each school before applying. A lower average MCAT or GPA does not mean that admission is likely.

Why So Many DO Schools Appear on These Lists

Osteopathic medical schools generally have lower national MCAT and GPA averages than MD-granting schools.

AACOM reports a 2025 entering-student mean of:

• 502.95 MCAT
• 3.62 overall GPA
• 3.53 science GPA

Osteopathic medical education is also expanding. In 2025–26, DO schools received 23,114 applicants and enrolled 10,297 matriculants, while total osteopathic medical school enrollment reached a record 40,905 students.

Interest is increasing too. AACOM reported 26,506 applicants in the 2026 application cycle, a 12.83% increase from the previous year.

DO programs should therefore not be viewed simply as an easier backup. They are increasingly competitive medical schools with their own philosophy, mission and applicant expectations.

Look Beyond GPA and MCAT

One of the biggest mistakes applicants make is choosing schools entirely from numerical averages.

A school with a lower median MCAT could still be a poor choice if you do not fit its mission.

For example, some medical schools prioritise:

• Rural healthcare
• Primary care
• Underserved communities
• Applicants from a particular state or region
• Community service
• Health equity
• Specific cultural or religious missions

This is especially important at public medical schools.

A program may appear less competitive based on its average scores but admit relatively few students from outside its home state.

There Is No True Medical School “Safety”

Unlike undergraduate admissions, medical schools are difficult to classify as reach, target and safety schools. Even applicants whose GPA and MCAT scores exceed a school's averages can be rejected.

The AAMC recorded 54,699 MD applicants in 2025, with 23,440 students ultimately matriculating. The average applicant GPA was 3.67 and the average applicant MCAT was 506.3.

Your academic numbers help determine where you are competitive, but they cannot predict admission on their own.

A better school-list strategy is to divide programs into:

1. More competitive

Your academic profile is below typical matriculant ranges.

2. Reasonably aligned

Your academics and experiences fall near the school's typical profile.

3. Strong academic fit

Your numbers are above typical ranges and your experiences align with the school's mission.

Even the third category should not be treated as guaranteed admission.

Clinical Experience Can Strengthen Your Fit

Academic metrics establish whether you appear capable of handling medical school. Your experiences help explain why you should become a physician.

Medical schools consider clinical exposure, service, research, leadership and other experiences alongside academic performance. Meaningful clinical experience can help you demonstrate that you understand patient care and have explored medicine beyond the classroom.

Students seeking additional exposure can consider pre-health and pre-med clinical internships, alongside local clinical work, volunteering and physician shadowing.

Working in different healthcare environments can also provide perspective on healthcare access, resource limitations, cultural differences and health disparities.

The strongest applications focus less on accumulating hours and more on what the applicant actually learned from those experiences.

How to Build a Realistic Medical School List

Start by reviewing your:

• Overall GPA
• BCPM or science GPA
• MCAT score
• State residency
• Clinical experience
• Service
• Research
• Career interests

Then compare these with each school's admissions profile and mission.

For MD programs, the AAMC's Medical School Admission Requirements (MSAR) is one of the most useful resources for researching individual schools.

For DO programs, AACOM's Choose DO Explorer provides admissions requirements and information about osteopathic medical colleges.

Your final list should include schools where both your academic profile and overall application make sense.

Should You Apply to MD and DO Schools?

For many applicants, yes. Applying to both MD and DO schools can broaden your options, particularly if your academic profile is closer to national DO averages.

But do not apply to osteopathic medical schools simply because you assume they are easier. Be prepared to explain why osteopathic medicine fits your goals and understand the principles behind the DO pathway.

Both MD and DO graduates can enter residency programs across the full range of medical specialties.

What About International Applicants?

International applicants need to be especially careful when building a U.S. medical school list. Not every MD or DO school accepts international applicants, and schools that do may have additional requirements relating to coursework, finances or visas.

Do not assume that a school with lower GPA or MCAT averages will necessarily be easier for an international applicant.

Check international eligibility at each institution before applying.

Frequently Asked Questions

#1. What are the easiest medical schools to get into?

There is no genuinely easy U.S. medical school to enter. Some schools have lower average GPA and MCAT scores or larger classes, but admission still depends on academics, experiences, mission fit and other factors.

#2, Are DO schools easier to get into than MD schools?

Nationally, DO matriculants have lower average GPA and MCAT scores than MD matriculants. In 2025, entering DO students averaged a 502.95 MCAT and 3.62 GPA, compared with 512.1 and 3.81 for MD matriculants.

#3. Can I get into medical school with a 3.5 GPA?

Yes. A 3.5 GPA can be competitive at some programs, particularly when supported by a strong MCAT, upward academic trend and strong experiences. Compare your complete profile with individual schools rather than relying on GPA alone.

#4. Can I get into medical school with an MCAT below 500?

It is possible, particularly at some DO programs, but your options become more limited. Consider your GPA, practice-test performance and target schools before deciding whether an MCAT retake would strengthen your application.

#5. Should I only apply to schools where my MCAT is above the average?

No. Averages are useful benchmarks, not cutoffs. Your school list can include programs where your MCAT is slightly below, near and above the typical matriculant range.

#6. How many medical schools should I apply to?

There is no ideal number for every applicant. Your list should be broad enough to give you realistic options without including schools where you have little academic, geographic or mission alignment.

#7. Do medical schools prefer in-state applicants?

Many public medical schools give substantial preference to residents of their state or region. Always check the school's admissions profile before assuming that lower average metrics make it an attainable option for an out-of-state applicant.

Article Details

Categories

Recent Articles , Med Schools, Pre-health,

Author: Tatina Himes

Date Published: Sep 8, 2026