Medical Schools in Phoenix: Go to Medical School in Phoenix

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Phoenix is a popular spot to visit or settle in, thanks to its strong economy, sun-loving summers, and grid-organized streets. It’s also home to two medical schools with impressive stats and facts. So, it’s popular among aspiring doctors to-be too!

Let’s go deeper into these med schools. 

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University of Arizona- College of Medicine at Phoenix

The College of Medicine at Arizona University is within the top 100 med schools in two important categories. It is #53 in graduates who practice in underprivileged communities and top 100 in graduates who work in primary care.

The college is a part of the University of Health Sciences, which is a notable leader in various health professions training and biomedical research. It manages to get over $200 million in contracts and grants every year, which allows it to do advanced research and excellent education and med training. 

The school is partnered with other prestigious medical organizations, which include the Mayo Clinic, Phoenix VA Healthcare System, Valleywise Health, and Phoenix Children’s Hospital. These partnerships help students get practical knowledge in the medical field. 

College of Medicine offers an MD, MD/Ph.D., MD/MBA, MD/MPH, Clinical Translational Sciences MS, and Ph.D. as well as Certificates in Distinction (MD) in rural, global, service, and community health. 

Although these programs are not as varied as other schools, there are more than 20 options for you when you finish the MD program. The MD program is divided into two parts; the pre-clerkship curriculum (the first and second year) and the clerkship curriculum (the third and fourth year). 

You have a bigger clinical exposure here as you go into the clerkship section three months before other medical schools. 

The Phoenix College of Medicine also trains future healthcare professionals through holistic means and infuses medical education with a humanistic and artistic streak. 

They created the Program of Art in Medicine, which encourages students to learn human emotions and perspectives through art. This gives them good traits to be better doctors. 

Admission requirements are as follows:

  • Undergraduate, post-baccalaureate or graduate studies with a GPA of 3.0 or better
  • A minimum score of 500 for the MCAT
  • Required coursework in chemistry, biology, behavioral sciences, English, mathematics, and humanities 
  • Clinical exposure
  • Community service hours
  • Extracurricular activities 

You can get a full list of their requirements on the college website. The school has an acceptance rate of 7.02% for in-state and 0.97% for out-of-state applicants. 

The Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (MCASOM) at Phoenix

The Mayo Clinic is a well-known name when it comes to exceptional care and medical research, so the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine retains this excellent profile by being a world-class med school. Admission to the MD program can be competitive, though, as it averages around 2% yearly. 

This university is a part of the Mayo Clinic’s educational sector. Medical education at this school is purely research-based, so you are involved with the best of the best. Despite these attractive qualities, MCASOM is one of the best yet most selective schools in the US. 

However, their students have low education debt rates compared to US med schools and get high scores at the USMLE Step 1. The schedule and education are very personalized because the class sizes remain very small. 

Programs offered:

  • Medicine
  • Medical scientist
  • Nurse anesthetist
  • Physical therapy
  • Biochemistry and molecular biology
  • Bioengineering and biomedical engineering
  • Microbiology and immunology
  • Pharmacology and toxicology
  • Health professions and related clinical sciences
  • Neuroscience and neurobiology

MCASOM understands that med school is not a one-size-fits-all. They feel that it’s important for you to graduate with a strong sense of the kind of doctor you want to be. So, they have a flexible curriculum that gives you the opportunity to explore your interests. You also have the ability to structure your education through various electives. 

The school’s programs work on a pass/fail evaluation system, which makes it non-competitive. It also ensures that you can focus on your mental health without stressing about rankings. 

To study at this school, you must have a Pharm.D. or bachelor’s degree from a school in the US or Canada. 

Other admission requirements are as follows:

  • MCAT score at or above 508 
  • GPA scores (no minimum)
  • Personal statement 
  • Letters of recommendation
  • Personal experiences, such as leadership, research, community and volunteer service, exposure to medicine, athletic and artistic activities, and relevant work experience

MCASOM does not want any prerequisite courses, however, their website states that successful applicants will have knowledge in the social sciences and life sciences, as shown in their MCAT scores.

Tips on Getting Accepted to Medical Schools in Arizona

These are great medical schools; however, they can be extremely hard to get to. Especially MCASOM, as it’s very selective! 

Here are some easy tips to bump your chances of getting into your dream med school. 

Start Preparing Applications Early

It’s always better to get your applications in line early. Don’t wait last minute to take your exams as well. You are competing with the state’s aspiring med students, so you must make sure your application stands out!

Spend some time on your applications. Med schools love students who show care and initiative to their community and their interests. So, it’s best to start working on this ASAP, even if it’s just a draft. 

Study Well

Whether you need to study for the CASPer, coursework, or the MCAT, make sure you study hard and well. The med schools always look at transcripts to see if you’re a good fit for their school. 

Don’t have burnout; however, try to study as much as possible from an early date. Focus on math and sciences if the medical school relies on those areas. Some schools want a minimum MCAT, so you have to make sure to score high enough. 

Focus on Extracurriculars 

Good grades definitely carry your application and your ability to attend med school; however, med schools also love to see some extracurriculars. Students who maintain high grades with a healthy social life show that they can balance work and life properly. This is the kind of student they look for.

Shadow a Doctor

Gaining medical experience is another bright addition to your application. This can be done by shadowing a doctor. In this way, you will get a feel of the life of a doctor and if you can survive in the high-functioning world of medicine. 

If you cannot find a doctor, you can try volunteering at the local hospitals. You will learn the daily runnings of the hospital and gain valuable experience along the way. Additionally, it also helps you determine whether the medical field is right for you. 

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