Best Medical Schools in Chicago: If you want to study medicine in the US, these are the 7 best medical schools in Chicago.
These medical schools are widely sought after by international students from all over the world, but not simply because they are well-known; rather, it is mostly due to the extensive curriculum and numerous chances in medicine and medical research that they provide.
Recognized doctors, and medical professionals are able to teach medical students. This leads to a unique clinical experience.
Students who can demonstrate a strong dedication to serving patients in Chicago or who have experience working with the local population in Chicago will be given preference during the admissions process.
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Requirements for Admission to Medical Schools in Chicago
Chicago’s medical schools are extremely competitive, just like those at every other medical school in the US. In actuality, acceptance rates at more than five of these institutions are 15% or lower.
However, the criteria for admission to the Chicago medical school are rather simple. These include ninety percentile or higher test scores (since admission to the top three medical schools in Chicago is contingent upon this), outstanding GPA and MCAT test scores, prior experience practicing medicine in Chicago, a strong application, and college essays that demonstrate your desire to practice medicine in Chicago.
To improve your chances of being accepted, you should also have done internships and/or had work experience in the medical industry. One of the best ways to demonstrate your dedication and love for medicine is to volunteer at a free clinic or with a hospital service. You’ll get a taste of what it’s like to work in a hospital emergency department or in another medical setting.
To get expertise in the medical industry, you can also get paid while performing a variety of tasks. If you enjoy research, you can collaborate with academics at recognized medical colleges. There may be openings for lab internships and assistantships where you can work on your own project or on the projects of other researchers.
You can work as a nurse assistant or nurse’s aide at a hospital, neighborhood clinic, or any other setting where sick and injured people are treated if you wish to work closely with patients.
Your application and college essays, however, should demonstrate how serious you are about being a doctor so that you can help Chicago if you lack any preclinical experience in the city.
This will make it easier for the school’s admissions committee to comprehend why you are specifically applying for their program.
Letters of recommendation are another crucial condition you must meet before applying to any medical school in Chicago. Official letters from your instructors, employers, or other individuals who have faith in you will be required.
It is very important that you obtain a letter of recommendation from a current or former employer who can attest to your work ethic in order to demonstrate to the admissions committee how determined and devoted you are to pursue a career in medicine. They’ll be able to tell whether you have exceptional grades in addition to your capacity for performance in a demanding and quick atmosphere.
Recommendation letters must be formally sent along with the rest of your application documents by email or postal mail.
Best Medical Schools in Chicago
- University of Chicago Pritzker College of Medicine
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
- University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Rush University Medical College
- Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
- Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School
1. University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
The University of Chicago’s Biological Sciences Division is home to the esteemed Pritzker School of Medicine. It is situated on the main campus of the university in Chicago’s famed Hyde Park neighborhood.
The medical school held the white coat ceremony, and the first class graduated in 1927. The medical school provides combined degree programs, graduate medical education, continuing medical education, and a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program.
The University of Chicago Medical Center, which acts as the main teaching hospital, is associated with the Pritzker College of Medicine. The University of Chicago Medical Center is ranked as Illinois’ third-best hospital by US News. Pritzker joined forces with the NorthShore University HealthSystem in July 2008.
The Pritzker School of Medicine is ranked #34 in both the category of “Best Medical Schools for Primary Care” and #17 overall by U.S. News & World Report.
Robert Gallo, who is credited with discovering HIV, and Joseph Ransohoff, who founded the first neurosurgical intensive care unit and thereby advanced the discipline of neurosurgery, are two illustrious alumni.
Given that Pritzker only accepts 4% of applicants, admission is extremely tough. Both the MCAT and GPA requirements for new students are high: 519 on the MCAT and 3.844 on the GPA scale.
2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University is the institution’s medical school. It was established in 1859 and is situated in the Chicago neighborhood of Streeterville.
A number of dual degree programs, graduate medical education, a full-time Doctor of Medicine program, and programs for continuing medical education are all available at this prominent medical institution.
The curriculum, which is divided into three phases and integrates the four main curricular areas of clinical medicine, science in medicine, professional development, and health & society, focuses more on a “learner-centered” education and is created to offer every student exceptional learning opportunities.
Based on its dedication to patient care and community service, Feinberg is ranked as the 17th best American medical school for research by U.S. News & World Report in 2022.
The Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab are two of Feinberg’s medical facilities. The main teaching hospital for the medical school is Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The facility is ranked by US News as the greatest medical facility in the country and first in Illinois. The Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, on the other hand, came in top place in the US for rehabilitation.
One of the greatest medical schools in Chicago is Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, which boasts alumni who go on to become well-known medical professionals, medical school presidents, several Nobel Laureates, and MacArthur Fellows.
The Feinberg School of Medicine has an admittance rate of 7.09%. A 3.9 average GPA and a 519 average MCAT score are requirements for applicants.
3. University of Illinois College of Medicine
Four locations in Illinois—Chicago, Rockford, Peoria, and Urbana-Champaign—offer a four-year medical degree through the University of Illinois College of Medicine.
The largest campus of them all, Chicago, provides students with a wealth of clinical experience. For example, first-year students can take patient histories while accompanying doctors on rounds. The Carle Illinois College of Medicine, on the other hand, has recently relocated to the Urbana-Champaign campus after new student admittance was halted after Fall 2016.
The College of Medicine offers a number of graduate programs, including a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree program, a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program in the medical sciences, and three combination degree programs (MD/MPH, MD/Ph.D., and MD/MBA).
The University of Illinois College of Medicine is renowned for its cutting-edge research and offers more than 75 residency choices across its four campuses. It is ranked as the 55th best medical school in the United States for medical research by US News.
Olga Jonasson, a pioneer in kidney transplantation and the first person to lead an academic surgery department, and Julius B. Richmond, a former U.S. surgeon general, are notable alumni.
The average GPA and needed MCAT score are 3.8 and 512, respectively, with a 7.4% acceptance rate. Additionally, candidates must demonstrate a keen interest in studying medicine and have the qualities of mind and character that are characteristic of doctors.
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4. Rush University Medical College
Private research university Rush University was established in Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. It consists of the Rush University Graduate College, Rush University College of Health Sciences, Rush University College of Nursing, and Rush University Medical College.
One of Illinois’s original medical schools, Rush Medical College has a “system-based” curriculum that requires students to take individual exams in biochemistry, anatomy, and other courses. During their preclinical years, medical students have the option of passing or failing.
As one of the top medical schools in Chicago for research, Rush Medical College is ranked #58 by US News. James B. Herrick, a physician who first identified sickle cell anemia, Robert Holbrook Smith, a co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, and David J. Peck, the first African American to get a doctorate in medicine from Rush Medical College, are among the school’s notable former students.
Rush Medical College demands an MCAT score of 509 and an average GPA of 3.6. There is a 3.8% acceptance rate.
5. Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
The Loyola University Medical Center houses the Stritch School of Medicine, the university’s medical school. Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Foster G. McGaw Hospital, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Translational Research and Education, and Loyola University Center for Health and Fitness are among its five medical campuses.
Even in their latter years of study, first- and second-year medical students have the opportunity to gain the clinical knowledge and experience essential to thrive in their residencies and clerkships.
The school’s distinctive curriculum places an emphasis on professionalism and a solid clinical foundation. Students in the first two years concentrate on one class while learning in “blocks,” small groups, and through mentoring programs.
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degrees are given to Stritch medical graduates after they have successfully completed all required coursework and aced the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam. The Step 1, Step 2CS, and Step 2 CK exams are included in this.
The Stritch School of Medicine is extremely competitive, with an admittance rate of 3.8%, much like the Pritzker College of Medicine. Additionally, the average MCAT score and GPA are both. High MCAT and GPA requirements for new students are 510 and 3.72, respectively.
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6. Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
In Downers Grove, Illinois, a private, non-profit medical school known as the Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) was established in 1900.
It is one of the top medical schools in Chicago for osteopathic medicine and the fourth-oldest medical school in the state of Illinois. Graduates of CCOM make up 13% of practicing physicians and surgeons in the United States.
On its two campuses, Midwestern University provides a variety of graduate-level health programs. Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Dental Medicine, Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Pharmacy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Doctor of Psychology, Doctor of Optometry, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, and Doctor of Nursing Practice are just a few of the doctoral degree programs available.
The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission has accredited the graduate degrees offered by the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, including the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree.
The Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine has just opened a campus in Glendale, Arizona, making it the state’s second medical institution. Richard Scheuring, a NASA flight surgeon, and James N. Weinstein, a former senior vice president of Microsoft Healthcare, are notable alumni.
The CCOM program is built on discipline-based learning, allowing graduates to provide patient-centered care while successfully collaborating with other medical practitioners. For the purpose of getting clinical experience, the school is connected to a number of clinics. This includes the Multi-Specialty Clinic at Midwestern University, which houses family practice clinics, dental clinics, optometry clinics, and institutes for speech and language.
The 15% CCOM acceptance rate. A GPA of 3.6 and an average MCAT score of 508 are requirements for new students. The Higher Learning Commission has granted regional accreditation to the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
7. Rosalind Franklin University Chicago Medical School
North Chicago is home to Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU), a private, nonprofit medical institution. It has more than five schools, including the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, the Chicago Medical School, the College of Pharmacy, and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
RFU offers more than 29 study programs, including Ph.D. programs in basic and medical research as well as graduate degrees in health-related fields. In addition, RFU was one of the first medical schools in the United States to accept minority and female applicants.
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science has always demonstrated its enormous dedication to community service. It views volunteer work as a necessary and natural component of medical education.
The Interprofessional Community commitment to community service started by the medical class of 2016 is a striking illustration of this. The free clinic was established to offer medical care to Chicago’s low-income people.
The average MCAT score and GPA for candidates for the Chicago medical school are 511 and 3.61, respectively. Each candidate must also have the intellectual qualities, interpersonal abilities, and great love for medicine that are required of doctors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Chicago medical school is the best?
University of Chicago Pritzker College of Medicine. The medical school provides combined degree programs, graduate medical education, continuing medical education, and a full-time Doctor of Medicine degree program.
How long does it take to complete a Chicago medical school?
It takes four years to complete the M.D. program, which is for doctors of medicine. On the other hand, the Ph.D. degree in biomedical sciences takes at least 4 to 5 years to complete.
Is it difficult to get into Chicago’s medical schools?
Chicago's medical schools are highly selective, with admittance rates of 15% or fewer at more than five of them.
Is Chicago a desirable city for physicians?
The healthcare sector is well-established in Chicago and the suburbs around. Because specialists are never far away from family doctors, it is simpler to manage challenging patients. In addition, housing in suburbia is more reasonably priced than in comparable-sized metro centers.
Conclusion
The end of that. The 7 best medical schools in Chicago, together with all the vital facts you should be aware of.
These institutions provide a broad curriculum, numerous chances in medicine and medical research, as well as training areas, labs, and other resources. Additionally, they are connected to reputable teaching hospitals.
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