Medical schools in the United States can be classified into two broad categories: those that focus on research and those that focus on primary care. Each category has a kind of hierarchy when it comes to reputation. There is no clear-cut way to establish a list that begins with the “best” and ends with the “worst,” but of course, some are much more reputable than others.

Again, this does not mean that a student can simply select the “best” and apply for admission there. The higher the reputation of a medical institution, the higher its requirements regarding the GPA (grade point average) required for admission eligibility. A top-tier medical school will also have a much stricter version of the Medical School Admission Test (MCAT). Other factors that decide eligibility for admission are the applicant’s state of residence and the way the application essay has been written.

There are a number of advantages to studying at one of the best American medical schools. The name in the heading of the title has a lot to do with how easy or difficult it will be to get future academic and professional breaks. In addition, medical studies become much more comfortable with the correct pedigree, and it is quite possible that a student from one of the high-ranking institutes will get one of the residency vacancies in a practicing medical establishment.

Currently, among the most reputable research-oriented medical schools in the United States, in more or less descending order, are Harvard University, John Hopkins University, Duke University, and the University of California at San Francisco. University of Washington, Oregon Health & Science University, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, and University of Minnesota Duluth are among the most reputable in primary care.