School Selection

Selecting health professional schools to apply to is one of the most important aspects of the application process. Applicant to program alignment is critical for applicant success. In the sections below, we provide guidance and resources for how to strategically approach your school selection. 

Building a school list is an important step in an applicant’s journey to a health professions program. A thoughtful school list can help applicants identify programs that align with their goals, strengths, and interests while giving them time to learn more about the programs they may ultimately apply to. In the video above, we describe when to begin building a school list, how to research and evaluate health professional programs, and how to refine the school list as applicants progress through their pre-health journey and prepare to apply. 

Resources:

School List Builder

School Visit Reflection Template

Utilizing an accredited online database enables applicants to initially browse, search, and compare valuable information about individual health professional programs. It is also important that applicants review the individual websites for each program they are considering applying to in order gain a comprehensive understanding of the program expectations, requirements, and admissions policies. Please see the list of accredited program specific search engines below. 

Medical Schools (MD &DO)

Dental Schools:

Physician Assistant Programs:

Veterinary Schools:

Optometry Schools:

Podiatry Schools: 

Building a school list involves more than simply identifying programs that meet an applicant’s academic qualifications. A thoughtful school list should reflect both an applicant’s career goals and the values, priorities, and characteristics of the programs they are considering. In the video above, we describe important factors to consider when evaluating whether a health professional school should make the cut for an applicant’s final list. We discuss the importance of applicant-to-program alignment in areas such as academic standards, mission and values, and public versus private school policies. We also discuss strategies for learning more about specific health professional programs through admissions events and program resources. 

Academic performance is an important factor for applicants to consider when building a health professional school list. Understanding a program’s academic standards can help applicants identify schools that align with their academic profile and develop a balanced list of programs. In the video above, we discuss how GPA and entrance exam scores factor into the admissions process, strategies for researching and comparing program-specific academic expectations, and how applicants can use their academic profile to identify safety, target, and reach schools. We also discuss the importance of considering a range of academic expectations when developing a final school list. 

Please see our Entrance Exam webpage for more information about competitive entrance exam scores by health profession. 

Pre-medical students may wish to view Table A-23 on the AAMC Matriculant Data webpage here for more information about how MCAT and GPA impact acceptance rates to medical school. 

As applicants prepare to submit their primary applications, they should focus on creating a balanced list of health professional programs that align with both their academic profile and their individual goals, experiences, and values. The PreMed and PreHealth Advising Program recommends applying to an appropriate number of programs: 15–25 medical, 8–10 dental, 10–12 PA, 6–9 podiatry, 6–9 veterinary, and 6–9 optometry programs.

Applying within these ranges allows applicants to maintain a broad selection of schools while being intentional about choosing programs for which they are a strong fit. Applicants should consider academic alignment, including GPA and entrance exam scores, alongside factors such as program mission and values, curriculum, location, and admissions policies. A well-researched and balanced final school list can help applicants focus their time and effort on programs where they have the greatest potential for a successful application cycle. 

Congratulations on being accepted to a health professional program—this is a significant accomplishment and an exciting milestone in an applicant’s pre-health journey! Once accepted to a health professional program, applicants are no longer eligible to receive Northeastern University’s Letter Packet. Applicants holding multiple acceptances should carefully evaluate their options before making a final decision, considering factors such as cost and financial assistance, campus and community culture, and overall alignment with each program’s mission, curriculum, and opportunities. Throughout this process, applicants should closely follow guidance from their application service and individual health professional program to ensure that all requirements, response dates, deposits, and other important deadlines are met. 

For MD/DO-PhD applicants, the school selection process should place a particularly strong emphasis on research alignment. Applicants should identify programs where their long-term research interests align with the institution’s areas of expertise and where they can demonstrate meaningful research experience related to those goals. When evaluating programs, applicants should thoroughly research available laboratories, relevant faculty and principal investigators (PIs), ongoing areas of investigation, and the program’s overall mission and training philosophy. Because the MD/DO-PhD application process is often more intimate and involved than other health professional program application processes, applicants should be prepared to clearly articulate not only why they are pursuing combined physician-scientist training, but also why a particular program and research environment are a strong fit for their interests and future goals. 

INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS TO U.S. HEALTH PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS 

Applying to U.S. health professional programs as an international applicant can involve unique considerations throughout the school selection and application process. 

Before selecting health professional schools of interest, international applicants are encouraged to research each program’s policies and requirements for international candidates. For example, some public medical schools in the United States do not accept applications from international students. Programs that do accept international applicants may have limited financial aid and scholarship opportunities and may report more competitive admissions metrics among accepted international students. 

International applicants can learn more about applying to medical school in the United States through the AAMC’s guidance for international applicants. Applicants are also encouraged to consult with their PreHealth Advisor with questions about navigating the school selection and application process as an international applicant. 

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL GRADUATE PROGRAMS 

Whether an applicant is a U.S. citizen or not, they may be considering the flexibility and accessibility of an international medical graduate program. International Medical Graduates (IMGs) are physicians who received their basic medical degree or qualification from a medical school located outside the United States and Canada. The location of the medical school, rather than the citizenship of the physician, determines whether a graduate is considered an IMG. Therefore, U.S. citizens who graduate from medical schools outside the United States and Canada are also considered IMGs. 

Applicants considering an international medical graduate program for their future medical education should consult the Northeastern University Guide to International Pathways in Medicine. Applicants are also encouraged to contact the admissions teams at medical programs of interest outside the United States and Canada directly, as these programs are the best resource for information and guidance regarding their specific admissions processes and requirements. 

For applicants preparing to re-apply to health professional programs, reflecting on the previous school list is an important step in developing a thoughtful re-application strategy. Re-applicants should consider including programs where they previously interviewed and/or were waitlisted, as these outcomes demonstrate that the programs had significant interest in their candidacy. At the same time, applicants should carefully reassess their overall school list to ensure strong applicant-to-program alignment in areas such as academic profile, mission, values, and professional goals. Re-applicants should also review any public institutions to which they previously applied as a non-resident and consider whether the program’s admissions policies and priorities make them a strong fit. When appropriate, replacing these schools with private institutions or other programs with greater applicant alignment can help create a more intentional and balanced school list for the next application cycle.