The Best Premed Majors to Get Into Medical School (2025)

Getting into medical school is notoriously difficult. In fact, it is one of the most competitive professional schools to get into in the United States. Therefore, it makes sense that so many premed students are looking to gain an edge on the competition. Students looking for an advantage routinely ask questions like: “What is the best major for premed?” and “What are the best premed majors to prepare for medical school?”

Medical School Acceptance Rates by Major

Some premed majors are associated with increased admissions odds. AAMC publishes data each year on acceptance rates to U.S. medical schools by primary major. There’s long been a rumor that English and other humanities majors do best on the MCAT and enjoy the highest admissions odds. According to the most recent data, here is how medical school acceptance rates vary by major:

• Math and Statistics: 57.3% acceptance rate (335 applicants, 192 matriculants)
• Humanities: 51.9% acceptance rate (1,453 applicants, 755 matriculants)
• Biological Sciences: 42% acceptance rate (32,038 applicants, 13,480 matriculants)
• Other: 40.7% acceptance rate (9,288 applicants, 3,783 matriculants)

The Competitive Landscape of Admissions

The medical field is one of the most popular and competitive industries out there. Every year, tens of thousands of students compete for a limited number of seats in medical schools across the country. In recent years, over 60,000 applicants have been counted per application cycle, with only around 20,000 getting accepted. Additionally, most candidates send multiple applications. In 2019-2020, nearly 900,000 applications were submitted to medical schools across the country.

An increase in overall enrollment has not made medical school admissions any less competitive — on average. New medical schools are not being produced at a consistent rate, and not all existing schools are expanding their enrollment to keep up with an increasing number of applicants. Competition due to a limited number of medical schools and seats is only one piece of the puzzle.

Addressing the Physician Shortage

America is currently facing a doctor shortage — specifically in primary care and psychiatry, but the shortage spans multiple disciplines and specialties. The Association of American Medical Colleges predicts that by 2034, there will be a shortage of up to 122,000 physicians in the United States. Rural, inner-city, and other underserved communities are feeling the effects of this shortage the most. Many schools are now making a dedicated effort to expand enrollment and address physician shortages by expanding teaching facilities and increasing class sizes.

Strategies to Gain an Admissions Edge

Medical schools must vet candidates based on their ability to perform in the program and complete it. This includes personality traits and pre-med experience in addition to high levels of academic achievement. High school students interested in health professions are starting to plan earlier and taking more deliberate steps to make themselves attractive candidates. Some strategies include:

• Attending a prestigious university whose students enjoy high medical school acceptance rates
• Developing relationships with various admissions committees in hopes of having an insider connection
• Choosing the right prep course to maximize MCAT scores
• Writing a medical school personal statement about a unique topic
• Gaining compelling, hands-on clinical experience through healthcare and pre-med internships

Our goal is to explore known rumors and other important questions so that you can make an informed decision and choose the best major for you. While the highest-ranking schools are often the most competitive, many institutions are crucial for training the next generation of doctors we so desperately need.