Updated at: 03-04-2023 - By: Eden Wise

Overview

Many young people hope to one day help people by working in the medical field. Doctors and surgeons rank high not only on the importance scale but also in terms of salary and educational attainment in the United States. A bachelor’s degree and subsequent medical school training are prerequisites for this position.

In order to practice medicine legally, graduates of medical schools must first earn their medical license. Biochemistry, pharmacology, physiology, and anatomy are just some of the many topics from which they benefit from a solid grounding. Although the core curriculum is consistent across medical schools, there are significant differences in admissions standards, institutional design, and teaching methods.

Students at many schools of medicine will be able to participate in a wide range of clinical rotations and research projects at both academic and community hospitals. The best medical schools provide clinical training, wherein medical students learn to diagnose and treat actual patients.

Students can also pursue their individual interests in areas like internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and more.

Because of the program’s reputation for difficulty and the widespread interest in becoming doctors, competition for admission to medical school is fierce. Successful applicants will have stellar academic records, high MCAT scores, and supportive letters of recommendation. Based on factors including availability of resources, level of competition, and general health care quality, Alabama was named one of the best states in which to practice medicine. As a result, over 10,000 practicing doctors in Alabama take home nearly $200,000 annually.

While Alabama is a fantastic state in which to pursue a medical education and career, picking the right medical school can be a daunting task. According to US News’ annual ranking of medical schools, these are the best in Alabama. College Gazette’s editors decide which school comes in where if there is a tie or if an unranked institution is included.

Best Medical Schools In Alabama

Best medical schools in alabama

University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

University of Alabama, Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

The Heersink Medical School at the University of Alabama in Birmingham is an institution committed to the advancement of medical and biomedical knowledge through superior instruction, research, and service. The school is ranked #32 for research and #26 for primary care by US News.

This medical institution recognizes the link between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare and is working to eliminate these barriers. Their goal is to achieve greatness by valuing and celebrating diversity.

Undergraduate students from underrepresented communities are encouraged to apply to the Short-Term Research Experience for Under-Represented Persons (STEP-UP), the UAB Research in Aging through Mentorship and Practice-Undergraduate Program (RAMP-UP), or the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP).

The following prerequisites must be met for admission: General Biology, Biochemistry, General Physics (with lab), Biostatistics/Statistics/College Mathematics, English, and Behavioral and Social Sciences at the undergraduate level. A minimum MCAT score of 495 is required for out-of-state applicants to move on to the secondary application phase.

University of South Alabama Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine

Medical students can take advantage of many facilities and programs at the USA COM, which is part of the University of South Alabama. Higher than the national average, 98% of respondents in the Graduation Questionnaire expressed contentment with their medical education. Being well-prepared for residency via coursework, clerkship, and other means has led to this optimistic assessment. Students also gave high marks to the campus’s safe environment and the small student-to-teacher ratio.

As part of their curriculum, medical students are encouraged to participate in community service. The USA COM requires its students to participate in four hours of community service each semester. Underserved and marginalized communities often rely on student volunteers to provide healthcare and counseling through clinics, centers, shelters, and educational institutions. They need to be able to handle the stress and social obligations that come with being doctors in the future. In addition, they see the prevalence of diseases and injuries in a population for themselves.

To round out their education, students can also participate in medical research. Cancer, lung disease, and insect-borne illness are just a few of the diseases being studied, along with their underlying mechanisms and potential treatments. The Medical Student Summer Research Program is designed to help students learn how medical research impacts clinical practice. Students participate in clinical research, attend seminars, and give formal presentations at Research Day over the course of 10 weeks. In addition, undergraduates can spend their summers working alongside faculty from the College of Medicine on full-time research projects.

USA COM grads get placed in highly competitive residency programs thanks to their wealth of practical experience. Students from the Class of 2020 went into fields as diverse as ophthalmology, dermatology, neurosurgery, radiation oncology, and more, though the vast majority went into internal medicine. About 65% of students were accepted into residency programs that were located in a different state.

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) is a public, not-for-profit medical institution that follows what it calls a “hybrid discipline and systems-based model” for teaching osteopathic medicine. In the first two years of study, students acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities through both conventional methods and a longitudinal approach to osteopathic practices that emphasizes practical experience.

The four simulation bays at their Center for Excellence in Simulation play a significant role in this.

In addition to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, you can also study for a Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Health, or Master of Science in Medicine. The usefulness of such courses depends on the type of doctor you hope to become after medical school.

For those who aspire to a career in academia as faculty or teachers, ACOM also offers a Medical Student Fellows Scholars program. Anatomy and osteopathic principles and practice courses, as well as clinical simulation courses, are available. With this program, you can spend an extra year learning to be a doctor of osteopathy. You will receive a tuition waiver for two years and a monthly stipend during your fellowship year in exchange for your participation in research projects, lectures, and teaching.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn

The VCOM-Auburn campus, which opened in 2014 in the Auburn University research park, is home to cutting-edge medical teaching facilities like a simulation center, anatomy lab, OMM lab, and more that were built with our D.O. program in mind.

Students and faculty at Auburn University work together in the university’s research lab and laboratories on the building’s first floor. In addition to working with the Harrison School of Pharmacy, Samuel Ginn College of Engineering, College of Education, and School of Kinesiology, this Alabama medical school also collaborates with other schools at the university for research.

The typical grade point average at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine is 3.15. GPA is required for enrollment at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. Current admissions standards at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine are high. Some schools in this GPA range, however, are becoming more selective in an effort to raise their “prestige” profile. Although we can’t know for sure, this year’s Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine application reviewers probably have a goal of raising the average GPA from 3.15 to 3.31.

To meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and to promote research to improve human health, VCOM at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) educates students to become physicians with a global perspective. These and other accomplishments make VCOM a top contender among Alabama’s medical schools and a solid option for prospective students.

Samford University

Established in 1841, Samford University’s medical program is among the best in Alabama. The Wall Street Journal also ranks Samford as the best university in Alabama, so prospective students can rest assured that the quality of the school’s medical program is very high. For the BSN, it’s important to look into programs with a high NCLEX pass rate or a more typical occupational course of action rate. Non-state funded schools often have higher instructional expense rates for undergraduates, but these schools may have excellent quality and outcomes.

Medical initiatives, such as those in Alabama’s health care, population growth, wealth, mortality, and fire prevention sectors, are crucial to the country’s long-term success.

Auburn University

Auburn University has an impressive 19 undergraduates for every one faculty member. That kind of density suggests that medical students can enjoy the big-school atmosphere while still being easily visible to teachers.

The medical and health sciences curriculum at Reddish-brown University consists of four years total, the first two of which are spent in pre-medical studies. In total, this program is estimated to take ten semesters (or five years) to complete at this Alabama medical school. It’s a great program overall, but the time commitment might turn off a few potential participants.

Tuskegee University

Booker T. Washington founded the school in 1881. Tuskegee University’s medical and health venture relies heavily on the success of its medical and health major. There is only one medical school certification program at Tuskegee University. It’s a private, four-year school in a small, out-of-the-way town. Medical ethics are emphasized, and students are encouraged to gain as much hands-on experience as possible. There are a number of medical programs available, but only strong candidates will be considered.

Columbia Southern University

Columbia Southern University

Undergraduates interested in the medical and health fields would do well to attend Columbia Southern University. Columbia Southern University is a private, income-driven institution with a large number of undergraduate students located on the outskirts of Orange Beach.

In the field of medicine and health, Columbia Southern University provides educational opportunities for students at all levels, from the Associate’s to the Master’s and even beyond. Columbia Southern University’s medical and health graduates do not fare any better than the average college graduate in this field.

Jacksonville State University

Jacksonville State University is relatively small for a publicly funded university, with only about 8,500 accepted students. There is an abundance of things to do in the area, such as visiting museums and state parks. Prospective nurses are likely more interested in the conventional BSN than in regional practicums.

Most would-be nurses wait until later in their academic careers to express interest in the program. New nursing students are welcome to enroll at JSU in the fall and spring semesters. In addition, JSU has an early admissions program for promising high school seniors.

FAQs

How to Get Into Medical Schools in Alabama?

Admission to Alabama’s medical schools is highly competitive. The acceptance rate at USA COM is 14%, while those at UAB and ACOM are both around 5%. This places the three universities on par with prestigious institutions like Harvard Medical School and Johns Hopkins University. Being a well-rounded and successful student is crucial for acceptance.

Students interested in applying to medical schools in Alabama should focus their academic efforts on completing coursework and labs in the sciences. Candidates who demonstrate a mastery of the fundamentals will do exceptionally well in these pre-medical requirements. Your leadership and interpersonal skills as well as your academic record will be just as important for a position in medicine.

Volunteering, doing research, and participating in extracurricular activities are all great ways to show off your personality as a medical student. The applicant’s personality and enthusiasm for healthcare can shine through in glowing letters of recommendation written by professors and mentors with whom they’ve developed relationships.

Does every medical school in Alabama require the CASPer? 

Applicants to all other Alabama medical schools are exempt from taking the CASPer.

Does every medical school in Alabama require the MCAT? 

Yes, MCAT scores are required by all Alabama medical schools.

What Medical school has the best medical program in Alabama?

The medical program at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) is among the best in the country.

ACOM’s osteopathic curriculum is systems-based and theoretically and practically grounded. Group projects, clinical seminars, and interactive simulations are just some of the ways in which students gain knowledge. In addition, the school’s primary care clinic provides students with patient contact and clinical experience. The curriculum’s focus on future career preparation and matching residents with appropriate residencies is intended to ease the residency placement process.

Conclusion

A career in medicine is boring, difficult, and combative. There are few fields that require as much trust and commitment from you as this one does. Consider your goals in life before passing judgment. Assuming I understood you correctly, this article may be useful in your search for the right school.