Alabama is ranked in the top 12 states in the US to study medicine. Keep reading to know the best medical schools in Alabama to explore various programs in medicine.
There are 4 medical schools in Alabama and increasing demand for health care professionals, hence the more reason it is one of the best study destinations to study medicine in the United States.
So here are some of the best medical schools in Alabama, the quality of the schools, their acceptance rate, and hospital affiliations
Why Study in Alabama
Alabama is in the United States’ southeast region. It lies centrally in a region known as the “Bible Belt”. This refers to a section of the country where a large portion of political and social culture has been influenced by a religiously conservative population of Christians.
The state boasts many of the same geographic land features that other states are famous for, such as the Appalachians Mountains, the plains at the sea level, and several rivers (one of the most extensive inland waterway systems) along with a coastline running along the Gulf of Mexico.
Alabama is a great place for international students. They can enrich their classroom education with valuable information on American politics, current culture, and other social issues. Alabama was a key player in both the American Civil War as well as the American Civil Rights Movement. International students may find this Alabama History TimeLine a valuable and useful resource. It will provide information about the state’s unique history, as well as the origins of American southern culture, before and during their time abroad.
There are many Alabama activities and attractions that international students can enjoy to enrich their experience abroad. Alabama offers many opportunities for international students to enjoy art and music festivals as well as sports such as racing cars, rock climbing, biking, and hiking. They also have the opportunity to visit other state attractions, including gardens, beaches, and state parks. There are many great weekend activities available all over the state.
Alabama’s top five largest cities (in descending order) are Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile. Alabama has over 50 colleges and universities. Many campuses provide real opportunities for students to study in Alabama. Many international students currently studying in Alabama come from Japan, China, and India. Alabama’s leading academic institutions for international student recruitment are Auburn University, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and the University of North Alabama.
How to Get Into Medical Schools in Alabama
Alabama medical schools are not easy to get into. USA COM’s acceptance rate is 14%. UAB and ACOM are both at around 5% acceptance. This puts them on par with the top-tier medical school Johns Hopkins and Harvard Med. You must be a highly-qualified and successful student to get accepted.
Alabama’s medical schools require that students take science courses. These include biology, chemistry, mathematics, and physics. To demonstrate a solid grasp of the basics, successful candidates will excel in pre-med requirements. Your transcript and scores are essential, but it is also important to demonstrate the leadership and interpersonal skills that are required for a doctor.
As a medical student, it is a great way to showcase your talents through volunteer work, research, or extracurriculars. Building relationships with mentors or professors will lead to positive letters of recommendation that highlight the applicant’s passion for healthcare.
Clinical Experience in Alabama
Medical schools can see your success as a doctor by seeing how you have demonstrated your knowledge and experience in healthcare. Additionally, it’s a great way of demonstrating that you can put the knowledge acquired in the classroom into practice. Due to the challenging nature of the medical school, the admissions team wants to see if you can be committed to something for the long term. This could be any kind of experiences such as volunteering, research, or clinical work.
The majority of successful applicants have experience in healthcare facilities. This includes volunteer and paid experience such as EMTs. You will be able to demonstrate that you understand the demands of practicing medicine by having held a similar position for a minimum of six months. A great way to demonstrate motivation is to shadow a physician as they go about their day.
Publishing research is a way to show you have worked in the medical field. Laboratory research proves the applicant’s scientific expertise and desire to help other people. Leadership in community organizations is another way to demonstrate your technical knowledge and willingness to advocate on behalf of patients throughout your career.
MCAT and GPA Scores
Test scores and GPA are crucial components of an application. These scores will help students stand out among the rest and show their ability to meet the demands of medical school. It is important to have impressive scores in all areas of your application, but the majority of applicants who are competitive will have high scores.
The Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a standard exam, is used to evaluate critical thinking, problem-solving, and the understanding of the principles that underpin the study of medicine. This includes social, behavioral, and natural science concepts. Medical students should prepare for the exam in order to score high marks.
Alabama Medical Schools students received an average score of 504 for ACOM, 508 for UAB, and 508 respectively for the entry classes.
Prerequisite courses are required if applicants want to be successful in medical school. The GPA of a student is used by medical schools to determine their previous success. The minimum GPA requirement for different programs is different. However, most qualified applicants will have at least 3.0. This means that applicants have to earn a majority of their A’s in previous science courses. To be eligible for admission to the Alabama medical school, students should have a minimum GPA of 3.5.
4 Best Medical Schools in Alabama
- University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)
- Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dothan, AL)
- University of South Alabama College of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)
- Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
1. University of Alabama, Birmingham School of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)
The Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine is a public medical school of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) located in Birmingham, Alabama. It tops our list of best medical schools in Alabama with branch campuses in Huntsville, Montgomery, and at the University of Alabama College of Community Health Sciences in Tuscaloosa. There are also Residency programs in Selma, Huntsville, and Montgomery.
To date, more than 9,000 doctors have been trained at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Five departments within the School of Medicine are ranked among the top 10 in NIH funding for their respective fields. The total bankroll for 2019 is $256 million. This includes the largest dermatology department in the country. This university is committed to improving medical knowledge and clinical practice by providing quality care and research.
The University hospital is located on the Birmingham campus. It is one of the best-equipped and largest academic hospitals in the United States. The facility houses some of the best medical programs in the state and is a key center for clinical research. UAB doctors are recognized as leading in their fields and have made many discoveries that continue the advancement of medicine.
UAB also houses one of 45 Medical Scientist Training Programs across the country. This highly selective program, funded by grants from the NIH awards students $25,000. yearly stipend. Each year, 6-10 medical students are admitted to the program. They can receive both an MD and a Ph.D. degree over six years.
UAB alumni and the School of Medicine faculty are some of the most prominent researchers, doctors, and inventors in the medical field. John W Kirklin is a UAB heart surgeon who was responsible for revolutionizing cardiovascular surgery with the invention of the heart-lung device. His work is the basis for modern ICUs and has helped improve care and reduce complications for patients around the world. Kirklin’s many contributions helped establish UAB as one of the most respected academic and clinical medical centers. UAB is also associated with many other innovations, such as the first fiber-optic endoscope and the first effective treatment of a viral illness.
2. Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (Dothan, AL)
The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) is a private, non-profit medical school established by a regional not-for-profit hospital in the city of Dothan. It is the first osteopathic medical school in Alabama and one of the best medical schools in Alabama.
On April 24, 2017, ACOM was awarded full accreditation status by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). Graduates receive a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (D.O.) after completing the program.
ACOM is committed to helping Alabama’s medically underserved communities. Graduates receive a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree after completing a rigorous curriculum and gaining hands-on experience.
ACOM’s systems-based integrated curriculum focuses on osteopathic principles, practice, and theory. Students learn through a combination of didactic styles, including group work, clinical sessions, and immersive simulations. Additionally, medical students have the opportunity to interact with patients and gain clinical experience through the school’s primary healthcare clinic. The curriculum is designed to help residents find residency placement by preparing them for their future careers and assisting them in matching the right residency.
Students enrolled in medical programs can also benefit from the many student organizations that are available on campus. These extracurricular activities offer opportunities for growth both on- and off-campus and support a wide range of interests and backgrounds. ACOM’s campus life includes a number of activities that allow med students to make connections with their peers, build professional networks, and learn about the practice of medicine. The Gold Humanism in Medicine Interest Group is a popular organization.
This group seeks to encourage students to be role models and leaders in humanistic medical practice.
The American Medical Student Association Virtual Patient Challenge is a competition that challenges students to apply their critical thinking skills. Virtual patient encounters are used to test the effectiveness of medical schools across the country. Both ACOM teams reached the championship round in 2021. The school won its second consecutive national title. This group is a legend in terms of its success. They won an international competition in 2017.
3. University of South Alabama College of Medicine (Birmingham, AL)
The University of South Alabama (USA) is a public research university located in Mobile, Alabama comprising ten colleges and schools that include two state-supported medical schools. The school was created by the Alabama Legislature in May 1963, and the first classes were held in June 1964, with an enrollment of 276 students; and a total of 88 bachelor’s degrees offered.
Medical students can find a wide range of resources at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine (USA COM). Relevant classes are offered, as well as clerkship opportunities and preparation for entry into residency. Students rated the learning environment, which has low student-to-faculty ratios, and safety highly.
Med students are required to give back to the community in order to fulfill their medical education. Each semester, each student in the USA COM completes four hours of service-learning. Students volunteer to provide care and advice for the marginalized and underserved through clinics, shelters, and schools. They must be able to adjust to the demands and social responsibilities that come with being future doctors. They also experience firsthand the distribution of illness and health in a community.
To further their education, students have the chance to participate in medical research. Topics of research include cancer mechanisms and treatments, lung diseases, and insect-borne illnesses. The Medical Student Summer Research Program is for students who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the role of research in medicine. Students are exposed to clinical research, seminars, and formal presentations at Research Day over a period of 10 weeks. To pursue their passions, undergraduates can do full-time summer research in the College of Medicine’s laboratories.
USA COM graduates have been matched with some of the most sought-after residency programs due to their extensive practical experience. While most graduates are trained in Internal Medicine, the Class of 2020 has gone on to Ophthalmology and Dermatology as well as Neurosurgery, Radiation Oncology, and many other specialties. A majority of the students were matched with out-of-state residency programs in the continental United States.
The Graduation Questionnaire revealed that 98% of USA COM students were satisfied with their medical education. This is higher than the national average. The positive opinions are a result of relevant classes, clerkship experience, and preparation for entry into residency. Students rated safety and a learning environment that was small with fewer student-to-faculty ratios highly.
4. Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is a private medical school founded in 2002 on the campus of Virginia Tech in Alabama (VCOM-Auburn). It is located on 16 acres of Auburn University’s campus.
VCOM-Auburn combines high-tech facilities of four stories and 100,000 square feet with the personal learning environment of an academic institution. There are beautiful, innovative VCOM-Auburn classrooms large second-floor auditoriums and a library on the third floor with small study areas. The first floor of the research lab contains special equipment, which is only available at Auburn. Other labs at the Auburn campus include a high-tech anatomy lab and an osteopathic manipulative medicine lab equipped with electrically-controlled adjustable tables.
Students have the chance to participate in activities, events, and research on all campuses. Alabama’s medical school grants both a D.O. Alabama’s medical school offers both a D.O. and an M.A. in Biomedical Science degrees. You must have a minimum of 3.2-grade point average in science and cumulatively to be eligible for admission.
Conclusion
And that’s it. Everything important information you need to know about the 4 best medical schools in Alabama.
These schools offer a comprehensive curriculum, equipped laboratory facilities, and vast opportunities in medicine and medical research. They are also affiliated with reputable teaching hospitals.
FAQs on Best Medical Schools in Alabama
The Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine is a public medical school of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) located in Birmingham, Alabama. There are also Residency programs in Selma, Huntsville, and Montgomery.
To date, more than 9,000 doctors have been trained at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Five departments within the School of Medicine are ranked among the top 10 in NIH funding for their respective fields. The total bankroll for 2019 is $256 million. This includes the largest dermatology department in the country. This university is committed to improving medical knowledge and clinical practice by providing quality care and research.
After completing a four-year bachelor’s degree, the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program or osteopathy (D.O.) in Alabama requires 4 years to complete.
The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) has an outstanding medical program in Alabama.
ACOM’s systems-based integrated curriculum focuses on osteopathic principles, practice, and theory. Students learn through a combination of didactic styles, including group work, clinical sessions, and immersive simulations. Additionally, medical students have the opportunity to interact with patients and gain clinical experience through the school’s primary healthcare clinic. The curriculum is designed to help residents find residency placement by preparing them for their future careers and assisting them in matching the right residency.
There are four medical schools in the state of Alabama.
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