Mayo Clinic Medical School: Fees, Admissions, Financial Aid and Social Life

The Mayo Medical School offers a truly superb and unique opportunity for medical education. Founded in the 1800s, Mayo has become the world's largest group practice, with nearly 2,000 staff physicians and scientists, nearly half a million annual patient registrations, and three campuses (Rochester, MN; Scottsdale, AZ; and Jacksonville, FL). Rochester, home of the main campus and the Medical School, is a city full of paradoxes a center of cutting edge technology planted among the cornfields of the heartland.

From its inception, education has served a vital role at Mayo, and its medical students quickly discover that this emphasis has not changed. Mayo Clinic Medical School draws approximately 100 applicants for each position, permitting the admissions committee to select a diverse student body with not only exceptional academic qualifications but also demonstrated personal, social, and humanitarian interests and achievements. These select students are provided with unmatched resources, including financial assistance, a staff of renowned physicians and scientists who voluntarily and eagerly teach, and an environment that truly fosters cooperation at all levels.

Admissions/Financial Aid 

The numbers may at first be intimidating: nearly 4,000 students vie for forty two positions (six are reserved for M.D./Ph.D. applicants, and two are reserved for oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMS) applicants). Mayo accepts the standard AMCAS application but uses a telephone interview as the secondary application for candidates who meet initial screening criteria (about 600 people). Mayo tries to carefully evaluate all aspects of the application and does not just focus on the numbers. Those "passing" the telephone interview (about 400 people) are invited for a personal interview in Rochester. Interviews are typically rela.xed, even borderline enjoyable (if that's possible). Interviewers reportedly look for evidence of integrity, adaptability, maturity, leadership, and humanitarian concern. Despite the relaxed atmosphere of the interview, it is heavily weighted be at your best!

The published tuition of $22,440 is misleading. Forty five percent of entering students receive a full tuition scholarship, and a merit scholarship program reduces the cost by 50 percent for all other students. Residents of Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida receive an additional 50 percent off tuition and pay only $5,610. M.D./Ph.D. and OMS students receive full tuition remission and a generous stipend for the full period of training. (These fees change every year)

Preclinical Years 

First year course work begins with anatomy, histology, immunology, and molecular biology. The remainder of first year focuses around the major organ systems. Much of the learning is problem based and takes place in groups of approximately ten students. Grading for most courses is honors, high pass, pass, marginal pass, and fail. Though Mayo typically attracts bright students who create a challenging environment, the learning situation is highly cooperative.

Since early clinical exposure is a priority of Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, students begin patient contact within the first weeks of enrollment. First year students are matched with a primary care mentor, who gives a one on one introduction to the clinic and to patient care. Further, the Introduction to the Patient course teaches students the fundamentals of history taking and physical examination and cuhninates in each student applying these skills to a Mayo patient by the end of the first year.

After a five week break, a rigorous second year begins. An initial didactic block includes Microbiology and Infectious Disease, Introduction to Psychopathology, Introduction to Bioethics, Sexual Medicine, and Family Medicine. Following this block, students begin rotating through the clinic in the morning and attending lectures in the afternoon.

Second year clinical rotations include internal medicine, pediatrics, neurology, dermatology, musculoskeletal medicine and rehabilitation, and obstetrics and gynecology. Students typically interview and examine patients before the attending, present the case to the attending, and then observe as the attending examines the patient, all of which provides an incredible opportunity to develop and polish clinical skills. Second year afternoon course work is dominated by pathophysiology and pharmacology, two courses that span most of the school year and require considerable study time. Lectures end at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m., leaving the evening hours for studying. While second year is grueling, students generally find it more rewarding than the first year. At least one objective measure, the USMLE Step I (the boards), indicates that Mayo's preclinical curriculum is more than adequate, with the following statistics from 1998: all Mayo students passed, 17 percent scored above the 99th percentile, 33 percent scored above the 95th percentile, 44 percent scored above the 90th percentile, and the class mean was in the 87th percentile.

Clinical Years 

The clerkships of the third year involve working sideby side with attendings and residents in internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, general surgery, neurology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and radiology. Since students have already had considerable clinical exposure during second year rotations, they rapidly increase their level of participation in the initial care of patients as thirdyear students. The level of autonomy is gradually adjusted based on confidence and competence in the particular area, as well as the eagerness of the student. A lot is expected of Mayo students, but staft and residents are typically patient. Grades are based on attending and resident comments, demonstrated abilities, and written standardized examinations.

Mayo Clinic Medical School is truly a world class health care center and regularly attracts patients from all over the world who are seeking the advice of renowned experts in nearly every imaginable specialty. Thus, medical students have the opportunity to see and work up many zebras (very unusual cases) in addition to the extensive opportunities to practice and develop skills related to more common disease processes. Mayo serves as a primary care provider for much of southeastern Minnesota.

Mayo firmly believes that a well rounded physician has exposure to the importance of biomedical research. This is emphasized by the third year research trimester, during which students conduct a biomedical research project, either with a Mayo investigator or at another institution. Students often travel to countries as remote as Botswana. Students gain the rudiments of research design, and many also author manuscripts. The research trimester frequendy differentiates Mayo students during residency application.

During the fourth year, students complete a number of electives as well as a six week internal medicine subinternship and four required clerkships (pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, and surgery). Students are strongly encouraged to perform at least one rotation off campus.

For the residency match for the class of 1999, 97 percent received their first, second, or third choice; 94 percent received their first or second choice; 75 percent received their first choice; and 44 percent matched in primary care.

Social Life 

Rochester, with a population of approximately 80,000, has been voted the best city in which to live by Money magazine and is an incredible place to raise a family. The pubhc and private grade schools are superb, crime and unemployment are low, average income is high, and housing is affordable. Despite these glowing features, many students, particularly those coming from large university cities, find Rochester a bit lackluster. The small class size generally leads to a tight knit group of students, and there are many student organized parties and gatherings. There are, however, limited places for students to socialize within the community. There is respite, however, students can escape to the Twin Cities, a 1/2 hour drive to find a wide array of fine restaurants, cultural opportunities, nightclubs, and the mother of all megamalls.

Recreational activities are abundant in Rochester. There are several miles of bike or cross country skiing paths. Rochester Park and Recreation offers a large variety of sports leagues, and Mayo offers a heavily subsidized membership to its own exercise facilities.

Mayo Medical School does not provide housing, but several apartments are located within walking distance of the clinic. Some students, especially M.D./ Ph.D. candidates and students with families, purchase homes. Public transportation is rather limited; very few students survive without a car, especially since the winters can be brutal, with windchills dipping to 50° below zero.

The Class of 2020 presents…Planet Mayo


Mayo Clinic Medical School offers an opportunity to train at a world famous health care center, replete with resources and a renowned staff dedicated to teaching. The cost of attending is minimal, while the value of training received is immeasurable.
Web https://college.mayo.edu/academics/school-of-medicine/