Best Medical Schools

Stanford Medical School

Located in Silicon Valley, California, between San Jose and San Francisco, the Stanford School of Medicine opened in 1959. Previous to that, the institution was known as Cooper College and was based in San Francisco.

Stanford School of Medicine is one of the highest ranked medical schools in the United States, typically in the top 10. Because of its reputation, competition for admission to the school is extremely high. Reportedly, over 3,000 individuals applied for admission for 2010, and only 91 were accepted. Given which, approximately 3% of the applicants were granted admission; this figure is typical.

One of the many highlights of the Stanford School of Medicine is its multiple degree programs. There, students have the opportunity of obtaining one of the following three multiple degrees: 1) MD & Master of Public Health; 2) MD & Master of Scientist Training; and 3) Ph.D. & Master of Science in Medicine. The school also offers Ph.D.s in the following 12 areas: 1) Bioengineering, 2) Biochemistry, 3) Biomedical Informatics, 4) Cancer Biology, 5) Chemical and Systems Biology, 6) Developmental Biology, 7) Genetics, Immunology, 9) Microbiology and Immunology, 10) Molecular and Cellular Physiology, 11) Neurosciences and 12) Structural Biology.

Because of its proximity to the Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, much of the research conducted at Stanford Medical School is coordinated with both it and the Stanford Hospital & Clinics. The school is continually conducting medical trials, some of which are funded by federal grants. Currently, there are trials in eye diseases, cancer, blood and lymph conditions, behavioral and mental disorders, environmental health and diseases of the respiratory tract, to name just a few of the many areas being studied. The school’s website constantly updates the advances that are being made in these trials.

Tuition at Stanford School of Medicine is a little over $ 14,000 per quarter. However, the school has research programs that students can participate in – either full or part-time – and doing so will defray some of the tuition cost. To show its appreciation for its student body, the school also awards them in other ways. For example, all incoming freshmen in 2010 were given free i Pads.

The school also offers extensive services geared to student health. Its Counseling and Psychological Services Center gives both counseling and therapy to students while its Health Promotion Services Center advises them on the best ways to obtain a happy lifestyle, given their particular circumstances. Student can also obtain guidance there for behavioral problems they may be having.