### Updates on the Latest ‘Top Medical Schools’ Rankings

In the aftermath of a turbulent year, U.S. News & World Report revealed that its annual rankings for the “Best Medical Schools” will be announced on April 9, accompanied by several notable changes.

Last year, following a number of top schools opting out of submitting data or participating in the rankings, there was a significant shift in the landscape.

This year, despite modifications to the methodology such as the exclusion of peer and residency director surveys, the rankings are proceeding as scheduled.

Robert Morse, MBA, the chief data strategist at U.S. News, emphasized the importance of data accessibility for students to make well-informed decisions regarding their academic paths.

In a departure from previous practices, U.S. News will no longer consider peer and residency director surveys. Instead, schools providing data on academic achievements directly to U.S. News or on their websites will receive a transparency credit. This data encompasses metrics like median MCAT scores, grade point averages, acceptance rates, enrollment figures, faculty statistics, and research funding details.

Moreover, new elements have been introduced, including a survey targeting current and recent medical school graduates and bibliographic indicators focusing on faculty research impact through publications and citations.

The specifics of this year’s methodology will be unveiled upon the release of the rankings.

These adjustments follow the withdrawal of several prominent institutions from the rankings, with Harvard Medical School leading the exodus. Dean George Q. Daley, MD, PhD, expressed reservations about the rankings’ ability to capture the essence of educational excellence and compassionate patient care.

In response to these concerns, U.S. News recalibrated its rankings after some schools, including Harvard, chose not to participate due to data discrepancies.

Last year also saw disruptions, with U.S. News temporarily removing certain top-ranked medical schools from its platform due to overwhelming inquiries during the embargo period for the “Best Graduate Schools” rankings.

Looking ahead, the impact of the revised methodology and the absence of key institutions on this year’s rankings remains uncertain, raising questions about potential delays or significant shifts in the rankings.

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Author Bio: The author joined MedPage Today as an enterprise and investigative writer in January 2021, covering a wide range of topics including the healthcare industry, life sciences, and legal business matters in New York City.