The University of South Florida (USF) is celebrating a record number of students entering the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. The Class of 2030 is one of the school's strongest incoming classes, with record-breaking academic profiles that USF said rank among the best in the nation.
The Class of 2030 consists of 140 students with a median MCAT score of 521, placing them in the 98th percentile nationally, or the top 2% of all test-takers, according to USF.
The incoming class also posted the highest median MCAT score of any entering class in the medical school's history. Students had a median overall GPA of 3.98 and a median science GPA of 3.99.
USF said those academic credentials are among the strongest of any medical school in the country.
Charles J. Lockwood, executive vice president of USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine, said the incoming class reflects the growing competitiveness of medical school applicants while setting a new benchmark for academic excellence.
"We are thrilled to welcome such an extraordinary class," Lockwood said in a press release. "These remarkable students had their choice of outstanding medical schools, and we are honored they chose USF Health. We are committed to providing them with an innovative, rigorous curriculum and supportive, insightful faculty who are deeply invested in their success."
USF said 66 students attended undergraduate institutions ranked among the nation's top 30 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Another 68 students attended Florida colleges or universities, including 35 who earned their undergraduate degrees from USF.
The class also reflects a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences. According to USF, 79% of students speak at least two languages, while 38% speak three or more.
Beyond academics, students reported interests ranging from cooking, cricket and pickleball to filmmaking. Many also have experience working in medical or laboratory settings.
One of those students is Kaleigh Delbridge, a graduate of Baylor University who participated in Baylor's Medical Ethics Discussion Society while conducting dementia research.
"To finally be starting at a program like USF, meeting my classmates and seeing everything become real, it feels incredibly special," Delbridge said in a press release.
Delbridge's older sister is a pediatric resident at USF Health, and the two are the first members of their family to pursue careers in medicine.
USF Health's Morsani College of Medicine is ranked among the nation's top 16 medical schools and received a Tier 1 designation for research from U.S. News & World Report, according to the university.