Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 10/06/24
New York is home to the largest number of medical schools in any state, most of them located in NYC. Read on to learn about New York medical school requirements, how to get accepted, and more!
Getting into medical schools in New York City is challenging but doable with the right mindset and commitment to academic achievement. The level of competition is fierce: New York City consistently draws thousands of top medical school applicants yearly.
We will outline how to get into medical schools in New York City. Read on for a complete overview of medical schools, tips for getting accepted, admission statistics, tuition costs, and application procedures. With our guide, you can maximize your chances of getting accepted into NYC med schools.
Attending medical school in New York City has its advantages. You will be immersed in the culture of one of the world’s largest cities with no shortage of things to do. You will also be close to numerous medical schools, so networking opportunities with peers, mentors, and colleagues are plentiful.
Attending med school in NYC allows you flexible living and working arrangements. You can live in one city’s five boroughs or live upstate and commute to campus. However, the most compelling reason to attend medical school in New York City is that all the schools have similar costs and tuition rates, even for out-of-state students.
Getting accepted into medical schools in NYC is no easy feat, but these tips will help you enter a career in medicine at your dream school. Throughout your undergraduate education and medical school application process, there are areas you should focus on to maximize your chances of acceptance:
Retake the MCAT if you are unhappy with your score. Most medical schools in NYC have a minimum required MCAT score and will not accept you if you do not meet the minimum requirement.
For students in New York City looking to receive a competitive score, our expert tutors offer a guaranteed MCAT score of 520+. This ensures you stand out from the competitive pool of applicants.
Furthermore, the average MCAT score of matriculants often exceeds the minimum requirement, meaning your MCAT score is imperative for your success.
This includes your total GPA and science GPA. If your total or science GPA needs improvement, consider retaking classes to make your academic achievements more competitive.
Although medical schools review candidates holistically, your GPA is an extremely important selection factor. In particular, your science GPA must meet and ideally exceed the medical school’s minimum GPA requirement.
To apply to MD programs in NYC, you need to know how to fill out your AMCAS medical school application correctly and on time. If you’re applying to an osteopathic school, you’ll need to fill out the AACOMAS application. You’ll need to upload numerous documents and edit your writing for concision and impact.
Ease some of the stress and pressure by understanding the medical school application timeline and applying to schools early. This means staying on top of all dates and deadlines and submitting all application materials ahead of schedule.
Staying ahead of schedule will ensure you have ample time to gather and prepare your required documents (such as official school transcripts and application essays). It will also give your letter writers plenty of time to write strong recommendations for you.
Emphasize areas in your application where you can showcase your individuality. For example, in the AMCAS work and activities section, you can show who you are through achievements in employment and extracurriculars. Additionally, crafting a well-written and memorable personal statement will leave a lasting impression on admissions officers.
Read on to learn more about each med school in the big apple.
The Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Einstein Med) is one of the largest medical programs in the country. It was the first medical school to bring first-year students in contact with patients, combining classroom study with real clinical experience.
Einstein Med is a leader in biomedical research and received $197 million in funding from the federal government. The major research centers at Einstein Med are in:
Einstein Med strives to matriculate students who are diverse, support the school’s objectives for role-models in healthcare, and raise cultural awareness among their peers. Einstein Med offers the traditional MD degree, the MD-PHD dual degree, and the MD-MPH dual degree.
The school is an AMCAS participant and follows the AMCAS timeline. However, you should aim to apply early in the application cycle. Einstein Med’s interview process is straightforward: the interview typically lasts between 30 minutes and an hour. In some cases, if students are dissatisfied with their first interview, a second interview can be requested immediately before receiving a letter of disposition.
Prospective Einstein Med applicants are encouraged to review the full MD admissions process and application procedures.
The Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (VP&S) prides itself on having one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation. VP&S consistently matriculates students with the highest MCAT scores and GPAs among med school applicants.
VP&S, a research-intensive school, is one of the health sciences schools that make up the Columbia Irving Medical Center in upper Manhattan.
Medical education at VP&S is unique because of the VP&S Club. The VP&S Club is the broadest student organization of all American medical schools and provides activities in the arts, athletics, and community outreach.
VP&S students have flexible curriculum options. There is the traditional MD program, and there are several additional dual degree programs and specialized tracks.
VP&S participates in the AMCAS and recommends you start the application process one year prior to your anticipated matriculation date.
(Pro-tip: Buy a calendar that you mark only with important dates and deadlines for medical school. This will keep your medical school events organized and separate from your personal events.) Be sure to familiarize yourself with all admissions and application requirements.
The CUNY School of Medicine (CSOM) has the advantages that come with having a small faculty of full-time members and a small student body. With 40 full-time staff fulfilling various functions in teaching, advising, and research, the entering student body of approximately 350 students benefits from an intimate and concentrated learning experience.
**CUNY only offers a BS/MD program. High school students are enrolled to complete their combined BS/MD degrees in seven years. Because of high school level enrollment, there are no GPA or MCAT requirements.
CSOM has the following unique admissions features:
CSOM participates in the AMCAS. Prospective CSOM applicants are encouraged to review all application requirements.
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) is a part of Mount Sinai Health System’s eight hospital campuses. ISMMS has approximately 2,000 students, residents, and fellows in addition to 5,000 faculty and staff. ISMMS is a research institution and prioritizes candidates with substantial research experience.
ISMMS uses the AMCAS and recommends applying early in the cycle to ensure timeliness.
The school’s interview format is broken into two 30-minute traditional interviews with admissions committee members. Admissions committee members assesses the following:
ISMMS has shared the following graphics that show the desirable qualities and selection criteria of successful candidates:
It’s best to review these charts and tailor your application materials to address ISMMS’s desired qualities and experiences. You will have a competitive edge by gaining and speaking to as many of these experiences as possible. More information about application requirements and recommendations can be found at ISMMS’s MD program admissions process portal.
The New York University Grossman School of Medicine (NYU Grossman) is a national leader in research. It is ranked #2 in research by the US News & World Report making it one of the best medical schools in NYC. NYU Grossman has over 200 labs dedicated to biomedical research, and an astonishing 53 countries are represented in their research labs. NYU Grossman prioritizes diversity and a humanistic approach to practicing global medicine.
Most significantly, NYU Grossman aspires to be tuition-free. Every current and future NYU Grossman student (regardless of academic achievement or financial need) will be awarded yearly full-tuition scholarships. Ensure you familiarize yourself with NYU Grossman’s trailblazing cost of attendance policies to learn more about the tuition-free initiative.
*NYU Grossman has “announced that every current and future MD student at NYU Grossman School of Medicine will be awarded yearly full-tuition scholarships for the duration of their medical education provided they are performing satisfactorily academically and professionally.”
In addition to the traditional MD program, NYU Grossman offers dual MD/Master’s degrees. Some examples include the MD-MPA, the MD-MPH, the MD-MA in Bioethics, and the MD-MS in Translational Research.
NYU Grossman reviews applicants holistically, but the school is extremely competitive. So, it is crucial to maintain a high GPA and get a great score on the MCAT.
Please read through all of the MD admissions requirements and application procedures to start your career with NYU Grossman.
The State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine (SUNY Downstate) is the only medical center that serves Brooklyn, New York. The campus comprises the:
In addition to the traditional MD program, SUNY Downstate offers an MD-PHD program and MD-MPH program. Please review the admissions information booklet for information about curriculum, student life, research opportunities, cost of attendance, admissions timeline, and more.
Complete application procedures include submitting AMCAS primary and secondary applications, taking the MCAT, submitting recommendations, and completing the school’s required prerequisites.
The Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) was founded in 1898, and its first students included a large percentage of women at a time when medical schools were attended by men only, and women had more rigorous admissions requirements.
In the spirit of keeping ahead of its time, WCMC continues to produce exceptional physicians. Additionally, WCMC has contributed to groundbreaking research, such as the synthesis of penicillin and the Pap test for cervical cancer.
WCMC is one of the most selective med schools in the country. Academic achievement among matriculants is quite high, so you need to maintain high academic standards before applying. Take an honest look at your academic standing, and if necessary, retake courses and the MCAT to improve your grades and increase your chances of getting accepted to WCMC.
Applicants must apply through AMCAS. Please carefully review all selection criteria and application requirements.
The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) is the first osteopathic medical school that was established in New York in 1977. Med students earn their DO at this school. The main difference between a DO versus an MD is that DOs take more holistic approaches in medicine rather than diagnosing and treating symptoms.
DOs and MDs receive accredited medical training, can prescribe medicine, and work in the same medical settings.
NYITCOM participates in the AACOMAS, so ensure you follow the AACOMAS application instructions and format.
DO program requirements include taking the MCAT, completing NYITCOM’s prerequisite coursework, and submitting letters of recommendation.
Prospective students are advised to stay current with NYITCOM’s full application procedures.
The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine—New York (TouroCOM) opened in 2007. TouroCOM prioritizes serving underrepresented and underserved communities. Over 80% of the school’s hospital affiliates serve rural and urban communities. Students serve as advocates and outreach coordinators for communities in Harlem, the Hudson Valley, Haiti, and beyond.
Admissions requirements include the MCAT, CASPer, and fulfilling prerequisite coursework.
The interview process takes place on a rolling basis between October and May. Several faculty members will interview each candidate, and their final decisions are made within two months of the interview.
TouroCOM participates in the AACOMAS. Review all application requirements to submit the requested materials correctly and on time.
If you still have questions about getting into the med schools NYC has to offer, read below to get the answers you need.
Medical school acceptance rates vary depending on the school, but every medical school in NYC is competitive with extremely low acceptance rates. Depending on which medical school in NYC you’re looking at, acceptance rates range from approximately 1.1% to just over 3%.
Due to low acceptance rates, there really isn’t an easiest New York medical school to get into. From our list, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has the highest acceptance rate at 3.4%.
Based on the median total GPAs above, you should strive to achieve a GPA of ranging from 3.7 to 4.0 for the best chance of acceptance. However, you should understand that every med school in NYC may or may not have their own GPA requirements and recommendations.
Based on research rankings, NYU Grossman is one of the best medical schools in NYC. Cornell Weill is ranked as the best med school for patient care in NYC.
Median MCAT scores range from 514 to 522 at NYC medical schools, so you should strive to achieve a score in this range or higher. Your score should at least meet cutoff requirements, but more competitive applicants have scores that exceed these limits.
Prerequisite courses and requirements can vary at medical schools in New York. Requirements for your application will always include a personal statement, recommendation letters, MCAT scores, and more. Please check the requirements of schools you want to apply to for more information.
New York City is an excellent location to attend medical school. With the largest number of medical schools in any state, New York offers medical students wonderful educational and professional opportunities. To get accepted into NYC med schools, ensure you get the best possible MCAT score and finish your undergraduate coursework with a strong GPA.
Ensure that you understand the AMCAS online portal, apply to medical schools early and broadly, and focus on areas in your application where you can showcase your individuality.
Finally, remember to follow each school’s specific admissions and application requirements. We wish you the best of luck as you apply to medical schools in New York City.
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