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Reviewed by:
Former Admissions Committee Member, Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine
Reviewed: 4/25/24
Are you interested in joining one of the nation’s most recognized centers for medical education? If you are, read on to learn more about how to get into Tulane School of Medicine.
If you’d like to also become a successful physician, this guide will go into depth about how to get into Tulane, its key admission information, and tips on how to make your application stand out!
With a primary mission to provide the highest quality of education to its students, Tulane offers several medical programs to academically and clinically prepare students for success:
Tulane also offers several graduate certificates in disciplines such as clinical research, sports medicine, ethics, and medical humanities. These certificates typically consist of only four courses and are designed for clinical professionals interested in gaining advanced training in a particular specialty.
Considering the extensive list of resources this medical school offers its students, you might be wondering how difficult it is to get into. According to the Tulane medical school acceptance rate, this school is highly competitive!
A recent application cycle saw 13,443 applications, but only 190 students matriculated into the MD program, and 11 deferred their admissions. This means Tulane has an acceptance rate of around 1.5%.
Please note that this is an approximate acceptance rate and refers to the percentage of matriculants and deferred students compared to verified applications. Medical schools often don’t release data pertaining to accepted applicants and verified applications.
With such a low acceptance rate, you’re likely wondering what it takes to make it into this selective “yes” group. While the admissions committee will consider several factors when making their decision, they will weigh your GPA and MCAT scores the heaviest.
To ensure you can meet Tulane’s rigorous academic demands, here are the exact scores you should aim for when preparing your application:
Your grades during your undergraduate degree will play a significant role in your chances of gaining admission to Tulane. This score gives the admissions committee insight into your academic potential, as medical school is known to be challenging.
Recently accepted students had an average GPA of 3.72. Aim for a score in this range, or preferably higher, to maximize your chances of getting into Tulane medical school.
The second number the admissions committee will pay close attention to is your MCAT score. Students admitted during the 2024-2025 admissions cycle had an average MCAT score of 512.2, which should be your minimum target score.
We’ve covered the numbers portion of the application process, but there are other materials you must submit to be eligible for consideration at Tulane. Here is a comprehensive list of Tulane’s admission requirements:
As mentioned, you’ll have to maintain a GPA of around 3.7+ to be considered an attractive applicant.
The exact major you choose to achieve this GPA doesn’t matter, but the admissions committee will prefer students who demonstrate a strong understanding of the sciences. For this reason, the majority of applicants choose science-based majors.
Regardless of the major you choose, Tulane strongly recommends you take the following courses to best prepare for their curriculum:
Applicants are encouraged to pursue a broad education, so you must take courses from various disciplines to prove your academic merit.
Your MCAT score is considered to be an accurate indicator of your potential to succeed in medical school. As such, achieving a competitive score is critical to increasing your chances of acceptance.
Students should give themselves ample time to prepare for the MCAT to ensure they reach the target score of 512 or higher. Adequate preparation for the MCAT should involve reliable resources and a comprehensive study schedule that you’re confident you can follow!
Since Tulane accepts multiple MCAT scores and only considers your highest, you should give yourself enough time to retake the MCAT.
This medical school accepts MCAT scores that are up to three years old.
Tulane requires all of its prospective MD students to submit exactly three letters of recommendation to AMCAS. You may submit a committee letter or three individual letters, depending on what your undergraduate institution offers.
Two of these letters must come from science professors who mentored you and can attest to specific qualities that would make you a good candidate for medical school and the medical profession.
The final letter can be written by anyone of your choice, but will have the most impact if it is written by a mentor or supervisor who can speak to your commitment to service and passion for medicine.
So far, your scores and letters of recommendation revolve largely around your academic potential. To gain a better understanding of who you are as a person and who you want to be as a professional, the committee requires you to submit a personal statement with your application.
This statement is the only part of your application that allows your voice to shine through! Use it to stand out and prove you’re a unique individual who can contribute greatness to Tulane’s community (and all the other medical schools you apply to).
Students are encouraged to complete the CASPer test and the Duet assessment to help the admissions committee in their selection process. However, these assessments are not mandatory; applicants who opt out of them will still be interviewed and considered for admission.
Once you’ve completed your primary application, you’ll also have to complete a secondary application that will include several essays.
To ease the stress you may be feeling about writing these essays, here are all of the prompts you can expect to see and how to answer them. You can begin brainstorming ideas for these prompts to ensure this part of the application process goes smoothly.
1. Tulane University School of Medicine’s mission statement states: We improve human health and foster healthy communities through discovery and translation of the best science into clinical practice and education; to deliver the highest quality patient care and prepare the next generation of distinguished clinical and scientific leaders. Briefly describe the reasons for your interest in Tulane University School of Medicine.
Focus on Tulane’s core values and contributions when answering this question. As a research-intensive institution, you may want to mention your interest in specific research that Tulane has already begun conducting or that you hope to conduct using its state-of-the-art facilities.
Otherwise, Tulane has a strong commitment to public service that you can align yourself with by proving you have already spent a considerable amount of time in the service sector and plan on continuing to do so with Tulane.
2. What disparities in health do you believe are pertinent to the New Orleans patient population? How would you attempt to address them as a medical student at Tulane? You may support your answer by using past involvement working in a similar patient population to compare and/or describe your interest in any student activities offered at Tulane or in New Orleans.
Research health disparities in the New Orleans area, or fall back on your own experiences. Perhaps you volunteered in a hospital in New Orleans and noticed certain dominant disparities that impacted patients’ lives.
Remain realistic when discussing your plan of action to address these disparities. Understand there are limits to what you can do as a medical student, and work within these!
3. Who knows you best and how would they describe you?
Answer this question by focusing on some key traits that will make you a successful medical student and some non-medical traits. Solely focusing on obvious, clinically related traits will make your answer seem inauthentic.
4. Please list any leadership positions (clubs, organizations, paid work) you may have held.
Leadership is an essential quality in physicians. List each informal and formal leadership position you’ve had to prove you have already begun honing this skill!
5. Please list your hobbies and major non-academic interests.
Let your personality shine through with this response. Don’t get hung up on what you think will look best for this response as a pre-med student. Be honest and share your passions!
6. (Optional) In what ways did the COVID-19 pandemic alter/interrupt your medical school application?
COVID had an impact on everyone, especially students who were unable to attend their classes and missed out on valuable opportunities. If you had research plans or work/volunteer pursuits that you were unable to participate in because of COVID, explain this in your response.
The final prompt is optional and should only be answered if it applies to your situation.
7. (Optional) Tulane University School of Medicine values the diversity of its patients, faculty, staff, and students. Do you identify with a particular group that you believe is underrepresented among medical professionals? These include groups oriented around, but not limited to: ethnicity, race, sexuality, religion, disability, and economic background.
Your diversity is not limited to the above groups. If you have faced significant challenges in your life that offer you different perspectives on life, you can write about them in this essay.
Don’t share highly personal information, and focus more on explaining what makes you diverse and how this diversity can positively contribute to Tulane’s missions.
The majority of these prompts can be up to 100-150 words, which is a limited amount of space. Keep your answers brief and concise, and do your best to focus solely on the question at hand.
Ensure you answer these prompts honestly and accurately. Any answers that raise eyebrows will likely be brought up during your interview, and it will be difficult to keep up with false stories under pressure!
Another important process to consider when discussing how to get into Tulane medical school is your interview. If the admissions committee is impressed by your application and intrigued to learn more, you’ll be invited to interview.
Out of the 13,000-15,000 applicants that apply to Tulane each year, approximately 600 are interviewed. These interviews will be conducted on campus and will involve a standard interview with one faculty member.
After this interview, students will also have to participate in a “standardized patient” exercise in which they will interview a patient.
The final part of the process will include a more casual interview with a Tulane medical student. All interviewers will report on the interviewees’ performance and provide insight into their candidacy for medical school.
To prepare for your interviews, you should go over the most common med school interview questions, practice proper patient interaction with a friend or family member, and review your application and personal statement to be prepared to answer any questions about them.
Now that you know the admission requirements to get into Tulane, you might be wondering how to elevate your application to stand out amongst the crowd. Follow these three tips to differentiate your application:
You must maintain a high GPA during your undergrad to get into Tulane School of Medicine. Carefully consider your major by prioritizing what you find most interesting. You do not have to pursue a science major, but you should take as many science courses as you can.
Without demonstrating a solid understanding of basic science fundamentals, the admissions committee will have a hard time believing you’re ready for medical school.
Based on admissions data over the years, Tulane appreciates when students have considerable leadership, research, and clinical experience.
All of this experience will help prepare students for medical school, as they’ll be required to conduct research, participate in clinical rotations, and act as lead physicians.
To demonstrate you’ve already begun developing the skills necessary to succeed in medical school, you should dedicate a significant amount of hours to research, extracurriculars, work, or volunteer experience that allows you to interact with patients.
While the diversity prompt is optional, it can significantly increase your chances of acceptance. If you truly have diverse experience you can bring to your medical education, Tulane will want to hear about it!
Like many other medical schools, Tulane appreciates diversity and is always looking to increase the richness of its learning community by admitting students who can offer unique perspectives on medicine.
Aside from preparing all of your application materials, it’s essential to prepare a budget to have realistic expectations of the money you’ll need to invest into your medical education.
Students can expect to pay around $25,200 for 30 credit hours and around $1,183 in fees per semester. However, Tulane offers its students scholarships and needs-based and merit-based awards to help cover some of these costs.
With various application materials to worry about, it can be overwhelming to also keep track of all of the deadlines you need to meet. To make this process as hassle-free as possible, here is a list of the deadlines you should keep in mind:
The earlier you apply to Tulane, the better! The most spots are available at the beginning of the cycle and there are typically very few left by the end of it.
We’ve covered the basics of how to get into Tulane medical school. For any remaining concerns, here are our answers to a few frequently asked questions.
Yes, considering there are only around 190 spots available each year, getting into Tulane is difficult. Students must focus on achieving the right scores and gaining considerable research and service experience to stand out.
Yes! Tulane offers its students a curriculum that has continuously produced distinguished physicians for centuries. This research-intensive institution is constantly evolving to ensure it provides its students with the highest quality of education and practical experience to succeed!
Yes, Tulane School of Medicine does require the MCAT as part of its admission process. Students should aim to receive a score of 513 or higher when applying to this medical school.
The average GPA of past admitted students is 3.73.
No, Tulane does not require the CASPer test, but does encourage its students to complete it. This assessment can aid the admissions committee in their selection and may give you a chance to prove you have the necessary skills to thrive as a physician.
Unlike your MCAT, this assessment goes beyond your academic abilities and instead tests your collaboration, communication, empathy, ethics, equity, motivation, problem-solving, professionalism, and self-awareness. If you can demonstrate a strong presence of these skills, it may make the committee more inclined to accept you!
In this guide, we’ve highlighted that Tulane is a good medical school and the Tulane admissions requirements. Now you know how to maximize your acceptance chances at Tulane.
After reviewing these answers, you can hopefully decide if this school is the right choice for you to kickstart your medical career!
Dr. Jonathan Preminger was the original author of this article. Snippets of his work may remain.
Reviewed by:
Dermatology Resident Physician, The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
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