Getting into medical school is tough, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn how to get accepted into NYU medical school with tips and more below!
Thousands of students apply to the NYU Grossman School of Medicine every year. NYU is one of the country’s best medical institutions, and its unprecedented financial aid opportunities and flexible curriculum are a draw for many.
NYU breaks down its main four-year MD program into three parts:
The Grossman School of Medicine also offers an accelerated three-year MD program. Students can accelerate their med school timeline and save on living expenses and other costs. This program condenses individualized exploration and career preparation and requires extra summer commitments.
NYU also offers other dual degree MD programs, including:
A dual degree program may suit you if you seek interdisciplinary medical education.
Grossman and LISOM are NYU’s two medical schools. NYU LISOM opened in 2019 to address the nation’s shortage of primary care doctors in areas such as:
NYU LISOM differs from Grossman in that its standard MD program is three years long, no dual degree offerings, and enrolled students “receive conditional acceptance to an NYU Winthrop residency slot.” If you want to stay local and serve the New York community as a primary care doctor, NYU LISOM is an excellent option.
Due to its prestige, free tuition, and high-quality instruction, seats at NYU are highly sought after. In turn, getting into NYU medical school can be challenging. Looking at a snapshot of the NYU class can help determine your chances of acceptance.
NYU Grossman received 8,271 applications in a recent admissions cycle, resulting in 104 matriculants. The NYU Grossman Medical School acceptance rate is 1.28%.
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.
Other class profile highlights include:
Work hard, perfect your application, and leave no stone unturned, as NYU Grossman is highly selective.
To ensure you submit the most competitive application, consider getting tailored med school admissions help from experts who know what top schools are looking for!
Only 24 students matriculated to NYU LISOM in a recent admissions cycle. It has a highly selective acceptance rate of only 0.55%.
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.
Applying to NYU Grossman means working through your AMCAS application, registering for the Credential Assembly Service (CAS) for transcripts, and completing your secondary application.
Before you apply, you must ensure you meet all NYU Grossman School of Medicine requirements, such as:
We’ll explain precisely what you must do to meet all NYU med school prerequisites.
Your MCAT score provides insight into your medical school preparedness. The admissions committee can evaluate your grasp of key behavioral and scientific concepts.
Book a free consultation with Inspira Advantage, the best MCAT tutoring in New York City. With over 15 years of experience, our tutors will help you get a guaranteed score of 520+.
Many of NYU Grossman’s incoming students report high MCAT scores. In a recent admissions cycle, the average MCAT score was 522.9. The MCAT score range is between 520 and 526 on a 10th-90th percentile range. The school accepts scores from exams taken three years before your expected matriculation year.
The average undergrad GPA for NYU’s recent incoming class is 3.96. There are no NYU medical school requirements for GPA, but it’s helpful to see how you compare to admitted students.
If your GPA is at the lower end of this range, remember that NYU reviews applications holistically. However, ensure you address any gaps in your transcript in your application.
The school doesn’t have prerequisites; however, they do have course recommendations. Because the school is so competitive, it’s a good idea to ensure you’ve taken the following courses:
Taking these courses will help prepare you for NYU’s curriculum.
NYU Grossman letters of recommendation are a crucial element of your application.
NYU prefers a premedical committee appraisal letter, but will accept letters from two professors. At least one of these professors should be from a science course.
A pre-health committee or adviser writes a premedical committee appraisal letter. These letters speak about your:
Each undergraduate school has a unique process for writing these letters, so speak to your adviser or career center to obtain information on your school’s process. Ensure you give your recommenders advanced notice. They’re doing you a favor, so giving them ample time to write the letter is courteous.
Nontraditional students, such as those who have switched careers, can submit NYU recommendation letters from colleagues they’ve worked with closely. Think of individuals who can speak to specific skills relevant to the medical profession, such as communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving.
NYU uses the MMI, or Multiple Mini Interview, to screen candidates. Some schools use MMIs to reduce bias in the application process. Interviews are an excellent opportunity to display your communication skills, critical thinking, and ability to work well with others – all things admissions officers seek when creating the next incoming class.
The school’s MMI model is set up virtually:
Interviewers are evaluating your thought process and improvisation ability. Although there are no right or wrong answers, you want to show your decision-making, critical thinking, and practical communication skills.
Your NYU medical school secondary essays add differentiation and more layers to your application. Medical schools consider writing a vital skill. Communication is essential in medicine, and being a skilled communicator goes a long way.
Your secondary essay prompts for the NYU School of Medicine are your time to shine and show your fit for NYU. The prompts for this year are similar to those featured in previous years.
1. “If applicable, please comment on significant fluctuations in your academic record.” (No word limit)
If you don’t have any gaps in your transcripts, feel free to skip this one. If you do, your job is to be open and honest about these fluctuations. Do your best to put a positive spin on them, if possible.
2. “If you have taken any time off from your studies, either during or after college, please describe what you have done during this time and your reasons for doing so.” (No word limit)
Like the last prompt, don’t write anything if it doesn’t apply to you. Otherwise, consider:
Be honest here and keep things focused: your response may fuel the conversation fire for your future interview!
3. “The Admissions Committee holistically evaluates a range of student qualities and life experiences that complement demonstrated academic excellence. What unique qualities do you possess that make you uniquely suited to become a physician or physician-scientist? How have your individual lived experiences shaped your core values and desire to be a future leader in our profession?” (2,500 characters max)
This prompt blends a classic diversity essay and a “Why us?” response. Answering this question may require some brainstorming. Think about your unique life experiences, your background, and your qualities. After you’ve done that, the second piece is to connect them to NYU Grossman.
Ensure you have at least a sentence that connects to NYU’s offerings, whether a course, club, student organization, or something else.
4. “The most meaningful achievements are often non-academic in nature. Describe the personal accomplishment that makes you most proud. Why is this important to you?" (2,500 characters max)
Don’t be afraid to get a little vulnerable. Try to be as authentic as possible and avoid cliches. Try to relate whatever you choose to your medical school journey and how it will help you.
5. "Conflicts arise daily from differences in perspectives, priorities, worldviews and traditions. How do you define respect? Describe a situation in which you found it challenging to remain respectful while facing differences." (2,500 characters max)
This prompt aims to have you open up about a situation and how you navigated it. Physicians have to work through difficult situations daily. Hence, the admissions committee wants to see that you can remain level-headed and professional in every situation, so show these qualities in your narrative.
6. "Describe a situation in which working with a colleague, family member or friend has been challenging. How did you resolve, if at all, the situation as a team and what did you gain from the experience that will benefit you as a future health care provider?” (2,500 characters max)
This prompt is similar to the one above. There are three things you need to do for a complete answer:
Revise your essays several times and ensure every sentence relates to the prompt. A well-written piece of writing can go a long way.
Although this isn’t an essay prompt, you will also be asked to select up to three residency specialties currently of interest to you in this section of the secondary application.
Your selection does not impact your admissions decision (i.e., there are no right or wrong selections), and it is not binding. You may select “Undecided” if you’re unsure of your path!
Extracurricular activities are essential to get relevant experiences for medical school. Be intentional and prove to NYU that you feel strongly about your passions and academic interests. Getting research experience, securing internships, or doing other activities related to your program is a good idea.
NYU’s research opportunities are wide-ranging, and the school is a leader in research on everything from glaucoma to pancreatic cancer.
Be proactive during and after your undergraduate education. You can:
Your demonstrated commitment shows you’re ready to take advantage of NYU’s research opportunities.
Be thoughtful when selecting research opportunities and writing about them in your application. NYU’s Office of Science and Research is “dedicated to the mission of advancing research and improving healthcare through scientific discovery.”
Discuss how your research endeavors align with this mission and reference it in your application.
Patient exposure is crucial to your success. At NYU, patient experience may start from day one. NYU wants to admit students capable of clerkships, sub-internships, and other real-life patient interactions.
Prove that you’ve practiced your bedside manner and strengthened your clinical skill set. There are many ways to get this experience. Working as a medical scribe, shadowing, and volunteer experience are options.
Part of NYU’s mission is “producing future leaders and scholars in medicine.” Leadership experience can help you develop many valuable skills NYU seeks, such as independent thinking, collaboration, and organization.
You can get leadership experience in various ways, from management positions at your company to heading a student club as an undergrad. While NYU values any leadership experience, experiences related to your academic interests and passions go a long way.
Following the NYU medical school application timeline helps you stay on track and submit your documents on time:
NYU stands apart because it awards all students a full-tuition scholarship. Students must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress, and they need not pay a single cent of tuition.
However, students must pay for study materials and living expenses. One way to reduce these costs is to apply to NYU’s three-year degree program. Another is to apply for financial aid. The school offers scholarships for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and international students.
Students can also apply for federal or private loans or outside scholarships. There are many scholarships out there tailored to different experiences and backgrounds.
Do you still have questions about how to get into NYU medical school? Read on for more information.
The average GPA at NYU Grossman is 3.96. Aiming for a GPA above this can position you as a competitive applicant.
The average MCAT at NYU Grossman is 522.9. Aiming for an MCAT score above this can position you as a competitive applicant.
Yes, NYU Medical School accepts international students with bachelor’s degrees from a U.S. or Canadian accredited institution.
Yes, NYU is really tuition-free for all students in its MD program.
Yes, NYU’s free tuition scholarship also applies to international students.
NYU Grossman’s acceptance rate is 1.28%, and NYU LISOM’s acceptance rate is 0.55%. NYU is popular due to its prestige and free tuition, which may contribute to these very low rates.
You must submit a competitive application to NYU Medical School. No matter your stage in the process, our experts can help bring your NYU application to the next level. With hard work and determination, you’ll have a fighting chance at getting accepted into NYU medical school.
Dr. Leora Aizman was the original author of this article. Snippets of her work may remain.
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