A School of Medicine is a community of scholars that convenes for the generation, conservation, and dissemination of knowledge about the promotion of human health and wellbeing and the causes, prevention, and treatment of human disease and disability. It is responsibility of the Office of Admissions of the School of Medicine of New York Medical College to receive, review, and make decisions in response to the applications for admission to our community of scholars to pursue the Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree.
We believe that the best predictor of future academic success is demonstrated by past academic success. We begin our review of applications by seeking individuals who have pursued a challenging course-of-studies in undergraduate and, in some cases, graduate school and have received high grades; and who have also demonstrated their acquisition of knowledge through excellent performance on standardized tests. We know, however, that academic achievement is a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for the study of medicine. The ability to engage in an empathetic exchange with one’s fellow humans is essential to being a good doctor. The vast diversity of humans and their varied individual and cultural responses to disease and disability calls for a diverse workforce of healthcare providers. We must, therefore, look holistically at our applicants - striving to identify both academic qualifications and learned life experiences that suit individuals for the study of medicine.
Our admissions office believes strongly in treating each applicant “based on his or her experiences as an individual” - not on the basis of categories or stereotypes. Our school has a long and proud history, beginning in the 1920s, of refusing to use discriminatory quotas in medical school admissions. We are very proud of the facts that our School of Medicine was among the first historically majority schools in the United States to admit and graduate women and Black students. We were among the first historically majority Schools of Medicine and colleges in the United States to have women chair biomedical science and clinical academic departments, to appoint a Jewish dean, to appoint a Black woman dean, and to have a woman serve as President/CEO.
As was our past, so is our present and future. We continue to believe that a diverse student body provides a valuable educational experience that prepares medical students to become good doctors who will practice effectively in a multicultural society. To that end, we seek to admit an academically qualified and individually diverse class. We look at the diversity of individuals with respect to their personal attributes, motivations, cultural and economic background, and life experiences. We understand that the available educational outcome data shows that a diverse student body enhances the educational experience for all.
The Admissions Committee utilizes a holistic review process that balances foundational experiences, academic metrics such as courses taken, GPA, and MCAT along with personal attributes – such as professionalism, altruism, compassion, empathy, honesty, integrity, cultural competency, and ethical grounding.
Financial Aid
We are committed to helping bright, motivated students overcome financial barriers to achieve their goals. Our Office of Student Financial Planning provides assistance in all financial aspects, including helping applicants and students with financial decision-making before, during and even after attending NYMC. Our graduates have one of the lowest student loan default rates in the nation, which we proudly credit to the expert guidance and commitment of our staff.
