The following information explores the eligibility requirements, application process, timeline, interview, and acceptance procedures for FlexMed.

FlexMed Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for our FlexMed Program, applicants must:

• Be entering their second year of college as a full-time student pursuing their first bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college/university in the United States or Canada.
• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Have completed the SAT and/or ACT.
• Have a cumulative college GPA of 3.5 (or equivalent) or higher.
• Have completed one academic year of college biology or one academic year of college chemistry:
• The year of biology coursework may cover any discipline of biology, including human biology, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, microbiology, immunobiology, etc.
• The year of chemistry coursework may cover any discipline of chemistry, including general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry.
• You cannot use Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit to fulfill this requirement. Even if you received college credit from AP or IB coursework in these areas, you must take higher level courses in these areas at your four-year institution.
• You must complete this coursework before submitting an application.

Our MD Program Admissions Committee is committed to an equitable process that considers each applicant’s unique journey to the field of medicine. Pre-requisite courses completed at the community college level or in an online format will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If these required courses are fulfilled with community college level coursework, it is recommended for applicants to complete additional higher-level courses in related subjects at a four-year accredited institution. It is strongly preferred that applicants complete courses taken on-site/in-person. Laboratory Sciences requirements should not be taken in an online format.

FlexMed Application

Please note that you are not permitted to take the MCAT if accepted to FlexMed. If you wish to apply to other medical schools through the traditional American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) admissions process, you must withdraw your acceptance to the Icahn School's FlexMed Program. You can reapply to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through the traditional admissions pathway.

A completed FlexMed application consists of:

• Your FlexMed Application
• Your SAT and/or ACT exam reports (all exams taken must be submitted as part of the application)
• Your high school transcript
• Your college transcript, including final grades from the fall semester of your sophomore year
• Your three letters of recommendation:
• You are encouraged to provide one letter from a high school teacher or guidance counselor, one from a college professor or faculty advisor, and the third from other academic and/or professional references, such as research mentors and supervisors. A letter from professors or faculty in the sciences should be highly considered.
• Recommendation letters should provide the MD Admissions Committee with insight into the applicant’s motivation for a career in medicine.
• Your personal statement (three short essays)
• $110 application fee

All application materials must be submitted and received by the application deadline noted below. Once this deadline has passed, the Office of Admissions cannot guarantee an application will be reviewed if any material is missing.

FlexMed Admissions Cycle Timeline

The deadline to apply for FlexMed is January 15, 2026, at 11:59 pm EST. All application materials must be submitted and received by the deadline. Once this deadline has passed, the Office of Admissions cannot guarantee an application will be reviewed.

The following key dates and deadlines provide a helpful reference as you prepare your FlexMed application.

FlexMed Application Review

Every completed application undergoes a holistic screening by our MD Admissions Committee members. Our screeners assess the following core areas: academics, clinical exposure, community service, research, and other extracurricular activities. In addition, the screeners evaluate applicant attributes that align with Icahn School's mission. The above core areas and applicant attributes are modeled on the  Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students endorsed by the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Student Affairs.

FlexMed Interview Procedures

Each year the Office of Admissions interviews approximately 80 to 100 students from a pool of approximately 800 applicants for the FlexMed Program. Each FlexMed applicant invited for an interview is randomly assigned to have two 30-minute interviews with members of the MD Admissions Committee. These interviews are semi-structured, traditional interviews.

During each interview, the MD Admissions Committee member conducts a holistic assessment of the candidate. The application and letters of recommendation are evaluated fully by both interviewers, and the interviewers assess the following core areas: academics, clinical exposure, community service, research, and other extracurricular activities. In addition, the interviewers evaluate applicant attributes that align with Icahn School’s mission, and assess communication skills. The above core areas, applicant attributes and communication assessment are modeled on the Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students endorsed by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on Student Affairs.

Every applicant offered an interview also spends a day meeting students and faculty virtually. Please refer to the timeline above for important dates.

FlexMed MD Admissions Committee Procedures

At the weekly MD Admissions Committee meetings, each interviewed candidate is presented to the committee by the assigned two interviewers. Final admissions decisions are made by the MD Admissions Committee based on the timeline provided above.

FlexMed After Acceptance Protocol

At the weekly MD Admissions Committee meetings, each interviewed candidate is presented to the committee by the two assigned interviewers. Final admissions decisions are made by the MD Admissions Committee based on the timeline provided above.

After acceptance, students work closely with the FlexMed team to identify options for successful completion of these requirements. We expect those accepted to follow the policies outlined in the FlexMed agreement, and to complete the following:

• One academic year of biology that is not AP or IB, but college course work. Molecular content is required. Other appropriate courses to fulfill this requirement include cell biology, genetics/genomics, physiology, anatomy, etc. We recommend this biology coursework be completed within the five years prior to your application to the Icahn School.

• One academic year of general chemistry that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One semester of organic chemistry that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One semester of biochemistry that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One academic year of writing-intensive English that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One semester of physics. You may apply AP or IB physics in high school with a score of 5 to meet this requirement.
• One academic year of lab work in biology and/or chemistry.
• One semester of statistics, with biostatistics being the preferred content.
• We also encourage all applicants to complete coursework and engage in experiences which provide exposure to social determinants of health and disparities in healthcare outcomes. Coursework examples include sociology, public health, political science, global health, bioethics, urban studies, history, and economics.
• A total of 100 hours of clinical experience providing exposure to human illness and health care delivery, occurring after acceptance to the FlexMed Program, and prior to matriculation.
• Students are encouraged to complete a senior thesis or equivalent in an area of academic concentration.

Once we have admitted you to FlexMed, we expect you to complete your remaining two years of college, achieve at least a "B" in all required courses, and maintain an annual cumulative GPA of 3.5 (or equivalent) for each year in the program. Additionally, you must maintain a cumulative Science (biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics) GPA of 3.6 or higher.

Given approval from FlexMed leadership, you may defer your time of matriculation for one year or up to two years. During this time, students have previously pursued advanced degrees, including master’s programs, prestigious fellowships such as Fulbright, Gates Cambridge, and Schwarzman scholarships, and employment within various industries, including health care consulting, biotech startup companies, and nonprofit organizations.

At the end of each semester, quarter, trimester, or as necessary, the MD Admissions Committee will review every admitted student’s progress with the Selections Subcommittee. Failure to meet the program requirements will result in appropriate action by the committee, including remedial coursework or possible rescinding of the admissions offer.

Technical Standards

Our MD Program prepares students to be skilled physicians, in accordance with the Technical Standards as outlined by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the U.S. accrediting agency for medical schools. 

The following information details the eligibility requirements, application process, timeline, interview, and acceptance procedures for the U.S. Military Institutional Partnership program.

Institutional Partnership Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for our U.S. Military Institutional Partnership, applicants must: 

• Have full-time, active-duty status from any branch of service.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident
• Complete one academic year of college biology, or one academic year of college chemistry. Coursework must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
• The year of biology coursework may cover any discipline of biology, including human biology, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, microbiology, immunobiology, etc.
• The year of chemistry coursework may cover any discipline of chemistry, including general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry.
• You cannot use Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) credit to fulfill this requirement. Even if you received college credit from AP or IB coursework in these areas, you must take higher level courses in these areas at your four-year institution.
• You must complete this coursework by the application deadline on December 15.
• You must have previously taken the SAT or ACT exam.

Our MD Program Admissions Committee is committed to an equitable process that considers each applicant’s unique journey to the field of medicine. Pre-requisite courses completed at the community college level or in an online format will be considered on a case-by-case basis. If these required courses are fulfilled with community college level coursework, it is recommended for applicants to complete additional higher-level courses in related subjects at a four-year accredited institution. It is strongly preferred that applicants complete courses taken on-site/in-person. Laboratory sciences requirements should not be taken in an online format.

Applicants should apply a year or two before they expect to separate from the military and when they have already demonstrated commitment to clinical medicine and academic achievement.

Institutional Partnership Application

Please note that you are not permitted to take the MCAT if accepted to the U.S. Military Institutional Partnership program. If you wish to apply to other medical schools through the traditional American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) admissions process, you must withdraw your acceptance to the Icahn School’s Institutional Partnership program. You can reapply to the Icahn School of Medicine through the traditional admissions pathway.

A completed U.S. Military Institutional Partnership application consists of:

• Your Institutional Partnership Program Application
• Your SAT and/or ACT exam reports (all exams taken must be submitted as part of the application)
• Your college transcript
• Your three letters of recommendation:
• Letters should provide the MD Admissions Committee with insight into your motivation for a career in medicine. A letter from a superior is required, and we also suggest a letter from someone you have worked with in a medical capacity during your service who can comment on your passions, skills, and interest in pursuing a career in medicine. Examples of possible reference sources includes a commanding officer, battalion surgeon, brigade surgeon, and/or physician assistant, or equivalent.
• Your personal statement (three short essays)
• $110 Application fee

Students may only apply via the U.S. Military Institutional Partnership a maximum of two times. A reapplication should demonstrate self-reflection, growth, and added accomplishments in the form of premedical coursework, clinical experience, advocacy, and scholarly endeavors.

Institutional Partnership Admissions Cycle Timeline

The U.S. Military Institutional Partnership application opens October 1, and the deadline is December 15. The following key dates and deadlines provide a helpful reference as you prepare your U.S. Military Institutional Partnership application.

Institutional Partnership Application Review

Our U.S Military Institutional Partnership program is a small niche program that matriculates about one to five students per academic year. Every completed application undergoes a holistic screening by our MD Admissions Committee members.

Our screeners assess the following core areas: academics, clinical exposure, community service, research, and other extracurricular activities. In addition, the screeners evaluate applicant attributes that align with Icahn Mount School’s mission. The above core areas and applicant attributes are modeled on the Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students endorsed by the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Student Affairs.

Institutional Partnership Interview Procedure

Each applicant invited for an interview is randomly assigned to have two 30-minute interviews with members of the MD Admissions Committee. These interviews are semi-structured, traditional interviews.

During each interview, the MD Admissions Committee member conducts a holistic assessment of the candidate. The application and letters of recommendation are evaluated fully by both interviewers. The interviewers assess the following core areas: academics, clinical exposure, community service, research, and other extracurricular activities. In addition, the interviewers evaluate applicant attributes that align with the Icahn School's mission, and assess communication skills. The above core areas, applicant attributes and communication assessment are modeled on the Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students endorsed by the Association of American Medical Colleges Group on Student Affairs.

Every applicant offered an interview also spends a virtual day meeting students and faculty. Please refer to the timeline above for important dates.

Institutional Partnership MD Admissions Committee Procedures

At the weekly MD Admissions Committee meetings, each interviewed candidate is presented to the committee by the two assigned interviewers. Final admissions decisions are made by the MD Admissions Committee based on the timeline provided above.

Institutional Partnership After Acceptance Protocol

Once accepted into the U.S. Military Institutional Partnership, we expect that you will complete the following:

• Honorable discharge from military service. Exclusion to matriculate at the Icahn School would include a dishonorable discharge.
• Successful completion of the following courses:
• One year of undergraduate coursework in general or human biology. Molecular content is required. Other appropriate courses to fulfill this requirement include cell biology, genetics/genomics, physiology, anatomy, etc. We recommend this biology coursework be completed within the five years prior to your application to the Icahn School.
• One year of general chemistry that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One semester of organic chemistry, that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One semester of biochemistry that is not AP or IB, but college course work.
• One semester of physics. You may apply AP or IB physics in high school with a score of 5 to meet this requirement.
• One semester of statistics, with biostatistics being preferred.
• One year of lab work in biology and/or chemistry.

• We also encourage all applicants to complete coursework and engage in experiences which provide exposure to social determinants of health and disparities in healthcare outcomes. Coursework examples include sociology, public health, political science, global health, bioethics, urban studies, history, and economics.
• A total of 100 hours of clinical experience providing exposure to human illness and health care delivery, occurring after acceptance to the U.S. Military Institutional Partnership, and prior to matriculation.
• Transparent communication with the Admissions team about matriculation timeline.

Once we have admitted you to the U.S. Military Institutional Partnership, we expect you to complete the above requirements, achieve at least a "B" in all required courses, and maintain an annual cumulative GPA of 3.5 (or equivalent) for each year in the program. Additionally, you must maintain a cumulative Science (biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics) GPA of 3.6 or higher.

At the end of each semester, quarter, trimester, or as necessary, the MD Admissions Committee will review every admitted student’s progress with the Selections Subcommittee. Failure to meet the program requirements will result in appropriate action by the committee, including remedial coursework or possible rescinding of the admissions offer.

Technical Standards

Our MD Program prepares students to be skilled physicians, in accordance with the Technical Standards as outlined by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the U.S. accrediting agency for medical schools.