Early Assurance Admissions Process

At the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), we want to provide bright, creative students with varied backgrounds and well-rounded educations the opportunity to consider the medical profession. As a result, we created the Early Assurance Programs, which include FlexMed and our Institutional Partnership.

We are the first medical school in the country to offer a progressive, yet rigorous, admissions path to medical school for undergraduate college sophomores. The Donald and Vera Blinken FlexMed Program at ISMMS offers early assurance to college sophomores from any academic area of study including biomedical sciences, the humanities and social sciences, and computational sciences and engineering. Through the institutional partnership with the military, we are able to offer an alternative pathway to medical school.

If eligible, you can apply in the winter of your sophomore year of undergraduate school, and you will learn of your admissions decision by the summer. This program does not accelerate the timeline to medical school. Our program allows you to ‘flex’ your intellectual, creative, humanistic, and science muscles during college. It also exempts you from some of the traditional pre-med requirements and from taking the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).

FlexMed Application Timeline

The following are key dates and deadlines that will be helpful to reference as you prepare your FlexMed application:

Month FlexMed Admissions Cycle  
August FlexMed application opens
January 15 FlexMed application is due
January through April FlexMed application screening period
March and April Invitations to interview are sent
March through May FlexMed interview period
July FlexMed decisions released
August Acceptance confirmations due

Institutional Partnership Application Timeline

The following are key dates and deadlines that will be helpful to reference as you prepare your Institutional Partnership:

Month FlexMed Admissions Cycle  
Late August Applications are open
November 15 Applications are due
November through February  Applications are reviewed
February through March Invitations to interview are sent (rolling basis)
February through March Interviews are scheduled
March Notifications are sent
April Acceptance confirmations due

FlexMed

To qualify, you will need the following:

  • Students entering the second year of college as full-time students who are pursuing their first bachelor’s degree at an accredited college/university in the United States or Canada.
  • One academic year of college biology, OR one academic year of college chemistry, OR one academic year of college physics.
    • The year of biology coursework can cover any discipline of biology including human biology, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, microbiology, immunobiology, etc.
    • The year of chemistry coursework can cover any discipline of chemistry including general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry.
    • You cannot use AP or IB credit to fulfill this requirement.  You must take higher level science courses to meet this requirement if you have received college credit from AP or IB coursework.
    • You must complete this coursework by the application deadline of January 15.
  • Have previously taken the SAT or ACT exam

The FlexMed application opens mid-to-late August and the deadline to submit an application is January 15.

A completed FlexMed application consists of:

  • FlexMed Application 
  • SAT and/or ACT exam reports
  • High School transcript
  • College transcript (which includes your Fall Sophomore year final grades)
  • Three letters of recommendation:
    • You are encouraged to provide one letter from a high school teacher/guidance counselor or college professor/faculty advisor, one from professors in the sciences, and the third from other academic and/or professional references such as research mentors/supervisors
    • Recommendation letters should provide the Admissions Committee with insight into the applicant’s motivation for a career in medicine.
  • Personal statement (3 short essays)
  • $110 Application fee

Deloitte Consulting and McKinsey & Company

To qualify, you will need the following:

  • Currently employed at the firm
  • Be in your second or third year at the firm
  • Complete one academic year of college biology, OR one academic year of college chemistry, OR one academic year of college physics.
    • The year of biology coursework can cover any discipline of biology including human biology, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, microbiology, immunobiology, etc.
    • The year of chemistry coursework can cover any discipline of chemistry including general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry.
    • You cannot use AP or IB credit to fulfill this requirement.  You must take higher level science courses to meet this requirement if you have received college credit from AP or IB coursework.
    • You must complete this coursework by the application deadline on November 15.
  • Have previously taken the SAT or ACT exam

The Institutional Partnership application opens mid-to-late August and the deadline to submit an application is November 15.

A completed Institutional Partnership application consists of:

  • Institutional Partnership Program Application
  • SAT and/or ACT exam reports
  • College transcript
  • Three letters of recommendation: letters should provide the Admissions Committee with insight into the applicant’s motivation for a career in medicine.
  • For Deloitte Consulting and McKinsey & Company applicants: include a letter of endorsement from the firm
  • Personal statement (3 short essays)
  • $110 Application fee

The U.S. Military

To qualify, you will need the following:

  • Full-time, active duty status from any branch of service
  • Complete one academic year of college biology, OR one academic year of college chemistry, OR one academic year of college physics.
    • The year of biology coursework can cover any discipline of biology including human biology, genetics, molecular biology, pharmacology, cell biology, physiology, microbiology, immunobiology, etc.
    • The year of chemistry coursework can cover any discipline of chemistry including general chemistry, organic chemistry, or biochemistry.
    • You cannot use AP or IB credit to fulfill this requirement.  You must take higher level science courses to meet this requirement if you have received college credit from AP or IB coursework.
    • You must complete this coursework by the application deadline on November 15.
    • Have previously taken the SAT or ACT exam

The Institutional Partnership application opens mid-to-late August and the deadline to submit an application is November 15.

A completed Institutional Partnership application consists of:

  • Institutional Partnership Program Application 
  • SAT and/or ACT exam reports
  • College transcript
  • Three letters of recommendation: letters should provide the Admissions Committee with insight into the applicant’s motivation for a career in medicine.
  • A letter from a superior is required and someone you have worked with in a medical capacity during your service who can comment on your passions and skills and interest in pursuing a career in medicine (suggested). Examples of sources includes a Commanding Officer, Battalion Surgeon, Brigade Surgeon, and/or Physician Assistant or equivalent
  • Personal statement (3 short essays)
  • $110 Application fee

The Office of Admissions interviews approximately 140 to 160 students each year from a pool of nearly 800 applicants for the FlexMed program. The Institutional Partnership program is a small niche program that matriculates about one to five students per year.

Complete applications undergo holistic screening by MD Admissions Committee members. The 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 the School’s mission. The application and letters of recommendation are evaluated fully. The above core areas and applicant attributes are modeled on the 15 Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students endorsed by the AAMC Group on Student Affairs.

Each applicant who is invited for an interview is randomly assigned to have two 30-minute interviews with members of the MD Admissions Committee. The interviews are semi-structured traditional interviews. During each interview the MD Admissions Committee member conducts a holistic assessment of the candidate. 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 School’s mission and assess communication skills. The application and letters of recommendation are evaluated fully by both interviewers. The above core areas, applicant attributes and communication assessment are modeled on the 15 Core Competencies for Entering Medical Students endorsed by the AAMC Group on Student Affairs.

Applicants who are offered an interview will spend a day at the School meeting students and faculty. We send interview invitations on a rolling basis from March to April and conduct interviews from March to May.

If you are participating in a study abroad program, we expect you to make travel arrangements to participate in a scheduled in-person interview day. If you are unable to make travel accommodations during the offered interview dates, you must notify the Admissions Office. We do not provide travel reimbursement for your interview day.

Admissions Committee Procedures

At the weekly MD Admissions Committee meetings, each interviewed candidate is presented to the committee by the two interviewers. The Selection Subcommittee meets at the end of the admissions cycle to review the findings of the MD Admissions Committee meetings. In June, the Selection Subcommittee meets to review on the number of acceptance offers. Final acceptance offers are sent out around July 1.

FlexMed

Once accepted into the program, we expect that you will complete your undergraduate education at your college institution and then will be eligible to matriculate into the medical school. We also anticipate that you will adhere to all of our program requirements prior to entry.

After acceptance, students will work closely with the FlexMed team to identify options for successful completion of program’s requirements. We expect you to follow the policies outlined in the FlexMed agreement and complete the following courses:

  • One academic year of biology (not AP or IB but college course work). Molecular content is required.
  • One academic year of chemistry (not AP or IB but college course work)
  • One academic year of English writing intensive coursework (not AP or IB but college course work)
  • One semester of physics (you can apply AP or IB physics in high school with a score of 4 or higher to meet this requirement)
  • One academic year of lab work in biology and/or chemistry
  • One semester of health policy, public health, or global health studies
  • One semester of ethics
  • One semester of statistics (biostatistics is the preferred content)
  • A senior thesis or its equivalent in an area of academic concentration
  • An in-depth experience providing exposure to human illness and healthcare delivery

Once we have admitted you to the FlexMed program, we expect you to complete your remaining two years of college, achieve at least a "B" in all required courses, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

We encourage our FlexMed students to take time off between graduation and matriculation at the Icahn School of Medicine to further explore your academic and professional interests.  You may defer your time of matriculation for up to two years, given approval from FlexMed leadership. During this gap year, students have previously pursued advanced degrees including Master’s and PhD 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.

The U.S. Military

Once accepted into the program, we expect that you will complete the following:

  • Honorable Discharge from military service
  • Successful completion of the following courses with a grade of B or better:
    • One year of Biology (two semesters or three quarters; not AP or IB, but college course work)
      • This requirement must be met with a full year of undergraduate coursework in general or human biology. Molecular content is required. Examples of other appropriate courses include cell biology, genetics/genomics, physiology, anatomy, etc. 
    • One year of Chemistry (not AP or IB, but college course work)
    • One semester of Physics
    • One semester of Statistics (Biostatistics is the appropriate coursework)
    • One year of Laboratory Science in Biology and/or Chemistry
  • Transparent communication with the Admissions team about matriculation timeline

Deloitte Consulting and McKinsey & Company

Once accepted into the program, we expect that you will complete the following:

  • Successful completion of employment at the firm
  • Successful completion of the following courses with a grade of B or better:
    • One year of Biology (two semesters or three quarters; not AP or IB, but college course work)
      • This requirement must be met with a full year of undergraduate coursework in general or human biology. Molecular content is required. Examples of other appropriate courses include cell biology, genetics/genomics, physiology, anatomy, etc. 
    • One year of Chemistry (not AP or IB, but college course work)
    • One semester of Physics
    • One year of Laboratory Science in Biology and/or Chemistry
    • Leadership of a consulting project in health care policy/industry/finance/innovation/entrepreneurship
  • Transparent communication with the Admissions team about matriculation timeline

After Acceptance Procedures

You are not permitted to take the MCAT if accepted to an Early Assurance Program at ISMMS. If you wish to apply to other medical schools through the traditional AMCAS admissions process, you must withdraw your guaranteed acceptance to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through the Early Assurance program. You can reapply to the Icahn School of Medicine through the traditional admissions pathway.

We encourage students to develop skills and, if possible, proficiency in a second language other than English. This will help you better serve the Mount Sinai Health System patient population.

In the four weeks prior to matriculation, students who have not had advanced science courses (specifically organic chemistry and biochemistry) will be required to participate in our Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) that will provide them with basic competency in Cell and Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Organic Chemistry.

At the end of each semester/quarter/trimester, or as necessary, the Admissions team will review students’ progress with the Medical Education Leadership Team. Failure to meet the program requirements will result in appropriate action by the committee, including remedial coursework or possible dismissal from the program.

FlexMed

Once accepted into the program, we expect that you will complete your undergraduate education at your college institution and then will be eligible to matriculate into the medical school. We also anticipate that you will adhere to all of our program requirements prior to entry.

After acceptance, students will work closely with the FlexMed team to identify options for successful completion of program’s requirements. We expect you to follow the policies outlined in the FlexMed agreement and complete the following courses:

  • One academic year of biology (not AP or IB but college course work). Molecular content is required.
    • It is recommended that students take some Biology coursework within 5 years of application  
  • One academic year of chemistry (not AP or IB but college course work)
  • One academic year of English writing intensive coursework (not AP or IB but college course work)
  • One semester of physics (you can apply AP or IB physics in high school with a score of 4 or higher to meet this requirement)
  • One academic year of lab work in biology and/or chemistry
  • One semester of health policy, public health, or global health studies
  • One semester of ethics
  • One semester of statistics (biostatistics is the preferred content)
  • A senior thesis or its equivalent in an area of academic concentration
  • An in-depth experience providing exposure to human illness and healthcare delivery

Once we have admitted you to the FlexMed program, we expect you to complete your remaining two years of college, achieve at least a "B" in all required courses, and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5.

We encourage our FlexMed students to take time off between graduation and matriculation at the Icahn School of Medicine to further explore your academic and professional interests.  You may defer your time of matriculation for up to two years, given approval from FlexMed leadership. During this gap year, students have previously pursued advanced degrees including Master’s and PhD 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.

The U.S. Military

Once accepted into the program, we expect that you will complete the following:

  • Honorable Discharge from military service
  • Successful completion of the following courses with a grade of B or better:
    • One year of Biology (two semesters or three quarters; not AP or IB, but college course work)
      • This requirement must be met with a full year of undergraduate coursework in general or human biology. Molecular content is required. Examples of other appropriate courses include cell biology, genetics/genomics, physiology, anatomy, etc. 
      • It is recommended that students take some Biology coursework within 5 years of application
    • One year of Chemistry (not AP or IB, but college course work)
    • One semester of Physics
    • One semester of Statistics (Biostatistics is the appropriate coursework)
    • One year of Laboratory Science in Biology and/or Chemistry
  • Transparent communication with the Admissions team about matriculation timeline

Please note that Pass/Fail coursework, distance learning or on-line courses, or community college courses may not be counted towards the program’s matriculation requirements for any of the ISMMS Early Assurance Pathways.

Attributes and Criteria of the Successful Candidate

The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is looking for medical school applicants who have excelled academically, are collaborative leaders on their undergraduate campuses, and are passionate about medicine, science, and health care. We are leaders in holistic review, committed to diversity in all realms as the driver for excellence in medicine and research. We are looking for applicants who are:

Team Player Life Long Learner Self-Improving and Well Change Agent / Change Leader Advocate
Collaborative Disciplined Adaptive Innovative Socially Conscious
  Committed Self-aware Curious Tolerant
  Motivated Resourceful Leadership Empathetic
  Passionate Mindful    
    Resilient    

In accordance with the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the U.S. accrediting agency for medical schools, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has the following MD Admissions Committee Policies. 

Technical Standards

The Icahn School of Medicine’s MD Program prepares students to be skilled physicians, in accordance with the Technical Standards as outlined by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), the U.S. accrediting agency for medical schools.