Early Assurance Programs-FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions for the FlexMed and Institutional Partnership Programs
Can I apply to FlexMed from any major?
Yes. The Donald and Vera Blinken FlexMed Program allows college sophomores in any major to apply for early assurance of acceptance to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Please refer to program requirements for mandatory courses
Can I apply to FlexMed if I am not a sophomore?
No. This program is specifically designed for students entering their second year of college as a full-time student at a four-year university, working toward their first bachelor's degree. If you are in a five-year undergraduate program, you can apply either in your second or third year of college. You are not eligible to apply if you already hold a bachelor's degree.
What if I am in my second year but my school considers me a junior because of AP credits (or other earned credits) that I received in high school? Can I still apply as a FlexMed applicant?
Yes. We expect students to apply during the fall semester of the second year of full-time study at their college or university, irrespective of how many college-level credits they received in high school
I received a 5 on my AP Biology Exam. Do I still have to take a year of Biology in college?
Yes. You do not need to repeat introductory biology, but you must take a year of college Biology. Choose courses that will best prepare you for medical school (e.g., Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Physiology, Immunology, etc.).
Do I have to take the labs associated with the Biology or Chemistry courses?
Prior to matriculation, you are required to complete a year of lab in biology and/or chemistry.
I took a year of college Biology or Chemistry during the summer at another institution. Is that acceptable?
We do not require that you complete the college Biology or Chemistry courses at your undergraduate institution. However, you should take these courses at an institution that is an accredited four-year college of similar quality to your undergraduate institution. If you plan to take required course work at another institution, you must receive approval from the leadership team. Furthermore, it is important that you consider courses that will provide you with the requisite background for medical school courses such as Biochemistry, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology, Physiology, Microbiology, Immunobiology, etc.
Do I have to complete the required coursework before applying?
You do not need to complete all the required courses before applying. You need to have completed two semesters of college Biology, Chemistry, or Physics prior to the application deadline of the academic year you apply. If accepted into the Program, you must complete the remaining courses before matriculating.
From whom should I get letters of recommendation?
Please review the Application Requirements for preferred letters of recommendation.
Are all applicants interviewed?
No. Only selected applicants will be invited for interviews at the Icahn School of Medicine. A tour of the medical center will also be scheduled at that time for you, if you have been invited.
When will I be notified of acceptance/rejection?
Please refer to our Application Timeline.
If I am accepted to one of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai’s Early Assurance Programs, is the acceptance binding?
Once you accept our offer of admission to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), you are required to sign a formal written agreement demonstrating your commitment to making ISMMS your future home for medical education. Should you eventually choose not to attend, you may do so without any penalty. If you choose to apply to another medical school and/or take the MCAT, your acceptance into the Early Assurance Program will be revoked.
What is the tuition for the Early Assurance Program FlexMed?
As part of your admission, you are accepted into medical school but there are no tuition fees until you matriculate. Tuition is based on the individual years in which you enroll, and may differ from year to year. You may view current tuition rates in our Tuition and Financial Aid section.
If I am accepted to FlexMed, will I be considered for scholarships and financial aid?
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS) awards financial aid to all students who demonstrate financial need. Financial need is the difference between your calculated available resources and total anticipated school-related and basic living expenses for a given academic year. Financial need is determined by our institutional need analysis formula.
Early Assurance students would apply for financial aid in the winter prior to matriculation.
Students applying for federal student loans, ISMMS need-based loans and scholarships must complete the FAFSA application, CSS profile, and ISMMS financial aid application. In addition, applicants must provide year appropriate financial documentation to determine eligibility for financial assistance. To complete these forms, students should follow the instructions found on our Financial Aid web page.
If it is imperative that you compare financial aid packages from different schools, it may be in your best interest to apply through the traditional AMCAS application process.
Do I have to fill out an American Medical College Application Service (AMCAS) application?
Your application to the Early Assurance Program does not require an AMCAS application, however, matriculation to our institution does. If you are accepted into the Early Assurance Program, you will be asked to fill out an AMCAS application during the year preceding your matriculation. At that time, you will also be required to complete our supplemental application, with the exception of the essay questions. You will not be required to pay the supplemental application fee. Completing these applications is a clerical necessity and does not imply that you are reapplying to medical school.
If I am accepted into the Early Assurance Program, am I automatically accepted into medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai?
Yes, provided that you adhere to all requirements outlined in the Early Assurance Program Agreement including:
- You maintain the high standards of your present credentials, including a cumulative grade point average of 3.5, and receive your bachelor's degree
- You are not disciplined for any unprofessional/unethical behavior
- You promptly respond to all deadlines from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- You are physically and emotionally capable of meeting the rigorous demands of medical school
If I apply under the Early Assurance Program, can I be considered for the MD/PhD program?
At the time of application to FlexMed, you are only considered for admission into the MD program. However, admitted students with an exceptional track record in research and strong evidence of science coursework may apply to the MD/PhD program in the year prior to matriculation, within the same pool as traditional MD/PhD applicants. If you are admitted to FlexMed and interested in applying to MD/PhD in the future, you should be in touch with the Early Assurance leadership for further advisement.
FlexMed acceptance does not guarantee admission to the MD/PhD Program. If pursuing a career as a physician-scientist with a dual MD/PhD in biomedical science is critically important to your professional goals, it may be in your best interest to apply through the traditional AMCAS application process.
Can international students apply?
Yes, international students may apply for Early Assurance if they attend/attended an accredited U.S./Canadian college/university. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria outlined above.