MD Program FAQs

What courses are required for admission?
You are encouraged to review our application and matriculation requirements. All academic requirements must be completed before matriculation.  Q: 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.

Can I take my courses at a community college, or must I take them at a four-year college or university?
We have no requirement about where you take courses, though the Committee on Admissions does take that into consideration in evaluating your application.

I haven't completed one of the required courses. Can I still apply?
Yes. However, should you be offered an acceptance, it will be contingent upon the successful completion of all requirements prior to matriculation.

As an international student can I apply to the MD program?
Yes, we accept applications from international students. If you have received an Undergraduate degree in the United States, you will go through the same process as U.S. citizens. If you have received your Undergraduate degree abroad we will need a course-by-course evaluation of your transcript by a NACES member organization sent to our Admissions office directly, as AMCAS will not be able to verify your information. Keep in mind, it is highly recommended that you have taken some coursework in the United States; this can be post-baccalaureate or graduate-level coursework.

Can I apply if I have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status.
Applicants with DACA status are considered in the same application pool as all other candidates. If admitted, DACA-eligible students are eligible for ISMMS institutional financial aid. Students are responsible for obtaining and maintaining DACA status. Please see Financial Aid for more information.

Do you accept transfer students?
We do not accept transfer applications.

What are the oldest MCAT scores you accept?
We will accept MCAT scores from April 2015 through September of the current application cycle.

How do I receive a fee waiver for my supplemental application?
We only grant fee waivers if you have secured AAMC Fee Assistance Program approval. If this approval is indicated on your AMCAS application, it will automatically appear when you complete the online supplemental application.

How many letters of recommendation do I need to submit?
We only accept letters of recommendation through AMCAS. A letter of recommendation from your premedical advisory committee is preferred. If you do not have a pre-health advisor or committee at your school you must submit at least three and up to six letters of recommendation from people who can speak to your passion for a career in medicine and your intellectual journey: sources may include research mentors, professional or service supervisor, professors, or clinical preceptors. Additional letters may be sent as an application update.

What is the policy on providing application updates?
 Applicants may submit updates to their application throughout the admissions cycle. Applicants may do this through the secondary application portal under the “Document upload” tab.

If I get accepted to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai through regular admissions, can I still apply to the MSTP (MD/-PhD program) in my second year?
While most MSTP students initially apply to the School for this program, our students can apply for the program during their second year of medical school.

Can I visit the school?
Accepted applicants are invited to visit and tour the school during our Explore Icahn weekend (second look).

Can I meet with an admissions counselor?
We do not provide admissions counseling. You should speak with the premedical advisors at your institutions.

How selective is the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai?
The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai receives more than 7,000 completed applications for the 120 positions in each entering class. We use a holistic review process that considers a variety of academic and experiential factors.

Are applicants who are residents of New York State treated differently than nonresidents?
We make no distinction among applicants based on their state of residency either in the admissions process or in fees.

What are the tuition and fees?
For information on tuition and fees, please visit the Financial Aid web page.

Are students guaranteed housing?
Housing is guaranteed for students enrolled on a full-time basis in the MD (and MD/-PhD) program. Most MD students will be assigned student housing in the Jane B. Aron Residence Hall, which is across the street from ISMMS. More information about student housing can be found here.

Where can I find information about student life and resources at ISMMS?
Information regarding student housing, student government, a list of student organizations and services can be found here. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to meet students representing these organizations throughout the planned events.

What diversity initiatives or programs can I be involved with as an ISMMS student?
Within ISMMS, we aim to address this priority through the Mount Sinai Health System's Office for Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) and its Patricia S. Levinson Center for Multicultural and Community Affairs (CMCA), our longstanding diversity center. The CMCA works to advance diversity and inclusion at all levels within the School by directing innovative, integrative and coordinated approaches in education, research, and service with activities addressing the priority health concerns of the communities we serve. To learn more about specific programs and activities of ODI/CMCA, please email cmca@mssm.edu.

Do I need a car while I’m a student at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai?
Probably not. In fact, most ISMMS students do not have a car while living in New York City.  The School and the Mount Sinai Hospital are within walking distance of student housing; all clinical-sites are accessible via public transit.