Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Massachusetts · Highly competitive · Founded 1848
Official websiteCan I get in?
Checking your session…
Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 519
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 516–521
- Median GPA
- 3.91
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.84–3.96
- Science GPA (est.)
- 3.89
- Acceptance rate
- 4.4%
- Interview rate
- 10.1%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 130
- CARS
- 129
- Bio / Biochem
- 130
- Psych / Soc
- 131
Section medians are projected from the total using the publicly published national section distribution (CARS runs lowest, Psych/Soc highest). Schools rarely publish their own per-section medians, so this is an estimate; real values are shown when we've sourced them.
Acceptance rate by residency Premier estimate
- In-state applicants
- ~6.8%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~4.2%
- Overall (reported)
- 4.4%
We split this school's overall acceptance rate into residency estimates using Premier's model of in-state vs. out-of-state selectivity and applicant mix, smoothed across schools. It reflects typical residency preference, not a guaranteed outcome — and it's an estimate, not an officially published in/out-of-state rate.
vs US MD matriculants: MCAT +7.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.10 (nat. 3.81). MCAT 10/25/75/90 percentiles, median, and acceptance/interview rates are publicly sourced.
MCAT range by residency Premier estimate
| Matriculants | 10th | 25th | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined | 510.9 | 513.9 | 521 | 523.2 |
| In-state | 513.1 | 516.1 | 521.9 | 522.1 |
| Out-of-state | 512.9 | 514.9 | 521.1 | 524.6 |
The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. We use this school's published 25–75 range as-is and model the hidden tails and the residency split — calibrated across every US MD program and validated to within ~1.5 points of reported figures. Estimates are shown to one decimal. How this works.
Class profile
- Entering class size
- 92
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- Not reported
- Orientation
- Research-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Research-oriented (78/100) — ~$304M NIH/federal research funding, U.S. News #32 Research (above #38 Primary Care), NIH-funded MSTP MD-PhD program
Course exams
Core clerkship exams are NBME-standardized “shelf” subject exams — standardized nationally, so they're consistent across MD schools. Whether the preclinical years lean on in-house, NBME-based, or a mix of exams isn't something schools publish in one place — so we don't guess per school; confirm specifics with the school.
Cost & aid
- Cost of attendance
- $103,677
- Avg. graduate debt
- $212,435
- Secondary fee
- $110
- % receiving aid
- 82%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, Cost 2026-2027; class stats Fall 2025 entering class). Schools report "tuition" vs. "tuition & fees" differently and some (e.g. NYU Grossman, Kaiser early cohorts) award universal scholarships — always confirm on the official page. Debt & % receiving aid are compiled from publicly available figures.
Prerequisites & requirements
Typical for US MD programs — confirm this school's exact list.
- Biology
- 1 year with lab
- General Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Organic Chemistry
- 1 year with lab
- Biochemistry
- 1 semester (recommended/required)
- Physics
- 1 year with lab
- English / writing
- 1 year
- Math / statistics
- 1 semester–1 year (varies)
- Psychology & Sociology
- Recommended for the MCAT
Required tests
- MCAT — required
- CASPer: required
- AAMC PREview: not required
Letters of recommendation
- A committee letter, or 3–5 individual letters
- Typically 2 science faculty + 1 non-science
- A letter from research/clinical mentors strengthens the file
Application timeline (AMCAS)
Most US programs admit on a rolling basis — applying early materially helps.
What this school weighs
- GPA & MCAT (academic readiness)
- Clinical experience & shadowing
- Research experience
- Community service & volunteering
- Letters of recommendation
- Personal statement & secondary essays
- Interview performance & mission fit
- State residency (especially at public schools)
Secondary essay prompts (2024-2025)
⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.
- Provide a timeline or narrative highlighting any notable aspects of your educational journey that you believe are especially relevant or significant to us better understanding who you are. This is an opportunity to describe any learning experience(s) not covered in other sections of your supplemental application or AMCAS application. · 300 words
- Why BU Chobanian & Avedisian SOM? Boston Medical Center is the largest safety net hospital in New England, serving primarily people who are publicly insured, people of color, immigrants, and low-income people in the Greater Boston Area. Why are you specifically interested in beginning your medical education in this environment, and how do you feel that your previous experiences will prepare you for this unique learning environment? (3000 characters)
- Use the space below to provide additional information you feel will provide us with a comprehensive understanding of your strengths as a candidate for a career in medicine. This should include only information NOT already included in your AMCAS or other sections of the Chobanian & Avedisian SOM Supplemental Application. (3000 characters; optional)
Interview
⚠ Anecdotal — based on applicant-reported experiences (e.g. SDN). Format and questions vary year to year; treat as a guide, not a script.
Format: Traditional
Single virtual semi-structured one-on-one interview with a randomly assigned faculty member, conducted conversationally; interviewers ask from set categories blending behavioral and scenario-based prompts. Invited applicants also attend a remote information session.
Questions applicants report
- Why medicine?
- Why BU / why are you interested in training in a safety-net environment?
- Tell us about a time you faced a challenge.
- How do you approach working with diverse and underserved populations?
- Tell me about yourself.
- Describe an ethical dilemma and how you reasoned through it.
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Private
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Region
- Northeast
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- September 2022
- International applicants
- Considered
- DACA applicants
- Considered
- Early Decision
- Offered
- Deferral
- Allowed
Stats from the school's published class profile and publicly available national data. Tuition, debt, secondary fee, oldest-MCAT, PREview, interview format, and mission are compiled from publicly available figures. Prerequisite, timeline, and letter guidance is typical for US MD programs and may differ at this school. Some figures are being verified. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the AAMC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What MCAT score do I need for BU?
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has a median MCAT of 519 (typical accepted range about 516–521). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (516) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does BU require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.91 (roughly 3.84–3.96). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for BU?
Like most US MD programs, expect a year each of biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and physics (all with labs), biochemistry, and English, plus math/statistics. Psychology and sociology are recommended for the MCAT. Always confirm the school's exact list.
Is BU hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 4.4% — highly competitive for US MD programs.
Aiming for BU?
Our 520+ scoring tutors help you close the gap to a competitive MCAT. Start with a free consultation.
Explore Tutoring