Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons: MCAT & Admissions

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons campus

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Admissions statistics

Median MCAT: 522
MCAT range (25–75): 520–524
Median GPA: 3.95
GPA range (25–75): 3.88–4.00
Science GPA (est.): 3.94
Acceptance rate: 3.4%
Interview rate: 9.9%

Median MCAT by section (estimated)

Chem / Phys: 130
CARS: 129
Bio / Biochem: 131
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: ~5.9%
Out-of-state applicants: ~2.9%
Overall (reported): 3.4%

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 +10.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.14 (nat. 3.81). MCAT 10/25/75/90 percentiles, median, and acceptance/interview rates are publicly sourced.

MCAT range by residency Premier estimate

My MCAT score see where you fall

Matriculants	10th	25th	75th	90th
Combined	517.3	517.9	524	526.1
In-state	515.9	518.9	524.2	524.3
Out-of-state	517.8	520.3	524.9	526.6

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: 138
Public / Private: Private
Setting: Not reported
% Out-of-state: Not reported
Orientation: Research-oriented

Research vs. service orientation

Service / primary careBalancedResearch

Research-oriented (97/100) — Top-5 NIH funding (~$625M), historically U.S. News #3 Research, NIH-funded MSTP — no primary-care/service mission.

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

In-state tuition

$76,336

Out-of-state tuition

$76,336

Cost of attendance: $117,131
Avg. graduate debt: $104,024
Secondary fee: $110
% receiving aid: 89%

Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2026-2027 (cost); Class of 2028 (entering-class stats)). 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: varies — verify with the school
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)

AMCAS opens

Early May

Submit primary (rolling — submit early)

Late May – June

Secondary applications

June – August

Interviews

August – March

Acceptances begin (rolling)

Oct 15 onward

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.

Have you previously applied to Medical School? (Yes/No)
If you took time off from your undergraduate studies, please briefly summarize your reasons for doing so. · 250 words
Did you work for compensation during college (either during the school year or summers)? If so, what did you do? How many hours a week did you work? · 300 words
If you have graduated from college, please briefly summarize what you have done in the interim. · 300 words
Please describe your most meaningful leadership positions. · 300 words

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

Open-file, traditional one-on-one interview lasting roughly 30-45 minutes, conducted online; applicants report a relaxed, conversational day focused on motivations, research, and experiences (holistic).

Questions applicants report

Why do you want to be a physician?
Tell me about your research experience.
Walk me through your extracurricular activities.
Tell me about your academic background.
What are your future career goals?
Why Columbia?

Key facts

Degree: MD
Type: Private
Location: New York
Region: Northeast
Interview format: Traditional
Preclinical grading: Not reported
Licensing exam: USMLE
Oldest MCAT accepted: January 2023
International applicants: Considered
DACA applicants: Considered
Early Decision: Not 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 Columbia?

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has a median MCAT of 522 (typical accepted range about 520–524). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (520) is a reach without other strengths.

What GPA does Columbia require?

The median accepted GPA is about 3.95 (roughly 3.88–4.00). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.

What are the prerequisites for Columbia?

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 Columbia hard to get into?

Its acceptance rate is approximately 3.4% — highly competitive for US MD programs.

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