CUNY School of Medicine: MCAT & Admissions

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Admissions statistics

Median MCAT: 508
MCAT range (25–75): 506–511
Median GPA: 3.62
GPA range (25–75): 3.44–3.74
Science GPA (est.): 3.48
Acceptance rate: 9.1%
Interview rate: Not reported

Median MCAT by section (estimated)

Chem / Phys: 127
CARS: 126
Bio / Biochem: 127
Psych / Soc: 128

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: ~9.2%
Out-of-state applicants: ~1.0%
Overall (reported): 9.1%

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. (Limited data for this school, so the split leans on the cross-school pattern.)

vs US MD matriculants: MCAT -3.8 (nat. 511.8), GPA -0.19 (nat. 3.81).

MCAT range by residency Premier estimate

My MCAT score see where you fall

Matriculants	10th	25th	75th	90th
Combined	501.8	504.6	511.6	514.9
In-state	502.6	505.6	513.4	516.9
Out-of-state	504.4	507.3	513.9	516.9

The box spans the 25th–75th percentile; the whiskers reach the 10th and 90th. Premier's model estimates the full spread and the residency split from the published median — 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: 75
Public / Private: Public
Setting: Not reported
% Out-of-state: Not reported
Orientation: Service-oriented

Research vs. service orientation

Service / primary careBalancedResearch

Service-oriented (15/100) — Explicit primary-care/underserved-workforce mission (41% primary care, top-10 producer); no MD-PhD/MSTP; not a research-ranked academic medical center.

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

$41,600

Out-of-state tuition

$69,260

Cost of attendance: $67,402
Avg. graduate debt: $218,695
Secondary fee: Not reported
% receiving aid: 86%

Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2025-2026). 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: not required
AAMC PREview: varies — verify

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)

Mission focus: The mission of CUNY School of Medicine is to produce broadly-educated, highly-skilled medical practitioners committed to providing quality health services in communities historically underserved by primary care providers. The School seeks to recruit and educate a talented and motivated pool of students for its BS/MD and Physician Assistant programs, thereby expanding access to medical education for individuals from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and historically underrepresented…

Secondary essay prompts (2017-2018)

⚠ Crowdsourced & anecdotal — secondary prompts change every cycle and may be incomplete. Always confirm on the school's own secondary application.

Please describe how your personal characteristics or life experiences will contribute to the City University of New York School of Medicine community and bring educational benefits to our student body.
Is there any further information that you would like the Committee on Admissions to be aware of when reviewing your file that you were not able to notate in another section of this or the AMCAS Application?
Why have you chosen to apply to the City University of New York School of Medicine and how do you think your education at City University of New York School of Medicine will prepare you to become a physician for the future?

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: MMI

Invitation-only, in-person on-campus interview (for the Sophie Davis BS/MD pathway, interviews begin around mid-to-late March); holistic assessment emphasizing commitment to primary care and underserved/provider-shortage communities. Applicants describe interviewers as friendly.

Questions applicants report

Be ready to discuss what you wrote in your essays.
Why do you want to pursue medicine / primary care?
Why CUNY / Sophie Davis?
Tell us about your healthcare and service experiences.
Discuss your commitment to working in underserved communities.

Key facts

Degree: MD
Type: Public
Location: New York
Region: Northeast
Interview format: MMI
Preclinical grading: Not reported
Licensing exam: USMLE
International applicants: Considered
DACA applicants: Considered
Early Decision: Not offered

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 CUNY?

CUNY School of Medicine has a median MCAT of 508 (typical accepted range about 506–511). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (506) is a reach without other strengths.

What GPA does CUNY require?

The median accepted GPA is about 3.62 (roughly 3.44–3.74). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.

What are the prerequisites for CUNY?

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 CUNY hard to get into?

Its acceptance rate is approximately 9.1% — moderately competitive for US MD programs.

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