Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine
New Hampshire · Competitive · Founded 1797
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 516
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 513–519
- Median GPA
- 3.89
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.82–3.94
- Science GPA (est.)
- 3.86
- Acceptance rate
- 3.1%
- Interview rate
- 7.2%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 129
- CARS
- 128
- Bio / Biochem
- 129
- Psych / Soc
- 130
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
- ~6.1%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~3.1%
- Overall (reported)
- 3.1%
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.
vs US MD matriculants: MCAT +4.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.08 (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 | 510.1 | 513 | 519 | 521.5 |
| In-state | 510.2 | 513.2 | 517.1 | 518.1 |
| Out-of-state | 512.1 | 514.8 | 520.2 | 522.5 |
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
- 88
- Public / Private
- Private
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- Not reported
- Orientation
- Research-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Research-oriented (74/100) — US News Research #34, ~$80M NIH (rising), funded MD-PhD program (not NIH-MSTP); classic Dartmouth Health AMC, highly selective
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
- $105,580
- Avg. graduate debt
- $206,863
- Secondary fee
- $130
- % receiving aid
- 75%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2026-2027). 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: 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.
- Please indicate your plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. If in school, please list your courses. If working, let us know something about the nature of your job.
- Please reflect on your primary application and share something not addressed elsewhere that would be helpful to the Admissions Committee as we review your file.
- What aspects of the Geisel School of Medicine draw you to apply? Please include the characteristics and strengths you will bring to our program and how you hope to contribute to our community.
- Geisel School of Medicine values social justice and diversity in all its forms. Reflect on a situation where you were the 'other'. · 250 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
Mostly conversational, one-on-one interviews focused on the applicant's experiences, research, and views on medicine; some MMI-style elements reported. Generally rated low stress with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.
Questions applicants report
- Why Dartmouth?
- Which extracurricular activity has given you skills that will be directly applicable to your career in medicine?
- Tell me about your research.
- What is the invention of the past 150 years that has shaped society the most?
- You seem to be passionate about politics; how has this shaped your view on medicine?
- Tell me about yourself.
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Private
- Location
- New Hampshire
- Region
- Northeast
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- January 2024
- 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 Dartmouth?
Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine has a median MCAT of 516 (typical accepted range about 513–519). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (513) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does Dartmouth require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.89 (roughly 3.82–3.94). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for Dartmouth?
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 Dartmouth hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 3.1% — competitive for US MD programs.
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