Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine: MCAT & Admissions

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Admissions statistics

Median MCAT: 516
MCAT range (25–75): 514–519
Median GPA: 3.93
GPA range (25–75): 3.86–3.98
Science GPA: 3.80
Acceptance rate: 5.3%
Interview rate: 10%

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: ~8.0%
Out-of-state applicants: ~2.1%
Overall (reported): 5.3%

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 +0.12 (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	511.4	514	517.1	518.1
In-state	512.9	514.9	519.8	522.5
Out-of-state	512.5	512.9	516.1	519.1

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, using its out-of-state share — 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: 78
Public / Private: Public
Setting: Not reported
% Out-of-state: 28%
Orientation: Balanced

Research vs. service orientation

Service / primary careBalancedResearch

Balanced — research & service (50/100) — U.S. News Tier 3 in BOTH Research and Primary Care; small MD-PhD via Scripps (no large MSTP) plus community/patient-centered mission - genuinely balanced.

In-state vs. out-of-state class makeup

In-state

72%

Out-of-state

28%

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

$31,830

Out-of-state tuition

$73,394

Cost of attendance: $63,830
Avg. graduate debt: $185,937
Secondary fee: $30
% receiving aid: 80%

Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, 2026-2027 (cost); Entering Class 2025 (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: 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)

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: Our mission extends beyond training the next generation of physicians – we aim to transform healthcare delivery in South Florida and beyond. We will achieve this through our commitment to innovative medical education, groundbreaking research, and exceptional patient care. By fostering an environment that encourages scientific discovery and clinical excellence, with a focus on evidence-based care, we prepare our learners to become not just skilled physicians, but healthcare leaders who will…

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.

Use this area to justify and/or explain any academic hardships on your transcripts (any failed and/or repeated courses due to any reason).
Use this area to explain exceptions to these prerequisites at your institution.
Whether or not you will be a full-time student, please provide details of your activities/employment for the application year. (1200 character limit including spaces)
Describe why you would like to attend the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at FAU. What values, skills, talents, and life experiences would you contribute to our community? (1600 character limit including spaces)
Please share a meaningful community service experience outside of direct patient care that has been meaningful to you. What drew you to this particular experience? How did it contribute to your personal growth and learning? (1600 character limit including spaces)

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

Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) format, including an asynchronous MMI completed before interview day, followed by behavioral-style questions on interview day; applicants report low stress and a positive, impressive experience.

Questions applicants report

Why FAU?
Tell me about a time you became overwhelmed at school and how you handled it.
Talk about a time when someone had different views from your own and how you handled it.
Discuss your clinical experiences and the key takeaways from them.
Tell me about a significant achievement in your life.
Describe a time when you faced challenges in a team setting.

Key facts

Degree: MD
Type: Public
Location: Florida
Region: South
Interview format: MMI
Preclinical grading: Not reported
Licensing exam: USMLE
Oldest MCAT accepted: August 2024
International applicants: Not considered
DACA applicants: Not 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 FAU?

Florida Atlantic University Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine has a median MCAT of 516 (typical accepted range about 514–519). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (514) is a reach without other strengths.

What GPA does FAU require?

The median accepted GPA is about 3.93 (roughly 3.86–3.98). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.

What are the prerequisites for FAU?

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 FAU hard to get into?

Its acceptance rate is approximately 5.3% — competitive for US MD programs.

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