Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Florida · Moderately competitive · Founded 2006
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 511
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 508–515
- Median GPA
- 3.92
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.85–3.97
- Science GPA
- 3.77
- Acceptance rate
- 5%
- Interview rate
- 7.2%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 128
- CARS
- 127
- Bio / Biochem
- 128
- Psych / Soc
- 129
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
- ~10.1%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~1.1%
- Overall (reported)
- 5%
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 -0.8 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.11 (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 | 505.2 | 508 | 512.1 | 515.1 |
| In-state | 505.3 | 508.5 | 515.9 | 519.4 |
| Out-of-state | 507.9 | 508.9 | 514.1 | 517.1 |
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
- 118
- Public / Private
- Public
- Setting
- Not reported
- % Out-of-state
- 9.1%
- Orientation
- Service-oriented
Research vs. service orientation
Service-oriented (28/100) — Social-accountability/underserved Miami mission, ~57% into primary-care fields, #12 in graduates serving underserved areas; modest NIH (Blue Ridge ~#107), no MS
In-state vs. out-of-state class makeup
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
- $84,468
- Avg. graduate debt
- $200,349
- Secondary fee
- $30
- % receiving aid
- 87%
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: 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)
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 Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine develops highly qualified, community-engaged, socially accountable health care professionals and serves our region, our nation and the greater world through transformative translational research, medical education and clinical programs that drive forward innovations in health care.
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.
- Miami is a vibrant, multicultural, multilingual city. Please explain in detail an experience in which you collaborated, worked, or were exposed to backgrounds that were different than your own. Describe the impact the experience had on you.
- Why did you choose to apply to FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine?
- Please describe a significant personal challenge you have faced. If you sought guidance, support, or resources, describe how it helped you. Focus on what you learned about yourself and how it will help you face new challenges.
- What do you think will be the most rewarding and challenging part of practicing medicine in the future?
- Is there any additional information about your academic record that you would like the Admissions Committee to know?
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
Multiple Mini Interview (MMI), conducted virtually, with ethical, teamwork, standardized-patient, and health-equity stations often featuring Miami/Florida-specific prompts; emphasizes processing new information quickly and weighing cultural context.
Questions applicants report
- Tell me about a time when you had to work against your values.
- Why medicine? Why FIU? Why Miami?
- Tell me about a time you had to deal with conflict, and how you handle conflict when working with a team.
- If you could spend an afternoon with anyone, past or present, who would it be and why?
- How would you improve healthcare or allocate funding to improve community health and access to care? What do you think is the most pressing problem with healthcare today?
- What qualities make a good physician?
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Public
- Location
- Florida
- Region
- South
- Interview format
- Traditional
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- January 2024
- International applicants
- Not considered
- DACA applicants
- Not 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 FIU?
Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine has a median MCAT of 511 (typical accepted range about 508–515). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (508) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does FIU require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.92 (roughly 3.85–3.97). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for FIU?
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 FIU hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 5% — moderately competitive for US MD programs.
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