George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
District of Columbia · Competitive · Founded 1824
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Admissions statistics
- Median MCAT
- 514
- MCAT range (25–75)
- 511–516
- Median GPA
- 3.88
- GPA range (25–75)
- 3.81–3.93
- Science GPA (est.)
- 3.85
- Acceptance rate
- 1.3%
- Interview rate
- 4%
Median MCAT by section (estimated)
- Chem / Phys
- 128
- CARS
- 127
- Bio / Biochem
- 129
- 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
- ~6.7%
- Out-of-state applicants
- ~1.3%
- Overall (reported)
- 1.3%
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 +2.2 (nat. 511.8), GPA +0.07 (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 | 509.9 | 511 | 518.1 | 518.6 |
| In-state | 510.9 | 511.3 | 514.1 | 516.1 |
| Out-of-state | 510.1 | 512.9 | 518.6 | 521.1 |
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 — 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
- Balanced
Research vs. service orientation
Balanced — research & service (45/100) — No MD-PhD/MSTP; modest NIH funding (~$79M FY24, outside top 20); "Physician Citizen"/public-health-policy mission but real academic-medical-center research cent
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
- $112,556
- Avg. graduate debt
- $254,796
- Secondary fee
- $142
- % receiving aid
- 70%
Tuition & cost of attendance verified against the school's official site (official source, Cost 2026-2027; MCAT/GPA averages undated on official FAQ). 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: 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 George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences is dedicated to improving the health of our local, national, and global communities by: Educating a diverse workforce of tomorrow's leaders in medicine, science, and health sciences. Healing through innovative and compassionate care. Advancing biomedical, translational, and health services delivery research with an emphasis on multidisciplinary collaboration. Promoting a culture of excellence through inclusion, service,…
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.
- What makes you a unique individual? What challenges have you faced? What have you learned from your experiences? (750 characters)
- What is your specific interest in the MD Program at GW? What opportunities would you take advantage of as a student here?
- Please provide the Admissions Committee with a brief summary of your activities, academics, employment or other occupations to account for full-time activity (approx. 30-40 hours/week) from the point of application through matriculation. (750 characters)
- If you selected regional medical campus preferred or regional medical campus only, please explain in detail your interest in the regional medical campus and how it will be a good fit for your clinical education. (1750 characters)
- Have you previously interacted directly with the MD Admissions Office through events, tours, fairs, webinars, or interviews? (Y/N) If YES, please explain.
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: Hybrid
Blind (interviewers have not seen your file) format with two interviews, one with a current medical student and one with a faculty member, each about 25 minutes, as part of a structured interview day; applicants report a relaxed, low-stress, well-organized experience.
Questions applicants report
- Why George Washington? Why GW, why medicine?
- Why do you want to go to school in DC?
- Tell me about a time you failed in your personal life.
- What is the source of your desire to go into a career in service of others?
- What would you do if you couldn't be a doctor?
- What is one thing you'd like to improve about yourself, and why?
Key facts
- Degree
- MD
- Type
- Private
- Location
- District of Columbia
- Region
- South
- Interview format
- Hybrid
- Preclinical grading
- Not reported
- Licensing exam
- USMLE
- Oldest MCAT accepted
- January 2023
- International applicants
- Not considered
- DACA applicants
- 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 GW?
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences has a median MCAT of 514 (typical accepted range about 511–516). At or above the median is most competitive; below the 25th percentile (511) is a reach without other strengths.
What GPA does GW require?
The median accepted GPA is about 3.88 (roughly 3.81–3.93). There's no hard cutoff, but below the median you'll want to be strong elsewhere.
What are the prerequisites for GW?
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 GW hard to get into?
Its acceptance rate is approximately 1.3% — competitive for US MD programs.
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